The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-05-20
ASHLAND ASHLAND COUNTY. ONO, WEDNESDAY NORM

few moisents, !. bile | go little further
up the ill, to see if can discover the
village. You know l am never fatigu
ed" ard with fleet feet he sprang uT
tie roels and through the rusty leaves
SuddeHg his feet were arrested, and a
cry of &c, der sprang to his lips, hu,
was CHECKED before it became audible
For kutlling on the dry leaves before
/, him was a little child, with her hands
c'asped, ana her face trustiugly. rever-
ently Itised toward the red Western
sky Oee Of her little feet was bare,
rroelain1hagsher theowner Of the shoe ;
her e'irs ltj;ts turg in tangled masses Of
curls befdiSs was rent by briars; her
checks wet With tears; her little bon.
| net adroop with cold, heavy dew, which
later in d,e night would become frost.
The shadows of dusk were fast gathering
in the ho'lows Of the lonely woodland I:
but the child's faith was strong. Rails
ing her folded hands, she slowly repea-
'ed the Shymn her dead mother had
taught her, commencing
"Jesrs, gentle Shepherd. hear me
Bless thy little lamb tonight
Through the darkness be thou near me,
Keei4 me safe till morning light"
Then she lay down upon the fallen
leaves, and closed her eyes wearily.-
Frnnk hesirated for fear of alarming the
little creature but as he slowly advanc-
ed, she opened her eyes; and at the
first glimpse of his bright, frank face,
she sprang to him with the true, uner-
ring instinct Of childhood, feeling that
her troubles were over.
VIII you please to show me the way
to grandmamma's house." said she, 6
have looked for it all day, and cannot
find it; and must see May, indeed 1
must"
Then with the most touching artless
ness, she told how they had taken away
her sister; how she bad longed to see
her; how she. had stolen away from
home, aud crept through fences and bri-
nrs, aud walked all day in the woods !;
how she had seen three large cows, but
they had not offered to hurt her; and
she eddcd by imploring him to take her
to May.
- must first take yon to your papa"
said he, '' have you not thought how he
will cry and grieve, when he thinks his
little girl is lost, and perhaps devoured
by a COW or sheep p
This was an idea which had not be
fore catered the ehild's mind; she seem
ed conscience stricken, for having left
her father, and began, to sob.
"I would go to papa, bat am tired
so tired, | cannot.'
"Let me carry you,' said Frank, tax
ing her up.
There was something in the perfect
trust and confidence with which she
clung to him, aud the helpless weariness
with which she lay in his arms, that
moved him nightly. Before he reach
ed his astouished father, she had fallen
asleep They carried her by turns
through tbs forest aud at last found
the path which reached the village, and
restored the child to her alarmed faith
err But we must waste no words on
this part of the story.
During the few remaining days of his
stay in the village, Frank, with boy
ish pride in his adventure, frequently
called to see the child he had rescued
and the tendrils of her earnest nature,
SO rudely torn from her sister, seemed to
twine themselves around him. But the
excitement and exposure ultimately
threw her into fever, from which she
was long in recovering. Miss Rachel
Maria Camp, a pious maiden lady, o!
the sect of the Pbarisees, often came to
s-e her, for was not Mr.. Harlaud yet IL
the prime of life !? Moreover, was he
not widower
=" 1t is greatly to be hoped" said Ra
chel, " that the child may be spared
and that the natural depravity of her
heart may be subdued, and tha, she may
be brought into the paths of virtue and
rectitude. But should she be taken
away in her present state Of sin and uu-
regeneration, may We profit by the sol
emn admonition, and have our lamps
trimming and burnipg!"
All! Rachel Maria! the Same all-mer
ciful One whose blood can easily wash
away few earthly stains on the soul o.
that little child, has said, Except your
righteousness exceed the Righteousness
of the Seribes and Pharisees, ye shall il
no wise enter into the kingdom of Heav
er.p
4 TO BE coNTINUED)
II They treat strangers oddly a
Hartford. A young man arrived ii