The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-05-14
From tic Home Journal.
Tales of the South.
BY A so l. I II L Il y 81 N.
TIE LOST CHILD

BY sorTHERH MAN.
TIE LOST CHILD.
Many years ago, there occurred in Olion
county, Tennessee, one Of those thrilling
domestic tragedies, which move to tears bv
the patltos OF their mournFu details. A
farmer named Riley, who lived near the
a!nvial bottom which borders Tie Obiou
River, had IN on'y child, n dnugLtcr some
six or seven yca,S Old. Little Ella was the
darling Of her parents, and u f;.vori,e with
all who knew her. TO great beauty Of per-
SON and spriyl,tliness of manner, she added
| an uncommon share of the wiusomc craces
OF childhood. Her merry praltle and ring.
ing laug htcr were like tie cadences of Il
swec: song cchoing through the home and
the hearts Of her parents.
Having no companion in her sports, her
play ground was limited TO small area
Immediately around the family mansion.
There, busy as bee, she rompcJ and sport
ed, communiug with nature and herself in
the Thousand unnamed aud unnamablc
ways which the bcncticcnce of Providence
has provided for the amusement and in.
S,ruction of children. Her prolonged alb
senccs from the house, being almost daily,
were consequently seldom noticed.
One afternoon, in nidwinter, she was OBJ
served, Immediately after dinner, TO take her
bonnet and gloves and 60 out, apparently
i'll all unusually frolicksomc mood For
Some time she was seen or heard merry ma
king in her usual places of resort. Mr..
Riley WAS absent from home on some neigh
borhood erraud. HIS wife and the few
other inmates Of the house, busy with house
hold duties, had not observed that The voice
OF the child had been for some hours silent
i'll her playground.
The shades Of the Inter night were
darkcning over the fields, when Mr.. Riley
returned home and found his family in con-
sternall"n at the prolonged absence OF little
Ella. The search for her. which had com
menced at dusk, was continued by all the
members of the household until every mock
and corner Of the premises had been min
utely and repeatedly inspected. The child
was nowhere to be found.
The painful conviction now forced itself
upon the minds OF Mr.. and Mrs. Riley that
little Ella had wandered off from home, and
was lost. The night had fully set in. A
cutting wind blew fercely from the north.
The cold was intense. Every moment
sharpened the agony Of the parents, aud
made them trcmbc for tie fate Of their lit
tie darling exposed to the fierce inclemcncy
of wind ana cold.
As soon as the domestic search had
proved fruillcss, it WAS decided to alarm the
neighborhood, and extend the search to the
surrounding fields and woods. Mounting
his still unstabIed horse, Mr.. Riley flew 10
his nearest neighbor, with the tldings of his
calamity. Thence messenger was des.
patched to the next nelghbor, and SO on in
succession, until circuit Of many miles in
eAicHC was lU Ht.llfo COMMUNION anu alarm.
All knew and loved the little Ella, and res
pected her parents, f.r they we're good neigh
hors and excellent people. AS fast as hoof
or foot could bring them, they came pour
ing in from all quarters, men and boys,
glovei and coated for the winter nights
exposure, aod the loving search for the lost
favorite of the ncighborhood.
A plan of operations was adopted, and
carried into immediate execution. Detailed
in small bands, wilma prescribed circuit
around the premises, widening outwarjly
with each addition, assigned to each squad,
they began the search by torch light, with
concerned signals to Indicate its progres 8
and result. 1t was a. touching, and, at the
same time, goodly sight, to see those bold,
lskind.hearted +rustica.- narehi6grto The drum
beat of their benevolent feelings, through
cold and darkpess, to sssk and, il possible,
to save ODE little wandeser from their pdsai