The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-02
From the Home Journal.
THE LOST Chill 0.
BY A SOUTHERN MAN

Many years ugo, ;- 80 mon
county, Tennessee, one of the most thrilling
domestic tragedies which move to tears bv the
pathos of their nournful details. A farmer.
named Riley, who lived near the alluvial bot
tom which borders the Obion river. had an
only child, daughter, some six or seven years
OLD: Little Ella was the darling of her parents.
and a fayorite with all who knew her. To great
beauty of person and sprightliness of manner.
she added an uncommon share of the winsome
graces OF childhood. Her merry pratile and
ringing laughter were like the cadences of a
sweet song echoing through the home and the
hearts OF her parents.
Having no companion in her sports. her plav.
ground was limited to small area in. Mediate.
~ around the family mansion. There, busy aa
bee, she romped and sported, communit o
with nature and herself in tie thousand nm.
named and unnamsble ways which the beneG.
cence OF Providence has provided for the
amusement and instruction of children. Her
prolonged absences from the house, being al
most daily, we're consequently seldom noticed
One afternoon, in mid winter, she was oh.
served, Immediately after diner, to take her
bonnet and gloves and go out, apparently in
an unusually frolicsome mood. For some time
she was seen or heard merry.makine in her
usual places of resort. Mr.. Riley was absent
from home on some neighborhood errand. His
wife and the few other inmates of the house.
busy with household duties, had not observed
that the voice of the child had been for some
hours silent in her playground. :.
The shades of a long winter night were dark.
ening over the fields, when Mr. Riley returned
home, and found his family in CONSERVATION At
the prolonged absence of little Ella. The search
for her, which had commenced at dusk. was
continued by all the members of the household
until every nook and corner of the premises
bad been infinitely 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 1T.
tie Ella had wandered off from home, and was
lost. The night had fully set in. cutting
wind blew fercely from the north. The cold
was intense. Every moment sharpened the
agony Of her parents, and made them tremble
for the fate of their child, exposed TO the fierce
incemency of the wind and cold.
As soon as the domestic search had proved
fruitless, it was decided to alarm the neighbor
hood, and extend the search to the surrounding
fields and woods. Mou nting still unstabled
horse, Mr.. Riley few to his nearest neighbor,
with the tidings of his calamity. Thence
message was despatched to the next neighbor,
and 80 on in succession, until circuit of many
AAAASo Al cAtOhs Wt1S III dctlV6 cOmmO All
knew and loved little Ella, and~respected her
parents, for they were good neighbors and ex.
cellent people. As fast az hoof or foot could
bring them, they came pouring in from all
quarters, men and boys, gloved and coated for
the winter nights exposure, and the loving |
search for the lost favorite Of the neighborbood.
A plan OF operations was adopted, and car
ned into immediate execution. Detailed in |
small bands, with q prescribed circuit around |
the premises, widening outwardly with each |
assigned to each squad, they began
he search by torch-ight, aud, with concerted
signals, to indicate its progress and result 1t
vas . touching, and, at the same time, q good
y sight, to see those bold, kind hearted rustics,
marching to the drumibeat of their benevolent
ceilings, through cold and darkness, to seek,
md, IT possible, to save one little wanderer
rom their rural circle. The touch of nature
Poken OF by the great dramatist had made
hem all feel Of kin to the missing child.
All night long the weary and Ruthless search
vent On. The morning rose, cold and clouded,
lpon the benumbed and exhausted company.
In area of more than mile in diameter around
be house Of Mr.. Riley had been searched. No
ign Of the lost child had been discovered.
New recruits arriving from the more distant
arts of the neighborhood, to ell the places of
hose whom fatigue and indispensable business
ompelled to retire, the search was resumed
pom the same plan that had been pursued du.
ing the night. Every possible place Of con-