Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-20

III make her remember another time, i reckon "
One of the men looked uneasily at the sky a
moment, and then passed on, shaking his head
When out Of hearing be said to his companion,
I've heard tell of children being lost in that
forest. Twenty years ago, when the settlement
was new, they say boy starved to death there.
L wonder If Mrs. Carr would scold her little
gal in this way, if she knew it might happen
tonight TO her own children"
III was only passing reflection, and had es-
capped his mind altogether, when two hours
later, as he was preparing to 20 to bed, fatigued
with hard days labor, there came a knock at
the door. The visitor was his fellow workman.
Its true what you said about them chill
dren, were the words of the intruder. "Tbey
haven't come home yet, and the mother is
taking on like one mad She SAYS thew will
die before morning, even if the panthers don t
night"
His host had been too much stunned by the
intelligence to speak But his wife now pushed
forward, her eyes wide open with horror.
what's that you say :" she cried, - whose
MRS Carr's'
g Not in the forest?''
The visitor nodded
Inc wife gave quick scream and glanced
involuntarIly at her own little ones whom she
had been preparing for bed.
Poor Mrs. Carr ! Poor sweet little dears ~
sne cried, running to a cupboard for shawl and
bonnet Here, Peggy" she continued, turn
ing 70 her eldest child, girl of twelve, ''you
must put your brothers and sisters to he'd the
best way you can" "John,'' she added, ad
dressing her husband, "yOu' re going of course
Only TO THINK, little Maggie born the same day of
our Jane, on the mountains in night like this. -
Her woman s beart was alive with sympatby
Nor was her husband backward in responding
TO 1t. 1t is indeed beautiful trait of bu man
nature, that any incident like this appeals
rlght TO the heart, even with the most unlet-
tered; for every parent imagines what his or her
feelings would be, if the lost one were their own
twas for John came" said their visitor
as they left the house. Z" The whole place has
turned out, that is, the men, and are going to
search the forest. But they'll want all the
women that can be spared up at Mrs. Carr's
Tor she has got the 'sterricks powerful bad; she
says she was out Of humor because Maggie
plagued her to 60, and told 'em she never
ajudgment on her"
When they reached the house they found
most OF the neighbOrs already collected, the
men talking about the doorway and planning
their mode of search, while the women crowded
the sitting room inside, from which came the
shrleks OF the conscience stricken mother
Mrs. Brown paused long enough to learn
su"e, uOuI DcIOle, In the height OF
the storm, Carr had come home Up to that
time the mother had fattered herself that the
children had stopped at his shop, for he was a
wheelwrlght, and worked at the end of the vii
lage. But from that moment she had been al
most frantic. The neighbors, on hearing that
the children were lost, had volunteered to go
out In search of them, but 1t took some time to
collect them, and the Browns had been the last
summoned, for they lived at the opposite end
Of the town.
Entering the house, Mrs Brown saw two fs-
male acquaintances trying to hold Mrs. Carr,
who was struggling in their arms her hair
hanging disheyelsd about her.
LET me 60, she cried 81 will 60 I'll walk
on my hands and knees all over the mountain.
IT the Lord will only give me back my children
But he never will, he never will, i" she said,
rocking herself, and speaking in a tone Of help
less agony, 81 told 'em didn't want to see
'em again in hurry, and he has taken me at
my word
The neighbOrs gazed at the poor, frantic crea-
ture with tears In their eyes, saying what they
could. In voices choked by emotion, to soothe
her. One suggested that the children had found
shelter In log hut standing at the foot of the
mountain. Another said they might have been
waiting under some capacious tree, till the rain
ceased, In which case they were now on their
way home, as there was a only q slight drizzle
at present. But the mother would not be com
forted
Don't say that, she cried sharply, 'for you
know 1t amt so. It's been drilling for an
hour, and they would have been here If it was
so. " The neighbors felt the truth of this "Oh,
will nobody go for them" she shrieked; and
with sudden wild effort she freed herself from
the two women who held her, and rushed to-
ward the door, and gained the porch, when the
sturdy arms Of John Brown caught and re-
strained her.
'.Let me go, let me 60" cried she, passion
ately writhing to release herself "rhey're
my children, and no one goes for them" Then
finding that she was pOwerless in the grasp of
her Hereulean neighbor she added :" oh. let
me go, in beseeching tones, SO different from
her usual manner ,thatit brought tears to many
a manly eye.
We're all going" said John Brown sooth-
ingly. "You could do no good. It's not a
night for a woman to be outs
Not night to be out, she shreked, ssyet
my children are out in it Let me 90 Let
me go, 1 say" And in her insanity she bit
the hand that held her, till the blood came.
Molly, Molly" said a strong voice at this
instant, and her husband rushed through the
group of men. go in for their sake, and have
blankets and hot water ready, or when we
bring them back, they'll die mayhap for want
Of proper care-taking.' He spoke in cheer
full voice. She listened and grew calm, as when
a maniac hears the voice of his keeper.
Taking her up, as he ceased, in his strong
arm, he carried her back into the house. where
first affectionately smoothing the rain drops
from her hair, he kissed her with rough kind
ness, and telling her to keep up good heart
and have everything ready when they returned
hurried away lest she should see the tears that
began to gather, and rolled down on his cheek
big and slow.
Now, neighbors," he said, speaking huski-
ly, and drawing the back of 8 hand across his
eyes as he stood once more in the doorway,
:, we will be of, If you say so, for all is ready
thank you" he added, with the natural dig
nity Of deep suffering, as a dozen faces mutu-
ally expressed their sympathy, Il know Won
Will do as If 1T was your own children; and If il
don't succeed" here his voice faltered for a
moment but strusgling manfuIly he went on,