Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-08-27
MIS- c l. LLAN Y.
From the Home Journal.
THE LOST CHILD.
ny A SOUTHERN MAN,

ny SOUTIlERS NAN.
Many year. ago there occurred in 0bion
county, Tennessee, one Of the most thrilling
domestic tragedies which move to tears by
the pa,hos Of their mourniul details. a
farmer named Riley. who lived near the al
luyial bottom which borders the 0bion river
had an only child, a daughter, some siI or
seven years old. Little Ella was the darling
Of her parents. and iavorite with all who
knew her. To great beauty Of person and
sprightlIncss Of manner, she added an un.
common share OF the win'omo graccs Of
childhood. Her merry prattle and rinsiSg
laughter wero like the cadenccs Of q sweet
song, cchoing through the home and hearts
Of the parents.
Having no companion 10 join in her
sports, her playground wa. limited to a
small ARA Immediately around the family
mansion. Therc, busy as bee, she romped
aud spor,ed. commuuins with nature and
herself, IN the thousand unnamed and un.
namabls ways which tho benedccnee Of
Providence has provided FOR the Amusement
and instruction Of children. Her prolonged
absences from tho house, being almost daily,
were consequently seldom noticed.
one afternoon in midwintcr, she was OBJ
served, Immediately after dinner, to take
her bonnet and mitten. and so out, appa'
rcntly in an unusually frolicsomc mood.
For some time she was seen or heard merry.
making in her usual places OF resort. Mr..
Riley was absent from home on some neigh :
borhood business. Ills wife and the few
other inmates Of the family, busy with other
duties, had not observed that the voice OF the
child bad been for some hours silen, in her
playground.
The shades Of long winter night were
darkening over the fields, and when Mr.. Ri
Icy returned home he found his family in
CONSERVATION at the prolonged absence oi
little Ella. The search for her which had
commenccd a, dusk, was continued by oil
the members Of the household until every
nook and corner Of the premises had been
minuteIy and repeatedly inspected. The
child was nowhere to be found.
The painful conviction forced itself upon
the minds Of their parents tha, little Ella
had wandered OF from home, and was lost
The night was now fully set in. A cutting
wind from the north whis;led sharply about
the bare branches Of the trees, and the cold
was intense. Every moment increased ,h'
agony Of thc parents, and made them from
bic for the fate Of their child, exposed to the
fierce inclemency Of the wind and cold.
As soon rs the domestic search prove
useless, 1t was decided to alarm tho neigh
borhood, and extend the search TO the sur
rounding fields and woods. Mounting hi'
still unsiabled horse Mr.. Riley aew to bii
nearest neighbor with the tidings Of his ca
lamity. Thence messenger was despatched
to the nearest ncighbors and so on in sue
eession until circuit Of many miles in ex
tent was in active commo,lon and alarm
/ All knew and loved little Ella, and respect
ed her parents, FOR they were good neighbour
and excellent people. As fast as hoof oil
loot could bring them, they came pouring
in from all quarters, men and boys, gloves
and coated for the winter nights exposure
and the search for the lost iavorite Of th,
neighborhood.
A plan Of operations was adopted anC
carried into immediate execution. DetailcC
in small bands, with a prescribed circuit
around the premises, widening outwardly
with each addition. assigned to each squad
they began the search by torch light anC
with concerted signals to indicate its prog
rcss and result. IL was "a touching and al
the same time soodly sigh, to SEQ tho''
bold, kind.hearted rus,ics, marching TO n,
beat OF their benevolent feelings, ,hro
cold and darkness, to seek and IL possible t.
save one little wanderer from the social cir,
Gle. The touch Of nature spoken Of by the
great dramatist, had made them all feel o
kin 10 the child.
All night long tho weary and fruitles'
search wen. on. The morning rose cold and
cloudcd upon the benumbed and exhausted
party. An area Of more than mile in d.
ametcr around the house OF Mr.. Riley had
bcen searched, bu, no sight Of the los. child
had been discovered.
New recruits arriving from the more dis
tant parts Of the nsighborhood to Gil the
places Of those whom fatigue or indispensi-
BILE business compelled to retire, the search
was resumed upon the same plan that had
been pursued during the night. Every pos
sible place Of concealment for dead body
was examined. Shouts were exchanged be-
tween the detachments, and occasional gun,
fired, to attract the attention Of Ella, II still