Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-21

choking down the grief till every muscle i'm his
throat swelled to bursting continued
This blow has unnamed me- shall want
some one to give me courage when get back
or shall not dare to meet the mother face
told her certainly We would bring them back -
His besoeching expression was heartrending
TO see; and It was the more touching, because
ROBERT Carr was known az a man OF unusually
strong mind, and one whom all looked up TO for
support and consolation in trouble.
de had just lifted his head again, after these
words, and was preparing, with sad resignation.
toiead the way toward the road, when suddenly
from the outskirts of the exploring party came
quick glad shout.
lnstantaneOusly every face was turned eager
'ly in the direction of the sound 1t had been
supposed that all the members of the party had
been present at the exploration, but now on
more narrowly scru'inizing the group, one was
found missing. .,
. Hot here! hol"
The voice was clear and joyous, and was rec
ogniZed instantly - -.0-
"ltis Jim Strong, cried John Brown. "What
can 1t mean? Does any one see his torch !''
All ran eagerly in the direction of the voice,
and soon light was seen glimmering, like a
faint haio, through the wet woods. r
" HO. no! no %
Exuitant, and still exultant. that voice ross
on the night air. Every pulse bounded high
with hope
My children" cried the father, thrillinely,
leading the excited race.
Ii seemed but minute till theS teached their
companion. Standing on an old fallen trunk.
ne waved his torch to guide them, crying as
eney approached, They're here, alive and
well, hurrah,' ." -
As he spoke, the father had parted the un-
dergrowth, and leaping the fallen tree, found
himself IN small glade Before him were his
children, lovingly entwined in each others
arms, and just aroused from sleep
Their heads only were raised Their little
alright. WIN
THANK God," cried the father falling m his
knees, and clasping them in his arms, then
bursting into cOnvulsive weeping.
Inc little ones, recognizing their father, had
simultaneously sprung to his heart, where they
lay sobbiDg for joy, and clasping him tighter
The neighbors stood at a respectful distance
a"eu Dy we scene; and there was not dry eye
in the whole company.
At last the passion of the fathers 10Y moder-
ated He remembered the Almighty hand
which had restored his children. flushing the
soos OF his little ones, and looking up, he said
reyerently-
Let us pray"
All uncovered, and there, in the dim forest
the tather, holding each little one by hand.
none present forgot to their dying day Ityas
eloquent with gratitude such as only those
VINO have been delivered from deep tribulation
can realize
when the prayer was over, strong arms press
cd the wet little ones to warm sheltering bo-
SONS. Maggie would not leave her father nor
would he consent to part with her; indeed. he
looked regretfully on Lucy, as John Brown lifted
her away, evidently longing to carry her also.
Atfirst Lucy insisted on walking but she found.
almost the hrSt step, that il was impossible So
stH was she with cold So she consented to ne
carried, laying her head on Johns broad shouI-
der with thankful smile, and putting her little
arm around his neck lovingly as if she had been
his own child
how they became lost. She described how thew
had knelt down in the alright during the
helght oil the storm; and how they fell asLeep
In each other arms, after they had said their
prayers to each other. maggie, ," she said,
touchIngly: "Often asked for mother Watched
Tor long time after she was asleep, and tried
10 Keep awake, but couldn't, 1 don't suppose,
ior the hrst l knew was being awaked by the
noise and light, and seeing father"
Jim Strong had to tell his story.
mad sort OF feeling, he said, " that I'd
just 90 little further this way-I s. pose il was
the Lord that sent me, for even the rough
est acknowledged the hand Of Providence in
thal nour, and bless me, as got into this ere
opening the fust thing saw was the children
lying asleep in each others arms, lust like the
Babies in the Wood"
Fatigue was now forgotten. The road back
TO the village was soon traversed, for each man
seemed to tread upon the air Long before
the joyful procession had reached the door of
the Carr 5, crowd of women around IL was
discerned, for one who had been on the watch
Tor two hours, ut the sight of the torches had
summoned the rest. The cheering shouts of
the men announcing, while they were yet dis
tant, that they returned with the children, the
mother now frantic with Joy, came rushing
down. the street to meet them, and catching
first one child and then another from the arms
that bore them, almost smothered them with
kisses and embraces
But what words can paint all that followed
The deliriOus joy of the mother, the crowd
ing OF the females around the recovered dear
ones, the tears Of all, the almost hystericaI
congratulations 1t required the interposition
OF some of tho more thoughtful to have the in
nOcent sufferers relieved OF their wet garments.
placed In warm beds, and allowed to seek the
sleep 30 necessary for their health, and de-
manded so imperatively by their fatigue
From that day Mrs Carr's character has
greatly changed Nor has she been heard,
even in her most irritable moments to vent her
feelings on her children She looks on them
as Providentialiy restored, after they had been
taken from her as judgment.
But Is II not written, even of the birds of the
air, "yOur Heavenly Father feedeth them
are ye not better than they ~