Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-04-02
JOY OVER THE RETURNING.

The following affecting tale of lost child is
from the pen Of the Rev. DIR. Eddy, the editor
of the Chicago Advocate:
Monday evening of last week, after a hard
days work, we left the Office and started home
ward. In the room below, we found Mrs. f.
in waiting, and together started up State street
About half way, we met our Oldest son, and
saw that he had some tidings of evil He
could only say, "Litte RAINY is lost, and we
cannot find him anywhere" The little one is
the lamb Of our fold, a brighteyed boy between
two and three years of age, with fair hair hang
ing in sunny ringlets. Dear child-his little
feet always patter on the hall, when we ring
the bell at noon, and his arms have always "a
hug" and his rosy lips kiss, for papa
We fastened home, and ascertaned that he
had been gone nearly an hour. The imme-
date neighborhood had been searched in vain
We started instantly. The streets, alleys ETC.,
within reach were traversed but no tidines
Night was at hand, and evidently our child was
beyond our neighborhood, and that cold night,
was lost in the midst of this great Babel.
Notice was sent to the police station, and to
some of the churches having service that even
ing. A friend procured the crier We had
often heard that BELL and the cry of 'lost
child, but never fell the tones so sadly as we
heard them that night, as he cried, ''Lost child
"a little boy, not three years old, lost from
l12 Edna Place-bareheaded light curly hair,
had on red dress, stockings, and little slip
pers" Oh, those cries We have heard them
ever since. Kind friends came to our aid
strangers came with fearful sympathy-parties
were formed, who patrolled the streets and
alleys in all directions, but came back with the
sad word, "No tidings."
The hours wore on, and near midnight the
search was given up for the night.
Dear reader, may you never pass a night of
such suspense We sat by the fire, and how
our hearts would bound as footstep neared
our gate. Perhaps its some one from the
police station with our child. No the steps
sound on. Our door is passed
We did pray, we did commit our child 10 the
All-Father and that alone sustained us. But
we could not shut out the visions which crowd
ed upon us unbidden. Now we imagined we
heard his wall above the moaning of the tenn
pest and signing of the waves now we saw
him lying upon the cold ground, those locks
frozen to the earth then again we saw him
caught in the net work of railroads on Clark
street. and crushed to shapeless mass.
Slowly passed the hours. Will daylight
never come! 1t came at last Ere we began
our search again, we went into the breakfast
room, and there lying upon the sewing machine
was his little hat. We turned from it, and in
the corner stood his rocking horse, with the
reins drawn over his head, just as he left it !;
while on the table was his plate, with his high
chair beside it. Up to that moment we main
tanned our frmness, but we could no longer
Friends came to assist U.S. God bless them
Never did we need them moreover did we
appreciate them more highly The authorities
placed the police at our service, to make the
search thorough.
Still no tidings. Nearly eighteen hours had
passed. each hope had been crushed, and the
prospect grew darker.
AT this juncture came a German to the
house. and said that if our child was the one
described in the morning papers, he was safe,
and he would bring him. We did not see him,
and on learning the news drove to the place we
supposed he designated, but found no child.
Homeward again he did not come. The
friends in the search had in part returned, and
were awaiting the result of this intelligence,
ere they should go again. The anxiety was
too deep for word. AT last we saw some one
coming-how far one can see who looks for a
lost child-nearer and nearer. 1t vast was
our child God be praised, he was safe !!
Sacred be the mothers emotions-mothers can
imagine them
Our friends gathered with swimming eyes
about the child. There was no need to call
them to ''come and rejoice with u.s." They
came unbddsn. There were three other chill
,
had not wandered three whom we loved as
we loved the fourth but q, there was in our
hearts, there was among our neighbors, more
Joy over the one, than over the three that went
not astray !--more-aye, more We did not
love them less, but the joy was over the res
cued
An honest German had found the little wan
derer long distance from home, and saw that
he was lost. He took him up and carried him
to his house, placed him in crib, and rocked
him to sleep, had washed and fed him, and re-
stored him to our arms. We asked him to ac-
cept pecuniary recompense, but he refused,
saying in broken English 81 have children,
too if one of mine was lost ] would want
some one to take him up. No, no-no money"
and he buttoned his coat over his noble Teu-
tonic heart, and bid us goodbye.
Will our readers pardon this personal detail I!
1t has taught us some lessons Never before
did we fully know the import of that word,
suspense Never did we feel the terrible
meaning Of the word lost Never did we so
read the declaration of joy in heaven over the
repenting! And never did we SO appreciate
the kind attentions of friends, whom we thank
from the depth of our inmost nature, and de-
voutly do we pray that we may never have
occasion to assist them in similar trial.