Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-12-25
LITTLE ANNIE,

~ OIR Will NhlJDs
LITTLE ANNIE,
AGED FoUR YEARS
A transverse line was cut deep under
the word only as though the parent
would thus emphasize bis grief. There
was nothing more: this was all we could
CLEAN of Little Annie or her belongings.
1t was very simple, but re'y touching.
The sun had not yet sunk behind the
mountains. Silently, and without spo-
ken concert, we struck our camp and
moved further down the stream, for it
was holy ground, and had been consecra.
ted by fathers and by mothers tears.
That night we rested with the sky for
our eanopyS ard as the moon sailed high,
like silver seal upon the closing day,
and the stars like jewels strewed the
bouhdless raight sea, we had visions of
Little Annie dead in the desert.
Dead IN the DESERT said a grief-worn
father vne day to US. Upon the top of
a granite hill within the state of Califor-
MIA, few hundred yards from the old
enligrant track, far removed from human
ehabitation, we came 10 a grave with this
Inscription upon the head board -
Here lies the shattered wreck of Fathers
hopes,
A BRAVE BOY-A LOVING SON.
Then follows Latin inscription TO this
purport:
None are happy until after DEATH
The occupant of this lone sepulchre
was slaughtered by Indians while defend
ing a mother and sister in the absence of
the father, who was days journey in
advance of them. The mother and sis.
ter escaped. The lad was killed within
three days travel of lis destination, after
a weary journey of two thousand miles.
Dead in the DESERT said an orphan
boy then in the city of Brooklyn, when
asked of his father and mother.
On the banks of the Rio Colorado,
near to the borders of the territory of
Nebraska, and in a direct line from 'tbe
high prairies' of Texas, through New
Mexico to Salt Lake city, in Utah, is a
solitary grave. BY this grave has been
erected a strong and substantial head
board, over which has been stretched and
securely nailed, while yet green, buffa-
10 hide, with the flesh side outermost, so
that in drying it has shaped itself to the
wood. Upon the parchment surface, with
a hot iron has been singed the following
inscription -
HENRY UDCLF lies here.
Died Septr ID, 1854.
PRAY ron HIS WIDOW AND soRRowINo Boy
Thousands know of the existence Of
this grave who have never passed it-and
why More than 600 miles to the north
west, and on the banks of crystal stream
bearing an Indian name which signifies
'Sweetwater,' is another grave with a
headboard of exactly similar construction.
On this too is Inscribed
THE WIDOW OF HENRY UDOLF lies here.
HIS GRAVE is ON THE COLORADO.
PRAY FOR HIS ORPHAN BOY.
Jan. LIST, 1855.
Within little more than three months
OF each other, the husband and wife
the father and mother-lay sleeping in
death with more than GOO miles of des-
ert between them. what then of the
orphan boy ?'-More of him anon.
Dead in the DESERT said an old Hud-
son Bay trapper, one of a company who,
upon a bright moonlight night in the
month of October, 1860, on board a riv-
er craft, were dropping down the stream
of the Sacramento toward San Francisco.
The old mountaineer had passed life OF
hardship and perilous adventure he bore
the scars of many an Indian conflict, he
could count his fights with the fierce griz-
ely OF the mountains by scores, knew
well the meaning of hunger and of thirst,
had buried many companion 10 the lone
wilderness stern and rugged in his ap-
pearance. with a voice like the low growI
OF lion, NEVERTHELESS lacking nothing of