The Portland daily press., 1864-02-26
MISCELLANY.
The Lost Child.

her. in company with his eldest son, to estab-
lsh himself in business.
Shortly after leaving England, the young
est child, girl of six, was taken i'll with fe-
yer, and for some weeks her life was despaired
of. After weeks of suspense, the disease at
length took turn for the better, and the
child began TO mend rapidly.
The mental anxiety and the constant watch
ing in the close confinement of the cabin be-
tween decks, had told severely on the mother;
and now, that there was no occasion for such
seif-sacrifce, insisted upon its cessation, or
relaxation at least, for she would still have
kept by the bedside.
Using the authority Of a medical man, there
fore, and seconded 10y the entreaties OF her ell
dest daughter, noble girl OF eighteen, one
day prevailed upon Mrs Butler to leave her
child, and join tie dinner party in the cuddy
for an hour or two. 1t was the first time for
many weeks that she had been on deck; and
seeing their mother, two Of her sons, boys Of
eight and ten, rushed mp TO her.
Are you going to dinner, mother? Don't
forget to bring us ont some oranges and ban
anas 1--WE had put in at The Canary lslands,l
will you?'
III you are good boys, and promise not TO
run up the rigging while am In there, will"
she replied. but where is your little broth
er? have not seen him lately"
Isn't be below p said the elder Of the two,
looking surprised. "Then he must be in the
storage, or else with the sailors"
"How often have ! told you ! will not have
you go there" said Mrs Butler, angrily.-
you learn only mischief there. Go and fetch
him away directly" and the two boys ran
forward, while their mother entered the cud-
dy.
From where / sat, at the end of the table, /
commanded view Of the decks through the
open doors; and Mrs. Butler requested me
to keep an eye upon her two lads, who caused
her constant anxiety. was rather surprised,
therefore, when observed the two in the very
act af descending, one OF the fore, and the 9TH
er the main shronds. The dinner was nearly
over. the dessert being placed on the table,
and rose, and excusing myself. went out 10
them. As came up to the eldest, he was
just reaching the deck, aud looked, as |
thought much alarmed on seeing me.
What is the word Of a boy like yoa worth ~
said /. you promised your mother faith
fully you would not do it. Shame on you
bothis / added as the other one now came
up; "you, In particular, John, as you are the
Oldest. But where is your brother"
"Oh, he is drowned! he has fallen over
board Oh, what will mother say?''
"Hushi' / said, don't let your mother see
you crying; come with me y and thinking the
men forward might have hidden the child for
a joke, to frighten the lads, went to the fore
and overhauied their berths to see il he were
slowed away asleep somewhere. The steer
age was also ransacked, but no one had OBJ
served him. / then went TO the cabin between
decks, where the officers berths were, and
where, for want of sufficient room in the cud-
dy, some had been set apart for Mrs. Buffers
children TO sleep in.
As / opened the door Of her berth. Miss
Butler looked up. She was nursing the sick
child. which she held in her arms, aud catch
ing sight of the pallid, fearful faces Of the
two boys behind me, started up in alarm.
What has happened, doctor2 Is my moth
er p"
"Your mother is quite well, Miss Butler;
do not alarm yourself needlessly. l merely
came TO say that these boys cannot lnd their
brother, who is doubtless asleep somewhere
down here. Have you seen him lately?"
No, she had not seen him for some hours,
and, upon being questioned, the other chill
dren, Of whom there were two or three below,
also denied having seen the child. Every pos
sible recess which could conceal him was raR-
sacked, but irniilessly; lie was nowhere 10 be
found; and the conviction forced itselfon us,
that u not found In the cuddy, the unfortn-
nate child had probably fallen unnoticed over
board.
II must 60 and inform the captain Of this"
Miss Butler; lie will institute a more rigid
search and all may yet be well. DO not de-
spair.r
"Stay moment, doctor; mother viii be
coming down Immediately, aud / fear this
dreadful shock, worn out as she is with nurs-
ing Jane-O, fear it viii kill her. Until all
nope Is gone, keep the news from her: keep
her in the enddy awhile; tell her Jane is all
right, and she had better stay where she is,
until"
The poor gill, who was herself worn ont
with assisting her mother in watching the sick
child, had keptnp admiralty hitherto; but she
now gave way entirely and sank down utterly
overcome. j went up and entered the saloon,
where i found gay and happy party in the
full tide Of conversation. Mrs. Buffers face
was wreathed with smiles, as she sat chatting
with some Of lhe other ladies.
But when thought of the fearful shock
which awaited her, almost regretted having
persuaded her TO come up; the reyuision Of
feeling would be dreadful. She was about TO
leave the saloon as came In but succeeded
in OBTAINING her for nearly half an hour while
the captain. TO whom | had managed to con-
vey the tidings of the boys disappearance,
went out and snperintended complete and
thorough examination Of every part or the ship
into which he could have wandered But this
search was lruitlsss as my own had been, as |
observed by the expression OF his face. AS he
came In, Mrs Butler rose to 90, and / no longer
tried TO detain her.
fSA icip tut poor NpHAAlsH saiA lhE cap
tain, as, cheerally wishing us all good eve
ming, she passed out ON to the qnarter- deck:
but perhaps. he added quickly, the boy may
have smuggled himself into some of these
berths''
Il am afraid continued the captain, "she
will want your assistance, doctor; the news
will prove too much for herr Fearing this
result myself had risen to follow the unhappy
mother, bat paused upon observing that Mrs.
Butler had not as yet gone below. She was
standing by the ships side, gazing upon the
expanse Of waters which were splendent with
the gorgeous tints of 4 iTopieal sunset.
AS she disappeared down the hstcbway, car
rying IN her hands the promised supply of fruit
Tor her little ones, | went forward and looked
down. 1t was dusk between decks, and the
lamp had not yet been lighted, so that She
could not distinguish their features. She
stopped aad kissed the sick child. who was
still held by Miss Butler, and then, sitting
down, called the children.
"Now where are you all ?n she said, surprised
at their unusual quiet. "Who is for oranges
Come along. Boys, where have you got to I?
John-Henry -Josephl"
The two lads came forward, slowly and re-
luctantly, and received their fruit ia silence
and with hanging heads.
"What Is the matter with them, Ann?r she
said, quickly turning to her daughter. who bent
over the sleeping child without answering,
At this moment descended the ladder and
looking upwards. past ne, Mrs. Butler caught
sight Of the pityiDg faces of number of the
passengers who were gazing from the deck
Instantly the mothers instinct took alarm aud
she spraug to her feet
"Josephl / don'tse Joseph Doctor, what
has happened ?e she exclaimed wildly as shn