Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-09-30
From llarper's Weekly.
Our LOST HOY.

"My dear, assure you | have not the
least idea whore he is."
| said this to Mrs Dobb on her return at
ten o'clock at night. You see cousin Bob
drove up to the house just after ten and in.
yited my VIII" to go for a ride behind his
bays. Bob drives fast and handsome span
of bays, and a ride behind them is u treat
she is always delighted to enjoy, particularly
as do not keep anything but COW, which
is not good to either ride or drive. II is a
pleasing trait in my wife's character, that she
always obtains my permission before going
to ride with Bob. On this occasion she said /,
james, Bob is going to drive me out to
the Grove and back. We shan't be gone
long
AN right, my dear. permit you
'Oh, thank you, I'm sure Permit
And then she went.
was left in sole charge Of the house and
the four little Dobbs. Bridget had gone for
a walk with one Of her cousins, Of which
she has 9udntum suVScit. instructed the
children in the matter of behavior, and then
entered my study and went to writing.
never thought Of those babies again until
about half pas, nine. Then | shut up my
study and went to look after Them. | found
little Susie curled up on the sofa in the par
lor, fast asleep. Saliie had gone to bed, and
tucked herself nicely in with her hoops on.
Nell was on the hall stairs, sleeping like a
top. Aud Fred was
hunted the house all over from cellar to
garret, and finally came to the reluctant con-
clusion that, did not know where Fred was
So when Mrs. Dobbs came home, that Is
what told her.
James, do you want to frishten me to
death ?
No my dear; that would be too horrible.
Then where is that boyT
give you my word don't know
why, where did he go?
MY dear, if knew where he went
should go after him Immediately
oh dear was there ever such man o,
And have just got home alive, after being
run over by the cars
You don't tell me are you hurt much ?
well, we just escaped. The locomotive
come so close to us that it took my breath
away, and Bob had to put his arm around
me to keep me from swooning.'
Novel eXpcdicnt
And he said trembled like a leaf And
now come home only to find that you have
lost our boy, and to be frightened 10 death
again
Now, my dear, you are too severe. lost
the boy? didn't lose him"
Then ask you again, where is hep
I'm 60 and find him.
Find him = said my wife, with percept,
iblc accent of incredulity. we shall never
find him this night
Nevertheless lit cigar. exchanged my
slippers for boots, put on my coat and hat
and set out in the night to beat the neigh
borhood.
walked around the square, examining the
cutters carefully, aud looking over fences in
to peoples door yards, but | found nothing
but large number Of dogs, which bnrkcd
at me as if were a burglar.
Pausing under street lamp, I saw two
female figures approaching, and graspcd my
stick to be prepared for the worst. They
proved to be Mrs. Dobb and Bridget.
Can't you find him. said my wife, ir
tremulous tones.
Why no, my dear, haven't found him
yet, but dare say shall
james, how can you be so calm p
Why what's the use in tidgcting?'
And that darling child may be floating in
the river, with his poor little face turned uI
to the stars, and his father talks about iidg
citing 7
You horrify me, Susan. will 60 righ
down to the river and see about it,
| walked off smoking
1t was a long walk to the river, and smok
ing is favorable to thought. Before got t,
the waters edge | had concluded that there
was little probability Fred would be foun,
there. What should he 60 to the river for
However, stood on the dock and looked ~
and down the stream but could see moth
ing floating.
A man came off canal boat near by, and
| asked him il he had seen little boy
around there without any cap on.
Why, yes he said, Il have How old
boy was it you wanted, Siry
'Oh, about six or seven years DID, re
piled. can never remember those chill
dren's ages exactly. My wife says If had
thousand children l couldn't remember
their ages, and dare say couldn't How
was this little boy dressed that you saw p
continued.
didn't notice partic'lar. He was purity
ragged. lie axed me fer some cold whites
and guv him in charge. If I'd only known
y wanted i'm
But my boy isn't ragged
oh, your boy Have y lost yer boy,
Sirp'
Yes, he's got away somewhere. was
afraid he might have fallen in the river
P'r'aps he have. A many boys &c,
drownded in the river
Good Heavens | hope rot
oh but they do Now think Of it, my
old woman said she heard something about
a hall n hour ago. Who knows but il nigh,
a ben him p
You cannot conceive with what cheerful
sprightliness the wretch advanced this prop
ositOn.
IN tell you what it is said If you'll
get boat, and row up and down the rive,
and look, III give you ten dollars If you lind
him
But s'posn' DON. find i'm P
So much the better
Il tell you what said the man, il you
don't mind givin' me dollar afore start
III git boat and make a hunt for that.
wouldn't care to 60 othcrways.'
gave him dollar, and saw him set out
in leaky boat which required deal of pre-
liminary bailing; and that was the last saw
of him.
After waiting long time on the dock
went on the canal boat and put my bead ir
at the cabin door. There was light burn
ing OH table, but nobody was there. DE
scending into the cabin, took a card from
my pocket, and sat down to write word o
instruction to the nan against his return
with the lost boy. when was startled by Q
loud scream, close Mt my back. Turning.