The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-05-20
Saturday Morning, May 20, 1865.
The Lost Child.

Eighty-four years ago last month, there
lived young man and his wife in the north
western portion of a township now called
New Gloucester, from the fact It was first set
tied by people Trom Cape Ann, or Old Glou-
cester. The name of this young husband was
'Jabez True. At the time our story COM
menees, this young couple had, we believe,
three or four children. With bold hearts and
strong arms, they commenced married life, re-
solved to clear up farm and get their living in
an honest way. For miles around their farm
the forest was almost unbroken, and their
neighbors "were few and far between" A
short distance south of them was level san
dy plain thickly covered with stately pines,
monarchs of the forest. And all along the
valley of Royals river there was a splendid
growth of these noble trees through whose
branches the winds had made sweet but mel.
ancholy music for centuries. The river that
rose from Sabbathday pond near where the
shakers begun their settlement nearly three
fourths of century ago, was filled with speck-
led trout, and the otter and the beaver SPORT
ed in its waters.
In those days it required good deal Of
courage and determination to clear up farm
and settle down In such wilderness; but
young True was nothing daunted, and his
young and beautiful wife was fully qualified
for the task their new relation imposed upon
her. At that period ths young married for
love and formed union for high and noble
purposes. "a higher civilization ? which is SO
much talked about in this fast age, had not
corrupted their hearts, nor Fashion-given them
Expensive habits" The husband was con-
tented to fell the trees and plant his seed
in the burnt ground, while his wife was happy
in hearing the music of the spinning wheel as
she drew out the warp and woof from the soft
wool which few sheep had yielded for their
clothing-the sheep the wolves had spared, for
these ravenous animals were exceedingly
troublesome at that time and for many years
afterwards. The bears, too, had.to be watch
ed, and occasionally one would forfeit his life
in strong log trap for the deeds he had done.
1t was bright and beautiful day in the
month OF April, 1881. The snow had melted
away on tue high lands and on the sunny hill
sides, while it lay thick and heavy in the dark,
cold swamps, where the tracks of the wolves
might be seen, and their howlings heard in the
night. The husband was In the barn swinging
fax,a sight which isnow seldom witnessed. The
family had eaten their dinner, the dishes were
washed and placed ia the clean cupboard, and
the frugal, industrious wife was turning the
spinning wheel and accompanying its music
with simple melody her husband loved so
well. The eldest children, by consent of the
mother, had gone out into the woods to gath
or some "boxberry plums," as those small red
plums that nestle under the snow all winter
and come out bright and plump in the spring,
were then called. These berries, bright and
red, afforded quite a temptation TO. children
who had lived in log house all winter, and
some spots Of bare ground are visible.
Picking these berries is a pleasant pastime for
children, who often have more taste for the
beautiful in nature than we give them credit
for. la1 Nt8 ts1 iAEN
Not long after theelder children had gone,
their little sister left the house to go to the
barn and see her father swingle fax. She was
about two years old, and after she went out,
the thought struck her that she would go and
try to lnd the other children and pick some
plums too. But neither father nor mother
knew that fact. The former was busily engag-
ed in swinging the "hands of fax" and the lat
ter was industriously turning the spinning
wheel, both happy in their useful work.
1t was nearly sundown when the elder chill
dren returned with their baskets of berries
but the little sister was not with them. The
father had finished his task and was doing
some chores about the house. He told his
wife that little Sis had not been at the barn,
and the other children had not seen her.
Now the alarm commenced; the young par
ents were in great trouble. he hurried into
the woods and secured them in all directions,
and his wife did the same till the curtains Of
night were drawn over that troubled house,
hold. The reader can imagine better than
we can describe the anxious and troubled feel
ings of that young mother.
The father had hurried away to his distant
neighbors who accompanied him home to
hunt for the lost child. Tin dinner horns
were blown, guns fired, torches were lighted,
and many old stumps and dry stubs were set
on fire to scare away the wolves. The moth
er could find no rest, and to drown her sor-
rows she spun all night, while the men and
boys were securing the woods and making
all the noise they could for the double purpose
ofattracling the attention of the lost child and
of frightening away the wolves.
Morning came, but no tidings of little Sis,
The well had been examined, but she was not
there. The search was kept up, and more dis
tant neighbors had assembled and joined in
the search. Late in the forenoon the house-cat
came home and jumped into the room through
broken window. She appeared to be hun
cry and they fed her. Immediately after eat
ing, she leaped through the window again and
made for the woods through clearing. The
almost distracted mother followed the cat, but
could not keep pace with her. Others came
up and Joined the mother in the pursuit. The
cat had gone out of their sight, but they fol
lowed her course as near as they could, hoping
something might come of it, and yet fearing
that the child would never be found, but i
found, she would be dead
Joy and gladness lighted up the mothers
face, and she exclaimed; "There's my child1
running and lifting her from the ground. Si
and the cat were found together. The NIGH
had been cold, and in many places there was
much snow on the ground. There was the
fur of the cat on the child's dress, showing