Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-02-01
Miseellanu.
LOST.
A LEGEND OF VERMONT.
BY JULIA GILL.

About ninety years ago. as | suppose.
the events of my story occurred 1t was in
Vermont within the limits of either SPRING
field or Rockingham. tits impossible now
to say which, that the log cabin which
was the home of the heroine stood. sur
rounded by forest The real names of
the actors in this tradegy of the woods
have passed out of the legend, and there
fore | substitute the first names which
come to mind.
81 have finished my spinning, Robert,
and shall carry the yarn home to-day. |
think | will spend the day with Mrs.
Green, and | wish you would come and
meet me and bring baby home" said the
young wife, taking the yarn in her apron
and the baby on her arm
Very WELL replied the husband, CIV
ing the growing child kiss as he started
off with his hoe over his shoulder for the
wheat field. He was hoing in wheat that
day. His lot had been burnt over and
sowed with wheat, but the huge stumps
of the old trees, the logs lying about,
and the thick underground roots in the
new land prevented the use of the
plough. ..
All day he worked busily in the fresh
soil, with the strange wood sounds about
him, eating his lunch at noon, from his
basket; until the lengthenlng shadows of
the forest around his small clearing beto-
kened the approach of sunset. Then he
started to meet his wife
A mile or two away in the forest. his
neighbor Green, had made his clear
ing" He went on without meeting the
wife and baby till he reached his neigh.
boris door.
Why" said Mrs. Green, in answer to
his inquiries, "didu't you meet her ? She
hasn't been gone long, only for few min
utes"
"Can she have missed the marked trees?"
asked Robert Harris, aghast. d..
The two men went together through
the forest which every moment grew dark
er and drearier Not so dark but they
could see the white cash cut on the side of
every prominent tree, which mark along
the dense woods was the only indication
of highway. They called Mrs. Ha' ris'
name loudly at intervals, but there came
no reply. They kept saying to each 9TH
er, I'VE may find her at home" but they
were heavy at heart The log house was
reached. but home it was no longer to Mr..
Harris. The mother and baby we're not
there. The cow lowed to be milked, and
the pigs, which ran in the woods and
came at night. clamored for their usual
feeding, hut the men took no notice of
them Back again through the woods.
with lantern. calling aud hallooing.
All in vain. Then they went on to the
next clearing. and the next.
"A woman is lost y
What telegram in these exciting days
of battle ever f. II more thrillingly on hu-
man nerves than these words going from
mouth to mouth among the home nests of
the new country With iron muscles
and determined Wills the warm hearted
settlers started out. 1--WE will scour the
woods we will find them never fear" !"
According to a custom they had at such
times. they blew dinner horns, built fires.
and shouted until they were hoarse. No
tidings of tie lost ones that night. All
the next day they searched, and day after
day as long as possible Fires we're left
smolderiDg among the trees. men VINO
knew the woods kept resolutely to the
search, but the budding forest held its
secret.
When Mrs. Harris started with her ba-
by from Mrs. Green's expecting momcnt-
arily TO meet her husband, she went on
carclessly, her attention being directed in
part to the child, until suddenly looking
up she discovered no white scars of the
axe on any tree in sight But she fancied
she had only stepped out Of the track
aud might in a moment regain it. A vain
fancy. Nothing familiar met her eyes.
The night came on. The little birds
went to rest. the owls laughed dolcfully.
She was alone with her infant in the sea