Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-06-08

IJOylul IN the prospect Of home the eldest
running on before, and encouraging the
other two $50 they told us). But, alas /!
now sad their disappointment, reaching the
further side Of the timber, not the home
station, nor the fathers hut, appeared in
! view but vast ocean Of dark and drcary
heath stretching to the utmost horizon.
Dcspairing now, the little fellow united his
bundle, threw away the broom and, VIC
may, well imagine, if he had tears left to
shed, they flowed abundantly.
| The afternoon Of Saturday was now ad-
/ vanclnr. On this day the children were 10
be found, and in connection with their re.
covery Ood s hand must more signally ap-
pear. The natives were carrying on the
| tracks, sometimes slowly, sometimes at a
more. rapid pace. Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
smith were behind. About three o clock
the former gentleman, looking very careful
! ior moment or two along the line, espied
what seemed ircshcr one, coming in and
/ crossing that which they were traversine
Ike the lines Of the letter Y. He called the
blacks. They at once recognized it a. the
latest, and leaving the line they had been
following, struck off in northerly direction.
Most happy discovery, for by it three days
ofthe children's wanderings were bounded
over as by Il leap, and most happily follow
cd up for in less than half a mile it led
! to little chamber naturally formed stringy
bark saplngs in which-thc blacks at once
knew-they had evidently slept only the
night before. And now desire was ardent
/ to push on to overtakc them, it may be in
their very dying hours. The father felt
a. II GOD was going to give him his children
again.
/ Once Or twice valuable time had been
saved by riding on before the searcher, and
picking up the track ahead The father
wished to try thi, on more extensive
scale, but in what direction to 20 he knew
not. He would trust to God, " and laying
the reins on the horse neck he let him 90
forward. Nor was this trust disappointed.
The horse set forth at q cautcr. and soon led
on the track full thrce-quartera of a mile
( beyond; three times in succession did Mr..
Wilson also gain half mile, more or less,
and in this way the distance was greatly
shortened. For this there was need The
hour of sunset was drawing nigh, and it
would indeed be hcartrcnding when appar-
emily 50 near to be Obliged to retire before
/ the children were found.
Once more the father rode forward to ri
sing ground in the heath. From thence
he saw, short distance forward, "A clump of
sapllngs resembling those which formed the
previous night camp. Hcresolyed 70 ride
50 TAR ere he went back. Onward he went,
and before he reached the spot he saw, or
thought he saw, covering moved in the
wind. Putting spurs to his horse, he clear
ed the distance with bound, and to his in
discrbablo joy he found it even a. he hoped.
There, III the clump Of saplings which he
had seen, on bed Of broom over heath.
curtaincd and canopicd with the boughs Of
trees, his three young children lay; the
youngest in the middle, carefully wrapped
in his sister irock They appeared to be
in u deep and not unpleasant sleep, ant
they feared at once to disturb them.
The arrival Of the Others awoke the wear
led slccpers. The eldest first attempted tC
SIT up. His face was worn and cmatiaated
his mouth contracted so that the lips failed
to cover the teeth; his eyes glarcd wildly
yet seemed to fix upon his father. He tried
to speak, but the tongue lacked moisture,
and he could but teeby groan, Father,
and fell back again. Meanwhile the young,
est had awoke, and said Father" why did
you not come sooner? we were cooeyinC for
you. But the kind girl who had carried the
! little boy when he was weary and could not
walk no further, and who on the wet Fri
day night, as on this, had stripped herself
Of her frock, ''to cover Frank, for he was
crying with cold, seemed almost quite
gone: for when they took her in their
arms and tried to raise her up she did not
open her eyes, but crouching herself togeth-
er, tremulously murmured, 'cold, cold"
The youngest child was the strongest of
the three. 1t is most probable that the
other two would not have been able to con-
tinue their journey the following day. even
if they had lived through the night. The
trackers not having expected to find the
children alive, were unprepared with food
the only eatibles with the party were a piece
Of bread and some ginger root, which were
given to the famished. The little boys
trousers had been taken off; and when ask
ed the reason for this, the children said they
had got torn by travelling, and the girl tied
them up in a handkerchief. They had
taken off their socks when they slept out
the first night, and the wild cats carried
them off; and afterwards they had slept
with their shoes on.
1t was now about sunset; but the chill
dren Were found, and, though it was eight
miles to the nearest hut it was not doubted
that distance would be Travelled safely, as
they went along, the children were fed with
crumbs Of bread and butter, and coming TO
IA swamp, they were revived by some water.
ADOul ClpHl u ClbCh lIC hui WAS EcdCuGu,
and then motherly hands and a warm bed,
received the little ones, who for eight long
nights had lain exposed and uncontrolled
on the cold heath.
1t is interesting to know that, as soon as
the girl got warm in bed they heard her in
distinct accents, begin to repeat her evening
prayer
Gentle Jesus, meek apa mild,
Look upon little child
And it is still more interesting to know
that night after night, as the children lay
down on that cold heath, h,-sometimes heard
by brothers, sometimes heard by that bless
ed Savior Himself, this little girl, in pre-
cous words happily taught her, sought the
care and guardianship of Him who alone
could keep her and who will say that he
who hears the cry of the ravens young and |
giveth them their food, would unheedng /,
turn away from the cry Of a desoato child |
Rather let Us gratefully acknowledge the
answer of prayer in these childrcn's Won
derlul preservation, nine days without food |
and the no less remarkable guidance which |
led those who were seeking them to the very
spot where they were found, and at such
critical hour, -Edrly Days.
Sisters OF Mercy.
We have, on several occasions, spoken of
the sutfrings of the passengers on the i'll /
iated steamer Sultana, which was blown up
on the Mississippi river. Judge Satin, of
. HI, al had e., son ~, bnorl ,rhn urr;tcs mn