The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-01-13
LOst.-A Legend of Vermont.
BY JULIA GILL.

n
the events of my story occurred. 1t was ir
Vermont, within the limits of either thu
, township of Rockingham Or of Springfield
it is impossible now to say which. that tht
loo cabin which was the home of the he
roine stood, surrounded by forest. The
real names of the actors in this tragedy O.
the woods have passed out of the legend
and ! therefore substitute the first names
which come to mind.
& 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 linen yarn in her apron and the
baby on her arm.
every well,'' replied the husband, civ.
ing the crowning child kiss as he started
Oft with his hoe over his shoulder for the
wheat field. He was hoeing 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 plow
All day he worked busily in the fresh
soil, with the strange wood-sounds about
him, eating his lunch at noon, from his lit
tie basket until the lengthening shadows
of the forest around his small clearing be-
tokened the approach of sunset. Then he
started off to meet his wife
A mile or two away in the forest, his
neighbor, Green, had made his ''clearing. :"
He went on without meeting the wife and
baby, until he reached his neighbor's
door.
Why" said Mrs. Green, in answer
to his inquiries, " didn't you meet her ?
She hasn't been gone long, only few
minutes"
''Can she have missed the marked trees?'
asked Robert Harris, aghast.
''Don't be alarmed, neighbor," said Mr.
Green, 81 will 90 back with YOU
The two men went together through the
forest which every moment grew darker
and drearlcr. 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 Harris name
loudly at intervals, but there came no re-
ply. They kept saying to each other, "We
may find her at home," but they were
heavy at heart. The log house was reach
Ell, but home it was no longer to Mr. Har-
ris. The mother and baby were not there.
The COW lowed to be MIXED, and the pigs,
which ran in the woods and came home at
night, clamorcd for their usual feeding, but
the men took no notice Of them. Back
again through the woods. with a lantern,
calling and hallooing All in vain Then
they went on to the next clearing, and the
next. GA wcman is lost" What tele-
gram in these exciting days of battle ever
fell more thrillingly on human nerves than
these words going from mouth to mouth
among the home-ne>ts of the new country
With iron muscles and determined wills
the warm-hearted settlers started out
eve will scolr the woods, we will find
them; never fear" Accordingly to a
custom they had at such times, they blew
dinner horns, built fires, and shouted until
they were hoarSe. No tidings of the lost
ones on that night All the next day
they searched, and day after day as long
as possible. Fires were left smoulderins
among the trees, men who knew the
woods kept resoIutely to the search, but
the budding April forest held its secret
When Mrs Harris started with her baby
in her arms from Mrs Green's expecting
momentally to meet her husband, she went
on carclesSlv, her attention being directed
in part to the child, until suddenly look
inc up. she discovered no white sears of the
Ak on any tree in sight. But she f,ncied
she had only stepped out Of the track and
might in a moment regain it, A vain
fancy. Nothing familiar met her eyes
The nj ght came on. The little birds Went
to rest, the owls laughed doletully. She
was alone with her infant in the great sea
OF forest where never wOodman's ak haC
echoed. She was lost. She sat down
faint and tired. and, woman-like began tt
cry. Uark That was certainly a hu.
man shout She rose. and holding hel
sleeping child firmly, ran, as fast as the
UT dergrowth and lallen trees across hel
path would permit her, towards the wei
come voice. She shouted back, but hel
small voice would never be heard; she
only walked the little child and must now
stop and hush it. Then she started or
again Hark the sound of a horn, but
in entirely another direction. Turning
her course she ran breathIeSs towards it
And now she thought she heard it again
further Oft. Many hours of the nigh
were spent in rushing, with hysteric sob.
and palpitating heart, toward the voice.
of her friends. SO near. that she coul(
hear them, but so far away that no etfor
OF trenzied strength could enable her tC
: reach their protecting presence. What
night 1t was. Towards morning she slep
leaning against a tree with the baby OF
her bosom. But she started nervously IL
her dreams and at the first bird-song WOKE
to full consciousness. With the daybreal
came renewal of her courage. Sh,
: would not weakly give up to die. He
friends would certainly find her to-day, OF
, she would find them. She saw near he,
J some Of the last years berries and tough
, leaves of the wintergreen And her,
were acorns. A poor breakfast, but sh,