The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-11-22
NO - II.
LEGEND OF VERMONT.

About ninety years ago, I suppose,
the event of my story occurred. 1t
was in Vermont, within the limits of
either tho townships of Rockingham or
Springfield, it is 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 tragedy of the
woods have passed out of the legend,
and l therefore substitute the first
names which come in my mind.
"I-have finished my spinning, Rob-
ert, and shall carry the yarn home to,
day. think l will spend the day
with Mrs. Green, anu wish you would
come and meot me, and bring baby
homo, said the young wife, taking the
linen yarn in her apron, and the baby
on her arm.
"Vory we'll" replied the husband,
giving the growing child kiss as he
started off with his hoe over his shoul-
der for the wheat field. HIS lot had
been burned over and sown with wheat,
but the huge stumps Of the old trees,
at logs laying 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 little basket, until the length
ening shadows OF the forest around his
clearing betokened the approach of
sunset. Then he started off to meet
bis wife. A mile or two in the forest
his neighbor Green had made his clear,
ing. He went on without meeting his
vito and baby, until he got to his
neighbours 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, nelghbor,' said
Mr.. Green, 81 will go back with you"
The two, men went through the for
rest which every moment grew darker
and drcarier. Not so dark but they
could see the white. cash cut in every
prominent tree-which mark along
the dense wood was the only indca-
ton they had of tho highway. They
called Mrs. Harris name loudly, at in
tervals, but there came no reply. They
kept saying to each other, I'VE may
find her at home, but they were heavy
at heart. The log house was reached
but II was no longer home to Mr.. Har'
ris. The mother and baby were not
there. The COW lowed to be milked
and the pigs, which run in the woods
and came home at night, clamored foi
their usual feeding, but the men took
no notice of them. Back again through
the woods with lantern, calling and
hal!ooing. All in vain. Then they
went on to the next clearing, and the
next. "A woman is lostP What tele
gram in the exciting days of battle
ever fell more thrilling on human
-nerves than these words going from
mouth to mouth, in the home nests o.
a new country? With iron muscles anc
determined wills the warm hearted set
tiers started out. we will scour the
woods; we will find them, never fear.
According to u custom they had a
such times, they blew dinner horns
built fires and shouted until they were
hoarse. No tidings of the lost ones oil
that night. Ali the next day they
searched, and day after day as long a
possible. Fires were left smoulderin.
among the trees, men who knew tn
, woods kept resolute to the search, bu
the budding April forest held its Sc
cret
When Mrs. Harris started with he
baby in her arms from Mrs. Green
expecting momentarily to meet he
husband, she went on carelessly, he
Q attention being directed in part to tn
! child, until suddenly looking up, sh
discovered no white scars of the AK
on any tree in sight. But she fancie'
she had stepped out of the track, ant
might in moment regain it, A val
fancy. Nothing familiar met her eyes
The night came-on. The little bird
went to rest, the owls laughed doleful
ly. She was alone with her infant, i
J. the great sea of forest where never
woodman's axe had echoed She wa
J. lost. She sat down, frightened an
tired, and woman like, began to cry
Hark! That was certainly a huma
shout. She arose, and holding nc
= :, course, she ran breathless toward it,
!; And now she thought she heard
>, again, further off. Many hours in tn
: night were spent in rushing, with hy'
J, terical sobs and palpitating heart, t.
4 wards the voices of her friends, so ne'
4 that she could hear them, but SO fl
y away that no effort Of frenzied streDgt
fcould enable her to reach their protec