The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-07-16
MISCELLANY.
N~.~-~~~~~~~~~-O
Lost ia the Woods.


my StoTy colnilenCcu. III was IN Cr-
mont, within the limits of the township
of Rockingham or Springfield, it is
impossible to say which, that the log
cabin which was the home of the heroine
stood, surrounded l,y forest. The real
names of the actors of this tragedy Of the
woods have passed out Of the legend and
], therefore, substitute names which come
to my mind.
81 have finished my spinihg, 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 the baby home" said
the young wife, taking the linen yarn in
he apron and the baby ON her arm.
Very well replied the husband
giving his growing child kiss, as he
started off with hi, hoe over his shoulder
for his wheat f,ld. Iii. lot had been
burned over and sown with wheat, but
the huge stumps of the old trees, 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 sound about
him, eating his lunch at noon from the
little basket, until the heightened sha lows
of the forest around his clearing betokencd
sunset Then he started off to meet his
wife. y mile or two IN the forest his
neighbor Green had made his clearing.
lie went on, without meeting lis wife
and baby, until he got to his ncighbor's
| dolr.
" Why" said Mrs. Green, in answer
to his enquiries, "dijn't you meet her
She hasn't been gone long -only few
minutes"
"Can she possibly have missed the
marked trees " asked Robert llarris,
aghast.
'Do not be alarmed, ncighbor Harris,
said Mr. Green, | will go along back
with you
The two men went together through
the forest, which every moment grcw
darker and drearicr They called Mrs
llarris's name aloud at intervals, but
there came no reply. They kept saying
to each other, "We may find her at
homc," but they were heavy at heart.
The house was reached, but the mother
and baby were not there. The COW low
ed to be milked, and the pigs, who ran
in the woods all day and came home at
night, clamored for their usual feeding,
but the men took no notice Ct them Back
again throgh The woods with lantern,
calling AMI hallooing. Then they went
! ia lp FL.
GA woman lost What telegram
in the most exciting days of battle ever
fell more thrilling on human ears than
those words, going from among the home
nests OF Il new country
With iron muscles and determined wills
the warm. m.hearted settlers started out.
" We will scour the wood; we will find
her never fear " According to custom
they had at such times, they blew dinner
horns, built fires, and shouted until they
were hoarso. 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 smouldering
among the trees, men who knew the
woods kept resOluiely to the Search but
the budding April forests had its own
secrets.
When Mrs. Harris started, with her
baby in hcr arms, from Mrs. Green's,
expecting momcntarily to m ct her hus-
band, she went on carclessly, her attention
being directed in part TO the child, when,
suddenly looking up, she discovered no
whlte scar OF tn axe on any tree in sight
But she fancied she had only stepped out
OF the track, might in moment regain
it. A VAN fancy She went on, bu,
nothing familiar met her eye.
The night came on. The song birds
went to rest, and the owls commenced
their doleful hooting She was alone with
her infant in great sea of forest, where
never woodman's axe had echoed. She
was lost. She sat down faint and tired
and, womanlike, began TO cry. IIark !
That was a human shout! She arose
and, holding her course, ran breaihles,y
toward it. And now she thought she
heard it again, farther Oft. Many hours
OF the night were spout in running, with
hyslercal sobs and palptating heart,
towards the voices of her friends, SO near
that she. could hear them, but 50 far
away the no effort of frcnzied strength
could enable her to reach their protecting
presence Towards morning She slept,
leaning against tree, with her baby on
her bosom. But she started ncrvousy in
her dreams, and at the first bird song
awoke to full Consciousness With day
break came renewal of her courage.
She would not weakly give up to die.
Her friends would find them. She saw
near her some last years berries, and
tough leaves Of winiergreen, ard few
acorns A poor breakfast, but she ate
whatever she could find, for the childs
sake more than for her own. This day
also she ran wildly through the tangle of
dead brakes and briers, growing from the
decay of centuries, over the gullies and
Jagged rocks, past rude branches that
caught at and rent her dress, till she
came to the dying embers Of fire. Here
she fingers long. Her friends have boen
here; perhaps Robert had kindled this
fire with his own hands, and for her.
llark, again! the search has commenced
this morning. Echoing through the woods
comes the prolonged shrek Of the dinner
horn. She calls with all the desperation
of one drowningi she rushed forward,