The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-01-10
Tie Pedler's Story.

4 wcarisome journey it was. Along the
hot and dusty highways, ip the long mid
summer days, 10y yellow fields where men
were reaping the autumn harvest, and
orchards where merry boys were gathering
in the APPLES: through the deep SHOWS of
winter, when other travellers were daunted
and turned back to comfortable inns to wait
for bette. roads still, with his pack on his
back, and with sad but watchful look on
his face, he journeyed on.
Three years ago Giles was not pedler
but shopkeeper, in little town in New
England and one warm summer evening,
he sat with his child on his knees at the
door of his shop, and thought how like her
blue eyes and golden curls were those other
blue eyes and golden curls that were hidden
from sight forever under the churchyard
soil, and thought, TOO, how he must be a
father and mother to the little one now.
Just then a customer entered the shop
Giles sat the child down, and went to attend
to the wants of the conner; and presently,
when he returned, the child was gone
Giles called and searched then the neigh
bors were reused, and the whole village
was searched. Next day the country round
in the papers tar and near, and Giles, well
nigh beside himself in his agony, travelled
hlther and thither, whenever some vague
traces Of his daughter; then the excite
his distress He was restless, he felt be
must be doing something.
There are many places tina It the parent
s.,1l h., ILL
out my sore Git had never been opened
pack on my back, and travel through the
hy-ways and secret hooks, and try and
trust In God.
1t seemed a wild undertaking; in such
an immense extent Of country what could
one man do? Besides, he child might
have been carried off to another country ;
but the effort was relief to Giles, for, so
long as we cau DO anything for the sake Of
our lost oucS-lOst TO Us either by absence
or dcath-sO long we seem not wholly
separated from them.
AnAso it Was that for three long years
Giles had ploJdcI YEARLY aloug-threc
years that had done the work of thirty on
him, wrinking his smooth forehead, and
sprinkiing silver on his hair, and so it was
seated before the fire OF iigte inn, far nj
among the mountains. 1t was place FIRE
! qGentcd by travellers in the summer season,
| but deserted as soon as the snow began tG
| fall, and as ctfcctualy cut off from all hu
man society as an Island far out IN the
| ocean.
GILES had finished his story-the story OF
! Iris loss aud Of lis wanderings.
"Ah, well man, d." said the host, after a
pause, we must have our troubles. You
| child is lost, aud just now, before you come
an, comes the poor old woman that live,
down the lane, and tells me her child is
! sick to dying, and no doctor short OF twelve
miles is no better than fifty, SO far as get
ting him Tonight goes, Did you send toI
! hln?'
oh" said the host in amazemcnt
did some one want to be eaten alive by
the wolves, or buried alive in the drifts
No, nobody"
Then with Gods help will CO., cried
| Giles, starting up.
Are you out Of your mind, nan, re-
turned the host "a good twelve miles
I'm what direction p asked the ped
| Ter.
The very road you came up to day
and hand days work you had getting VI
! what, then, do you expect In the night?
! Have you no kind Of animal to lend
me? | am going to leave my pack here
you need not fear to trust me with a
horse.
No beast Of mine could pick bis way
! to night or should If he could, he added,
| in an undertene to himself.
| The pedIer had buttoned up his over
coat, and taken his long stick In his hand
| before the host, convinced Of his resolution,
slowly rose, and muiHlng himself up, took
| down bis lantern, followed Giles TO the
gate, gave him the last directions, and
looking on him receedlng through The
| darkness as one he was never to behold
alive, and then returned to his comfortable
/ fire.
A fearful journey through the winter
! night. Now and then the snow would
come drifting and driving against him
/ binding, almost stunning him; now and
/ then, far off through the forest, he could
| hear the cries of the hungry wolves; once
or twice he missed his way, and then hi,
heart sank within him, and his courage
well nigh failed, but he thought of the
desolate mother watching alone by her dy
| ing child, and he thought where might hi.
own Child be, and with prayer to oul
Father in Heaven, he plodded bravely on
The twelve miles were accompllbed
the doctor was found, horses were saddled
and it was bright morning before the two
! reached the little inn up In the mountains
much TO the astonishment of the host, whC
shaking the doctor and the pedler each b.
the hand, declared they were two heroes
and then directed them to the poor old
womans abode, promised them capita
breakfast on the return.
But, good SIR he called to the ped
der, why not stay here? III warrant
the doctor will find the house alone"
Il always go everywhere" returned the
! pedder, in a quit, depending tone, thai