The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-05-19
Dolly...A Western Dr0ver's Story

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Ny namo is Anthony Hunt. I am
drovor, and 1 live miles and miles
away upon tho Western prairie. There
wasn't home within sight when we
moved there, my wife and I, and now
wo havn't many neigbbors, though
those'we have are good ones.
Ono day, about ten years ago, I
won't away from home to sell some
City head of cattle.--fne creatures as
I ever cav. l was to buy some groce.
rics and dry goods before I came
back, and, above all, a doll for our
youngest Dolly she had never had a
storo doll of her own, only the rag
babies nor ,mothor had made her.
Dolly could talk Of nothing else,
and went down to the very gate to call
after me to "buy big ono" Nobody
but parent oan understand how full
my mind was of that toy, and how,
when the cattle were sold, the first,
thing, I hurried off to buy Dolly's
doll. | found large one, with eyes
that would open and shut when you
pulled wire, and had it wrapped up
in papor, and tucked it under my arm,
while had tho parcels of calico and
delaino and tea and sugar put up.
Then, late rs it was, I started for
homo. 1t might have been more pru.
dent to stay until morning, but I felt
anxious to get back, and eager to hear
Dolly's prattle about hor.
l was mounted on O stoady-going
old horse Of mine, and pretty we'll
loaded. Night set in before was a
pile from town, and settled down
dark as pitch while was in the mid.
die Of the widest bit of road know
Of. | could have felt my way though,
remcmber it so we'll, and it was
almost like feeling it when tho storm
that had been brewing broke, and the
rain poltcd in torrents; five miles,
or maybe Elk, from home yet, too.
| rode on as fast as I could, but all
of sudden 1 heard little ory like o
ohild's voice! I stopped short and
listened-I hoard it again. I called,
and it answered me. l couldn't SEQ
thing; all was dark as pitch. 1 got
down and felt about in the grass
oslled again, and again was answered
Then began to wonder. I'm not
tlmid, but [ was known to be drover
and to have money about me. It might
be trap to catch mo uuawares and
rob and murder me.
| am not superstitious--not very ;
but how GOULD real child be out in
tho prairie in suoh q night, at suoh on
houra 1t might be moro than hu-
man.
The bit of coward that hides it.
self in most mon showed itself to me
then, and | was half inclined to run
away, but once more I heard that cry,
and said +:
eff any mans ohild is hereabouts,
Anthony Hunt is not the man to lot it
die."
| searched again. At last I be.
thought me Of o hollow under the
hill, and groped that way. Sure
enough, | found little dripping
thing that moaned and sobbed as I
took 1t in my arms. I called my
horse, and tho beast oame to me, and
| mounted, and tucked the little soak
cd thing under my coat as we'll as
could, promising to take it homo to
nanny. 1t seemed tired to death, and
pretty soon cried itself to sleep against
my bosom.
Ithad slept there over an hour when
| saw my own windows. There were
lights in them, and I supposed my
wife had lit them for my sake but
when | got into the door-yard + saw
something was the matter, and stood
still with dead fear Of heart fiyo
minutes before 7 could lift the latch.
At last | did it, and saw the room full
OF neiighbors, and my wifo amidst them
weeping.
whom she saw me she hid her face.
"Oh don't tell him." she said stit will
kill him."
Gs"What is it, neigbbors 2" + DRIED.
And one said, "Nothing new, l
hope. WHAT'S that in your arms 9''
"A poor, lost child" said l. "I
found it on the road. Take it, will
you, Pve turned faint" and I lifted
49, 'ooP'nS ohihS hnu saw tno lace OF
my own child, my little Dolly. ga
1t was my darling, and nome other,
that | had picked up upon the drenoh.
cd road.
My little daughter had wandered
ont to meet "daddy' and tho doll,
while her mother was at work, and
"hom they we're lamen.ing % one
dead. | thanked Heaven on my knees
before them all. It is not much Of a
story, neighbors, but think of il of.
ton in the nights, and wonder how
could bear to live now If I had not
stopped when hoard the ory for help
upon the road---the little baby ory,
hardly louder than squirrels chirp.
That's Dolly yonder with her moth
er in the meadow, a girl worth saving
Il think (but then I'm her father,
and partial, may-be) the prettiest and
aweetess thing this eide Of tho Missis.
sippi.
A Aliqnid glue, far superior to muoif-
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