The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-05-06
G9e daetklp Clarion
DOLLY.
A wEsTER DRovER's STORY.

Mynane is Anthony Hunt. l am dro-
yer, and live miles away upon the West
ern prairie. There wasn't home in sight
when we moved there-my wife and land
now we haven't many neighbors, though
those we have are good ones.
One day, about ten years ago, went away
from home TO sell some fifty head Of cattle
fine creatures as Fever saw. was to buy
some dry goods and groceries before | came
back, and, above all. a doll for our youngest
Dolly. She had never had store doll OF her
own-only the rag babies her mother made
her.
Dolly could talk, of nothing else, and went
dq SnR e biz the very 70 6at e
understand how full my mind was of that
TOW. and how, when, the cattle were sold,the
first thing Hurried off to buy Dolly doll
/ found a large one, with eyes that WouId
open and shut when you pulled wire, anu
had il wrapped up in paper, and tucked It
under my arm. while | had the parcels OF
calico, and delaine, and tea and sugar, put
up. Then. late as it was,I started Tor home:
1t might have been prudent to stay until
morning, but felt anxious to get back, and
eager to hear Dolly's prattle about her doll.
] was mounted on ste2dy-going old
horse Of mine, and pretty well loaded
Night set in before ] was mile from town.
and settled down dark as pitch while | was
in the middle Of the darkest bit OF road /
know Of. L could have felt my way through
/ remembered it so we'll and it was almost
that when the storm that had been brewing
broke, and pelted the rain IN torrents, hYc
miles, or may be six, from home yet, too.
/ rode on as fast as / could, but of a sud-
den | heard a little cry like child'5 voice.
L stopped short and listened-I heard it
again. | called and it answered. could mt
see thing; all was dark as pitch. | got
down and felt about in the gras5-called
again, and was answered. Then L began to
wonder. I'm not timid, but was known
TO be drover and TO have money about me.
1T might be a trap to catch me unawares,
and rob and murder me.
i am not supersriticus-n0t very, but how
could real child be out on the prairie in
such night. at such an hour? 1t might be
more than human.
The bit of coward that hides itself in most
men showed itself To me then, and / was
half inclined TO run away, but once more
heard that cry, and said
If any mans child is hereabOuts Antho-
ny Hunt is not the man to lctit die
| searched again. At last bethought me
of hollow under the hill and grouped that
way. Sure enough. found little group
ing thing that mOaned and sobbed as | took
1t in my arms. / called my horse, ana the
beast came TO me, and mounted, and tuck
ed the little soaked thing under my coat as
well as | could, promising to take it home
to nanny. 1t seemed tired to death, and
pretty soon cried itself to sleep against my
bosom.
1t had slept there over an hour when 1 saw
my own windows. There were lights in
for my sake, but when L got into the door
yard | saw something was the matter, and
stood still with dread fear of heart five
minutes before / could lit the latch. At
last did it, and saw the room full of neigh
bOrs and my wife amidst them weeping.
When she saw me, she hid her face. "Oh, /
don't tell him." she cried; it will kill him..
''What is it neighbors - l cried.
And one said, nothing now, | hope /
what's that in your arms -
"a poor, lost child.' said 1. Il found it |
on the road. Take It, will you, I've turned |
faint" and | lifted the sleeping thing, and /
saw the face of my own child, my own Dolly. I
1t was my darling, that | had picked up /
upon the drenchcd road
My little child had wandered out to meet
daddy and the doll, while her mother was
at work and whom they were lamentlng as
one dead. | thanked Heaven on my knees
before them all 1t is not much OF a story,
neighbors, but / think of it often in the
nights, and wonder how l could bear to live
now if | had not stopped when | heard the
cry for help on the road, the little baby cry
hardly louder than squirrels chirp.
That's Dolly yonder with her mother in
the meadow, "a girl worth saving; | think
(but then, I'm her father. and partial, may
be- the pTettiest thing this side of the Mis-
sissippi.