Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-06-23
Cur Nuuns folks.
The Brewer ard his Child.


Nv name is Anthony Hunt. | am a
drover and l live miles and miles away
upon the western prairie. There wasn't a
home within sight when we moved there,
my wife and |, and now We haven't many
neighbors, though those we have are good
ones,
One day, about ten years ago, l
went away from home TO sell some fifty
head Of Caffeine creatures as ever l
saw. | was to buy some groceries and
dry goods before | came back, and above
all a doll for our youngest Dolly. She
had never had a store doll Of her own,
only the rag babies her mother had made
for her.
Dolly could talk Of nothing else, and
went down to the very gate to call after
me to " buy a big one" Nobody but 4
parent could understand how full my mind
was of that toy, and how, when the cattle
were sold, the first thing / hurried On to
buy was. Dolly's doll, ! found a large
one, with eyes that would open and shut
when you pulled a wire, and had it wrap
ped in paper and tucked it under my arm
while l had the parcels of calico and de-
laine and tea and sugar put up. Then.
late as il wGs, | started for home. Ii
might have been more prudent 10 stay
until morning. but | was anxious TO get
back, and eager TO hear Dolly's prattlt
about her toy.
was mounted on a s~teady-going OLD
horse of mine, and pretty well loaded
Night set in before ! was = mile away
from town, and settled down lark a. pitch
while ] was in the middle Of the widest bi
OF road [ know Of. | could have felt hi
way, through, L remembered it so well
and it was almost dark when the storm
that had been brewing broke, and pelte'
the rain in torrents, five miles or, may be
six, from home yet, too.
rode as fast as ] could, but all IF
sudden | heard a little cry like a child
, voice. | stopped short and listened
= heard it again. | called and it answere.
me. L couldn't see a thing all was dar'
as pitch, l got down and felt about tn
grass-called again and was answered
t Then 1 began to wonder. 1 m not timid
but / was known TO be a droycr and I
! have money about me. Il might be
trap to catch me and rob an
g murder me.
y I'm not superstitious-not very. Blu
$ how could a real child be out on the prai
t RE in such a night, and at such an hoGi
i 1t might be more thar human.
: The bit of a coward that hides itself /
most men showed itself to IRE then, and
; was inclined to run away, but once NOR
L heard that cry and said [:
IF any mans child is ~hercabout, Ar
l thony Hunt is not the man to let it die"
{ / searched again. At last | bethouch
. me of a hollow under the hill, and gror
ing that way, sure enough, | found a littl
dripping thing that moaned and sobbed a
e | took it in my arms. [ called my hors,
h and the beast came to me, and L mounted
J and tucked the little soaking thing unde
: my coat as well as | could, promising t
:, take it home to nanny. 1t seemed tire
' to death, and pretty socn cried itself t
i sleep against my bosom.
1t had slept an hour when | saw m
own windows. There were lights in then
and | supposed my wife had lit them f
my sake, but when | got into the door var
b l saw something was the matter, and stoo
I with dead fear at heart, five minutes b,
= fore L could lift the latch. At last [ ii
. il, and saw my room full of neighbors, an
: my wife amidst them, weeping.
c When she saw me she hid her fac
d " Oh, don't tell him." she said, L" it wi
5 kill him"
n "What is it, neighbors - l cried.
- And one said, Nothing now, | hor
n what's that in your arms?"
+ "a poor lost child" said [ al foun
it on the road. Take it, will you, "
I turned faint" and [ lifted up the sleepin
thing and saw the face of my own child
I my little Dolly.
: 1t was my darling, and none othe
that [ had picked up on the dreuche
If road.
My little child had wandered out
meet daddy and the doll, when he
j mother was at work, and whom they wei
lamenting as one dead. / thanked heave
on my knees before them all. 1t is nc
much of a story, ~neighbors, but | think
it often in the nights, and wonder how
. could dare to live now if [ had not stop
. ped when | heard the cry for help upo
the road, the little baby cry, hardly loud
er than a squirrels chirp.
J That's Dolly yonder with her mother i
: the meadow, a girl worth saving
think, tbut then, I'm her father, and pal
0 tial, may be)-the prettiest and sweete.
{ thing this side of the Mississippi.