The Portland daily press., 1869-09-10
For The Press.


| On the Northern shore of Moosehead lake
lies an extensive plain, over which several
| years since, destructive fire swept, since
which thick growth of blueberry bushes has
covered it. To this plain, the inhabitants of
| Greenville on the southern shore, forty miles
| distant, and of the neighboring towns, resort
| during the season of berries to gather them
| for the use of their families. For this accom-
modation the steamer "Fairy of the Lake"
makes three trips week, going up in the
morning and returning at night, those who
go for berries remaining over one trip.
On the sixteenth day of August, Walter c..
| Roberts of Greenville, a lad of about twelve
| years, left home for the blueberry grounds in
company with a lumberman whose acquaint-
ance he had made, and who promised his
1 careful mother to look to his safety. Arriy-
ing at the northern shore they passed the
night at one Of the huts found there, and next
morning started out to gather berries, Wal
ter's companion walked so rapidly that he
| was soon beyond his sight, and Walter in his
| anexiety to overtake him lost his way, and
soon found himself wandering he knew not
where. On and on he wandered till he pass
ed beyond the blueberry ground into the
timber. He hallooed till his voice failed him,
but there came no answer save the echo OF
his own voice. Presently he came to a creek
or brook which he forded, the water being to
his armpits. All day he wandered till the sa
bic curtains Of night were drawn around him
when, tired and hungry, he crept into the
bushes, and lay down, but not to sleep. Wis
ions of home and his anxious mother, whom
he might never see again, with full conscious
ness of the danger of his situation, lost in a
dense forest inhabited by wild beasts, but
little probability of being found, without food,
weary and foot sore, a stouter heart than his
might have quailed.
When after long weary night, the morn
ing dawned, he arose to renew his weary
wanderings. He was far beyond the place
where berries grew, and nothing was there to
stay his hunger except leaves, a few of which
he ate, though they afforded him but little re-
lief
All day he wandered but with no batter
success. Night again overlook him, and
again h9 crept into the bushes and lay down
to rest. So weary was he that natures sweet
restorer came to his relief, and for while he
forgot his hunger, WEAKNESS and desolation.
In the morning he arose somewhat refreshed
and recommended his wanderings, this time
with better success. Soon he recrossed tn 9
brook, which he had previously forded, and a
horIr I,ta - tIa
huts upon the blueberry ground. Knowing
that he would soon be found by his friends
he at once commenced to fill the little ii n
pail, which he had kept with him, with ber-
| ries, not being willing, as he said, to go home
to his mother with it empty. Here he was
soon discovered.
While Walter was engaged in his weary
wanderings his friends were suffering a sus-
pense and anxiety no less terrible. When the
boat returned to Greenville at night, the sad
intelligence was conveyed to his parents that
he was lost. Next morning his father and
many of the villagers and inhabitants of the
neighboring towns, proceeded to the northern
shore to search for the lost boy. When the
boat returned at fff,tft ttft5e VINO feiiaiueu IN
! the village rushed to tho wharf -ivas.-slro
| result of the search. No intelligence Of Wal
ter. Next morning small steamer which
made only occasional trips carried an addi-
| tional number of persons to the scene of
search and remained to bring Walter home if
found.
Now speculation was rife about the fate of
the boy, some ayerring that he had been de-
voured by bears whose tracks had been seen
crossing those of the boy, others were equally
sure that he would be found. Little else was
thought of.
During this time the mothers sufferings
were terrible, and when the "Fairy of the
Lake" arrived on the evening of the third
day bringing no intelligence Of her boy,-the
boat having left before the news reached the
lake, she became quite frantic, and phys-
clan was sent for. Her life hung upon a
brittle thread, nothing but her boys safety
could insure it.
About midnight "a light was. seen up the
| lake; presently the steamers whistle was
| heard, villagers and strangers left their beds
| and hurried to the wharf. As the boat near
ed the shore loud shrill cry arose upon the
| still midnight air 'We've found the boy
We've found the boyw ,. Then cheer after
cheer answered the glad sound. As soon as
the bolt reached the wharf, strong arms car
ried Walter to his mother, but she did not
| know him. SO intense was her grief that
reason had fled for a time, but after awhile it
returned, and all the joy that mother could
experience over the return of lost child was
hers. The father wept not until the boy was
found, then his pens up feelings found relief
| in food of tears.