Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-02-21
CHARIESTOWN, MONDAY FEBRUARY 81, 1870
THE DRovER's STORY.


upon the Western prairie. There was not a
house within sight when we moved there, my
wife aud l, and now we haven't many neigh.
bors, though those we have are good ones.
One day, about ten years ago, I went away
from home to sell some fifty head Of cattle
fine creatures as ever ! saw. was to buy
some groceries and dry goods before came
back, and above all doll for our youngest,
Dolly; she had never had a store doll Of her
own, only the rag-babies her mother had made
her.
Dolly could talk Of nothing else, and went
down to the very gate to call after me to " buy
big one.' Nobody but parent can UNDER
stand how full my mind was Of that toy, and
how, when the cattle were sold, the first thing,
hurried of to buy Dolly's doll. found a
large one, with eye. that would open and shut
when you pulled a wire, and had wrapped it
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, started for home. 1t might have been
more prudent to stay until morning, but felt
anxious to get back, and eager to hear Dolly's
prattle about her toy.
was mounted on steady-going old horse OF
mine, and pretty well loaded. Night set in be-
fore was mile from town, and settled down
dark as pitch while was in the middle Of the
widest bit OF road know Of rode on as
fast as / could, but all OF a sudden l heard
little cry like a child's voice / stopped short
and listened-1 heardf again. ] called, and
it answered me. couldn't see thing; all
was dark as pitch. got down and felt about
in the grass-called again, and again was au-
swered Then | began to wonder. I'm not
timd, but was known to be drovcr, aud to
have money about me. 1t might be trap to
catch me unawares and rob and murder me.
am not superstitious-not very, but how
could real child be out on the prarie 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 in me then, and
was half inclined to run away, but once more
l heard that cry, and said /:
If any mans child is hereabouts, Anthony
Hunt is not the man to let 1t die"
l searched again. At last bethought me
of hollow under the hill, and gropiug that
way, sure enough, | found little dripping
thing that moaned and ,obbed rs took it in
my arms. ! called my horse, and the beast
came to me, and mounted, aud tucked the lit
tie soaked thing under my coat as well as
could, promising to take it home to nanny.
1t seemed tired to death, aud soon cried itself
to sleep against my bosom.
1t had slept there over an hour when saw
my own windows. There were lights in them,
aud supposed my wife had lit them for my
sake, but when got into the dooryard saw
something was the matter, and stood still with
a dread fear at heart, five minutes before ]
could lift the latch, AT last did it, and saw
the room full of neighbOrs, and my wife amidst
tnCln WeepluB'
When she saw me she hid her face. ooh,
don't tell him." she said " It will kill him."
What is it, neghbors? ?" cried.
And one said -" Nothing new, / hope
what's that in your arms?"
"a poor, lost child said !. ! found it on
the road. Take il, will you, I've turned faint!
and lifted the sleeping thing and saw the face
of my own child, my little Dolly.
1t was my darling, aud none other, that ]
had picked up upon the drenched road.
Ny little child had wandered out to meet
daddy" and the doll, while her mother was
at work, and whom they were lamenting as one
dead. thanked Heaven on my knees before
them all. 1t is not much of a story, friends,
but think of it often in the nights, and Won
der how could bear TO live now if ! had not
stopped when heard the cry for help upon the
road the little haby cry, hardly louder than a
squirrels chirp.
That's Dolly yonder with her mother in the
meadow, girl worth saving, think,-but
then I'm her father and partial, may be-the
prettest and sweetest thing this side Of the
Mississippi