Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-12-12
lOriginal.]
THE LOST CHILDREN.

ugly.
THE LOST CHILDREN.
One bright spring morning two little girls
and a little boy went out into small patch
of woods that lay near their home to gather
flowers Their mother was in bed sick and
their father was away from home. All day
they rambled through woods and fields.
When they become tired they sat down, or lay
down, and rested. Their mother was not un-
easy about them, thinking they had gone to a
near neighbor and relatives house. Night
came on. The father returned and the chill
dren were sent for to the house at which it
was supposed they were. They were not there,
nor had they been there during the day. The
sky became overcast with clouds. The father,
almost frantic, ran here and there calling at
almost every step, first one then another, of
his three children. The rains began to fall
and the darkness became intense. The whole
neighborhood was out on the search. Some
had torches, some had lamps, some were on
foot and others were on horseback. The
whole country, fields and woods, was searched
far and near. Morning came and the creeks
were swollen by the rains of the past night.
No trace of the missing children could be dis
covered. All their little tracks were washed
out by the rain. The mother, before sick, was
now thought to be in dying condition. The
sun rose clear and bright and warm, as if
mocking the CONSERVATION and distress Of the
community. The day passed on and another
night was fast approaching. All, save the
father, had despaired of finding the lost chill
dren. The general impression was that the
children had been carried away by the swollen
stream and would not be found for days, and
perhaps never. With heavy hearts, it was
determined to 60 to the house and hold con-
sultation for future search. Most of the com.
pany were exhausted from hunger. Every
heart was filled with sadness. Few words
were spoken. The father would agonizingly
exclaim, 20, my poor wife, 0, my dear chill
dren." The words sent thrill through every
breast.
On their way home the company had to
pass an old house. 1t had at one time been a
dwelling house, but now was used as place to
store away hay and fodder. The roof had,
from age, become worthless, and at the time
spoken of, it was not used for anything. This
house had been searched perhaps by twenty
individuals. The father, himself, had search
ed; but in his intense anxiety he could pass
no spot unsearched again. Into the house he
went. There was scarcely anything remain
ing of the house but the bare walls and small
patches of the roof here and there. The floor
was all gone, only the sleepers remained. In
moment the eye could overlook every part
about the house. The children were not
there, was the general conclusion. The party,
by silent and mutual consent, resumed their
progress to the house of the afflicted family.
As the father stepped out of the house he
thought he heard child sob. All listened
in breathless silence. Again the father heard
a sob; but 10 one else could hear it. Every
place all around the house was closely search
ed. The father searched the floor of the old
house for tracks; but the rains of the previ-
Gus night had poured through the old roof
and no tracks could be discovered. Again he
heard sob; but no one else could hear it.
Some thought that such was his grief that he
was fast approaching insanity. All were will
ling to crafty the afflicted man, but none
thought it possible for the children to be
either in or near the old house. The only
rubbish about the house was what remained
of the brick chimney. This rubbish was
known to be den for snakes. To crafty
the father of the children, and prevent him if
possible from hopeless insanity, it was propo-
sed to remove this rubbish piece by piece.
The work was commenced, but scarcely had
the first brick been removed when the chill
dren were discovered. They had come to the
old house when night came on them, and
crept, either from fear, or guided by kind
providence, into the only opening in pile
Of rubbish. There they spent the night, hav-
ing cried themselves to sleep. In each others
embrace they lay, exhausted from hunger,
crying and fear. A shout Of joy was raised
which made the hills and valleys ring, and
the children were taken home and properly
cared for, and in few days were entirely re-
covered. To all children this is warning
not to wander away from home.
FEAR IN CHILDREN.-No pain is more
dreadful to endure than fear. Few parents
realize how much their children suffer from
this cause. "There is nothing to hurt you" !"