Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-04-02

that had not been disturbed mad,
Claude think Of the children in th,
wood again, and he asked, "what die
the children in the wood do when nigh
came?''
''They lay down and-and-phe rob
ins covered them with leaves,r saii
Ruth.
"But there are no robins here.'
swell, you lie down, here is nice
messy place by this big tIee-there now
lie so, and I'll be your robin and cover
you with leaves" and Ruth gathered
her apron full of dried leaves and put
them over the child.
| So worn out was the child that it was
not two minutes before he closed his
eyes saying, "Sweet robin redbreast
sweet robin redbreast," which melted
into
..Now lay me down to sleep.
pray the Lord my soul to Keep"
''I'll let him rest and then we'll GO
home;" said Ruth, as she snuggled
down by his side among the leaves.
Poor child. she too, thought it was
so nice to lie down on the soft moss af-
ter her weary tramp. Mourning and
sobbing "papa'' and amamma," she
went to sleep.
Dame Patchen lived i'm little hut,
just above the mill heretofore mention
ed, and two or three times week had
occasion to go to the ''Corners" to pur-
chase her supply of groceries and pro-
visions, which she paid for in well knit
homemade stockings and warm woolen
mittens. The stockings and mittens she
knit We're none of your miserable, film
sy, machine article, that people are
compelled to purchase at higherfprice
than the very best of the good DANES
knitting, and that are fraud upon the
purchaser at any price, and disgrace
to the boasted superiority of machine
work.
The Dame had been to the "Corners"
on the very day on which the children
were lost and had started for home
about half an hour before Mrs. Merivale
had aroused the village. twas a Won
der they had not met. The reason was
this: Dame Patchen was later than
usual, and instead of returning by the
road, had turned off into Mr.. Merivale's
meadow and had gone across lots strik-
ing the path that followed the creek
down to the mill, and that ran directly
through the old clearing of which we
have spoken. When Dame Patchen
reached the clearing it was quite dark.
As she was passing aleng, she heard a
slight rustic in the bushes. She stopped
and listened. She knew that bears had
frequented the clearing and that pam
ther had been killed there few months
previously. Fear seized upon her and
she looked neither to the right nor to the
left, but walked past as swiftly and
quietly as possible, when, perhaps twen-
ty rods from the clearing, she heard a
half human cry, and knowing that the
cry of panther is something like that
of person in distress, she had no
doubt but that she had passed within a
few feet of the animal. Her convictions
were strengthened by hearing guns
away up the river, which she supposed
was fired by parties hunting the pam
ther.
Arrived at the mill, she aroused the
workmen, who were Willing away the
time in storytelling.
"Ho! men, panther, :" cried Brinton,
the foreman. "Let's away for him and
have some spor
Ten or fifteen men assembled, each
with gun charged with ball and buck
shot.
"Ayew cried Dame Patchen, 'look
well to your guns, for there is party
of hunters coming down the creek in
pursuit of him, and they will drive him
towards you"
With cheer the party started. Pro-
ceeding cautiously through the woods,
and occasionally halting to listen, they
came to the clearing, where Dame
Patchen had heard the sounds, among
the leaves, and the heavy breathing.
"Now boys" said Brinton, "go care
fully, 1 don't think there is panther
waiting here to be shot, but there is ev-
IDENTIFY some kind of an animal, and We
must secure it if possible"
With that the party spread out little
and partly surrounded the clearing.
There was a deep silence. Brinten
stepped forward with his gun cooked,
ready to fire. Ssh! There is a breath
ing" "Where?"
"Near the big tree"
''Now take good aim.''
80, curse the luck says Brinton,
as there was cracking among the
dry branches, as if large animal
had walked away in something of
hurry.
Then there was report of gun not
far off, and torches flashing through the
trees.
at is the huntcrs." whispered Brin-
ton. ''They have beaten us.'
"-Sh! Do you see that?" whispered
one of the men pointing to an object.
There is something.
Brinton looked carefully. 81 do
see something crouching to the earth
i will fire. So saying, he drew his
gun to his shoulder and taking delib- |
crate aim as the darkness would per-
nit
s'Mamma" cried Claude, shouting
from his Sleep" 30 mamma, come"
s.Great God % cried Brinton, lowering
his gun, and rushing forward, what
does this mean?"
"Dear Claude don't cry," came from
Ruth, who that moment awoke from her |
slumber.
"Merciful Heavens cried one and |
all. "Here are Ruth Merivale and
Claude Vladimir. Poor darlings, why |
are you here?"
ave got lost" answered Ruth, sand
could not find our way home"
The torches came nearer, and Brinton |
and his company, comprehending the
sent up wild hurrah, which
was answered by the approaching party.