Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1874-09-16
A Child Lost.


The cry goes over our land, and every
heart throbs with sympathy. Paternal
eyes rest watchfully on their little ones
for danger may be near.
Descriptive placards are everywhere,
detectives are vigilant, suspicious per-
sons and places are subjected to rigorous
examination, and still the wall is heard
No tidings-Poor little Charlie Ross.
Death would have been kinder than the
arms which snatched him away. Then.
secure in confning bed, and robed by
loving hands, earth would have received
him. But now the agony and suspense
of that mothers heart, viii il not break.
yet "brokenly live on" for who is he
with? Are they kind to him? Do
they starve or beat him. Do his child
ish eyes, which knew nothing but home
and happiness, see sights reyoltingi Is
he kept confined or borne far away to
escape pursuit Does he hear. vile
j languagef Are the scenes So strange
, that the little mind forgets itself, and re-
membrance of love, home and friends
all be swept away
|
the business men of our great city,
What immense rewards they pledge to
any who will restore the boy and bring
the captors. 1t is almost dangerous to
lead ight-haireds child through the
streets Every one is on the alert. Tel
egrams flash over the wire. Special
trains are at the disposal of friends and
detectives. But stin no tidings.
A child lost God help his mother.
He alone can comfort her in her anguish
and uncertainty. As when death has
robbed us, we recall naught but winsome
ways, so in this greater desolation como
the remembrance of pet words, cunning
tricks and glances, until memory is too
faithful and we almost crave for that
mother oblivion.
A child lost Is Charley Ross the
only one Are there not around US
each day those who steal, drug and bear
away our children? Does the Mayor
hasten from the seaside to arrest those
who poison young men and boys, cntice
them from home and business, teach
them to be disselute and idle, then throw
upon the would the wreck Of a man p
Do business men meet and offer rewards
to stop the manufacture of intoxicating
liquors, the traffic in human soulsi No.
in every street they plant their tempta-
tlons. The saloons are social and inyit-
ing, until the victim, with brain crazed.
commits some excess, is thrust out, and
then indeed there is child lost Is
not this sad spectacle for mothers
heart, and do not many groan under it ?
In this isolated case, men rush to the
rescue; but intemperance yearly des-
troys our sons and daughters and they
stand idly by
A chill lost Must we look forward
to this future? We watch them night
and day when they require our care,
give to their service the prime and flower
of our lives, labor that they may enjoy
educational advantages, point the way 10
: paths of virtue and usefulness, but find
! they are exposed to lcgalized temptations.
: which it may be they cannot successful
ly withstand. Not with more pride did
the mother of the Gracchi point to her
a Jewels than does the woman of this day
: who sees her virtues reflected in the char
| acters of honorable men and women that
! she has given to the world.
A child lost Surely the captors
, will not harm little Charley. He is in
their hands to extort money. If he
lives the love which prompts this vigil
ance must find him, He may be chang
ed-his face may be stained and his hair
cut of-but his mouth will be wreathed
with the same familiar smile, and his eye
. dance in the same well-remeinbered love-
lit way. The mothers heart would
a know her boy
But if you or I find our child after he
has been stolen by intemperance, win he
ever be the same innocent boy again
o Win not his eye be dimned, his intel
t lect clouded, lis countenance so chang
j ed that we mourn over him, for we have
! found him so utterly wrecked that ther,
n is still lost child.
Work, then, oh, fathers and mother
/ in your day and generation, lest tn
m hour draw nigh when in the desolatiol
s. of your own homes your hearts take ul
e the sorrowful plant Of lost child
n NorriStorn Herald.