American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-12-18
THE OLD SEXTON'S LUCKY
THOUGHT.

THE OLD SEXTON'S LUCKY
THOUGHT.
DOLLY HAcKETT, who lived with her
parents in the pretty town of Bellmead,
was one of the dearest little children you
ever saw-as pretty as pink, and every
one in town knew her and loved her. She
was a very sociable little body, and felt it
duty as well as a pleasure to visit her
neighbors at least once day; and, though
she was only three years old, she would sit
down in the most Old-fashioned way and
gossip as busily as one of her older sisters
might.
After sitting some time in one neigh
boris house, chatting away busily about
this and that, telling all the news she had
gathered and getting what other news she
could, she would say:
Well, you must 'scuse me. I've dot TO
do and see Mrs. Brown, cause hasn't
seen her since yesterday"
Then she would go to some other house
and do the same thing. Sometimes she
would tell things that the neighbors did
not want to have known; but she was so
cunning" every one said, that they for
gave it. They all said she was {" a little
dear" and she went round from place to
place like butterfly.
She was in fact little busybody, with
a finger in everybody's mess, and often
she would be gone from home half day
at time ON her visits without causing
alarm. She was such a grave and prudent
little thing that her parents had no cause
for fear; and when gone the longest she
would come home and tell them every
place she had visited and all that she had
said, heard or suspected. 1t had rained
one summer morning, and she could not
make her usual calls till the afternoon;
and then she left her home, from which
moment she was missing. About the time
that she should have returned her mother
went to the door, but could see nothing of
her. Then she went to the nearest neigh
boris to see if she was there; but the
neighbor had not seen her. She felt little
uneasy, and when an hour had passed and
little Dolly had not come her sisters were
sent all over the place to find her, but
could not Then there was rallying of
everybody to find the little wanderer.
There had been for month a band of
gypsies on the outside of Bellmead, and
they had left their camp that very after
noon, going away very hastily; and the
people were afraid that the gypsies had
stolen the little pet They searched the
woods, dragged the lakes, looked into
wells, and went into all sorts Of places;
but could find no trace of the child.
When it became dark they tied lantern
to the neck of a big dog, and he ran here
and there, SO that if she saw the light she
might cry out; but they heard no cry from
her Then they went shouting through
the woods for the purpose of letting her
know they were near; but there was no
reply.
Then they knew the gypsies had got
her, and people went off on horseback in
several directions to try to overtake them.
But they returned without finding them,
aud everybody was very sad to think that
they might not see their dear little neigh
Dor any more, while her parents and sis
tiers were almost crazy with their grief
There never was a more afflicted town,
and everybody sat up to talk the matter
over and prepare for new search in
the morning.
Old Mr.. Clapper, the sexton, who had
rung the village bell for church for more
than thirty years, had been very busy in
the search, for the little girl was great
favorite of his. He had tied the lantern to
the dogs neck, which was a bright idea,
and had made himself very tired. twas
with sad heart he took his way home
about midnight, recalling in his mind
what a lovely little fairy Dolly was, and
almost crying as he moved along.
His wife met him with a very mourn
full face, and, after talking the matter over
for little while, they prepared to re-
tire. A moment after the old sexton had
laid down he started suddenly up on his
elbow.
What's the matter9'' asked Mrs. Clap
per.
Nothing" he replied. But after
moment he leaped out of bed and began
hastily to dress himself, making all sorts
OF ridiculous mistakes, by getting his
clothes on hind part before and acting as
if he were crazy.
"What is the matter?" his wife re-
peated.
" Nothing" he replied again. g I've
got to go down to the church. Ill
have forgot something"
As soon as he was dressed he lighted
his lantern and started out of the door as
fast as he could run. He ran all the way
to the church, which, however, was only
short distance, and, without stopping TO
breathe, he unlocked the door and went
in. He moved up one aisle and down the
other, swinging his lantern, which made
great shadows on the ceiling and walls,
till at last he came to a big, comfortable
new. and there he saw, all rolled up in Il
heap on the cushioned seat, little Dolly,
sleeping as sweetly as if she were in her
own bed The good old mans heart al
most rose up into his throat as he saw the
sight; and this explained the secret of his
queer conduct. As he laid his head on
his pillow he remembered that the choir
had been rehearsing in the church that
very afternoon, and he thought: What
if the little girl had wandered in there
and got shut =" Full of this thought,
no wonder he acted as he did
Without waking her he rushed for the
bell-rope, and the sound of the bell called
out everybody in Bellmead, who went To
the church TO learn what was the matter.
Mr.. Hackett, Dolly's father, came first;
and all the sexton said to him, MS he pulled
away, was: Look in Deacon Smiths
pewl'
Then such a time as they had and such
rejoicing. Why, Fourth of July was moth
ing compared to it. The little girl was
taken up, sleeping as she was, and carried
home in her fathers arms, with the whole
town following after, and when they ar
rived the old minister, who was among
them, knelt down and thanked God.-B.
=. iShillaber, an N. y. IndeDendeat.