The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-03-18

The ORIGINAL CHARLIE Ross CASE
1t may not be very well known at this
day that the celebrated Charlie Ross case
was founded upon another similar case,
of which was the hero, many years ago
or more but such is the fact; and l am
considered factotum.
When was about six years young l
was considered to be (by my father and
mother) the prettiest child that was ever
washed up land combed once a week.
on the terrestrial shores of Time.
Whenever the artist in the village
wanted to paint an angel he always came
after me to sit as model and eat candy
Il remember more about the candy than
l do about the angels, at the present
time) They used to say that was per-
feet little chair-rib, and all the women
used to kiss me, after drawing handker-
chief across my face to find where my
mouth was.
They all thought / wouldn't live very
long because such pretty little boys are
always sure to 60 first. But have lived
to fool them all. wish l could have
somebody else to tell all this.
But if | was the prettiest boy of that
age, ] must say, with tears in my eyes,
that l never got over it.; never. would
have done so if could, but l couldn't.
1t is such terrible thing to be looked at
by all the pretty girls, and hear them re-
mark, "Ain't he nice-looking fellow,
say?' and have all the other young men
jealous of you, and grow up that
way. l have suffered all this and
more.
When was about six years old, one
day turned up missing, and that was
the only way, they feared, that l ever
would turn up any more.
The news soon spread over the village,
and everybody turned out with bells and
tin pans, and tin horns, and tenor drums,
and of course the whole town was in II
terrible uproar.
Twenty-Five dollars were offered as
reward by my relatives, for my return
alive.
The neighbors offered reward of fifty
dollars if was returned dead. They
seemed to have some idea of a distinction
with little difference.
Every candy or cake shop in town was
thoroughly searched, and every house
wife rigidly investigated her pantry or
apple barrels. l was even looked for at
school. The neighbors looked into
their cisterns, in hopes had tumbled in
there.
One old neighbor maiden lady, whose
door / used to throw stones at, said she
was satisfied it couldn't be helped, and
she couldn't help but be satisfied.
was hunted high and low. Men went
out to hunt me with shot-guns. The
whole country was combed over as with
a fine tooth comb, in hopes of finding me.
Detectives were sent on my track (sOme
of them have never got Off and the uni
versal cry of" Boy lost % thrilled through
the land.
In few weeks the rewards offered
dollars for my return; and no questions
asked.
Advertisements for me occupied all the
bulletin-boards in all the cities, to the
utter exclusion of other amusements, and
the mayors of every city started out with
cow-hide to search for me.
My photographs were sent everywhere
and other places, and they brought big
prices, but failed to bring me.
When good fellows met they used to
ask, Have you got little w. Whitehorn
about you ?' instead of "Have you got
any tobacco about your" The answer was
always in the affirmative.
whats become ofmy umbrella ?" was
cast far into the shade, and "Who struck
Billy Patterson % was nowhere.
The neighbors all looked for me with
less assurance than they used to look for
me when their cherries were ripe.
/ was discovered everywhere but never
found.
Some people thought they had discov-
cred me travelling with on organ-grinder
in the capacity Of a monkey, and claimed
the reward.
People brought their own boys, and
sometimes several of them to my par.
ents, offering to give them for half the
reward.
Little urchins in the gutter began to
be treated with great consideration and
observation, for who knew but beneath
those masks of dirt might be hidden THAT
lost little, good-looking boy who was so
very valuable at that time.
Everywhere people began to feel
around for me, and sift every ash-heap
and straw-pile.
The rewards increased to millions, and
the kings of the Old World started out
themselves in search of me. One OF
them exclaimed" Washington White
horn my kin dom for W.W6itehornw
Expeditions started out in the direc-
ton of the north pole, expecting to find
me hanging about there, somewhere, and
artcsian wells were sunk in many places
to find il / had got down into the mud
deeper than usual.
My old aunt did nothing but go about
wringing her hands and her handkerchief,
and saying she knew the king of the
cannibals certainly had heard what a
beautiful little boy he was, and had come
all the way after him, and she would like
to get hold of him for minute-she
would scratch his eyes out; and she al
ways meant good deal more than she
said, as my poor uncle used to remark be-
fore he died.
But the years flew away, and the years
that followed them failed to bring any
tidings Of me.
Perhaps the saddcst thing about this
affair was, / didn't even know what had
become of myself, and / was Just as
anxious to be found as people were to find
me.
i used TO think that if / could find
myself in some secluded cave and go and
claim the reward it would be the making
of my fortune, but / never could do
that.
was never heard of.
still live in hopes that some day !
shall be found and restored to the bosom
of my family. Let us continue the
search. r.
WASHINGTON wHITEHoRN.
-Netc York Saturday Journal.
The PRECIOUS LITTLE PLANT.-Two
little girls, Bridget and Walburga, went