Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-03
A BACKwooDs STORY.

Uncle Walter was just as fond Of telling
stories to the children as they were fond OF
listening, and this is one Of them:
A young married couple, whom we will
call Mr. and Mrs Edwards, had settled few
years ago on what was then an immense
forest, on the shores of Lake Ontario. They
made clearing which they converted into
farm, and built hut, which in few years
gave place to more substantial log house ;
and there they lived, with still = few Wild
cats and bears for neighbors, while other
neigbbors, more to their liking, were slowly
increasing IN number around them when this
thing happened.
They at that time had four children, and
the name of the eldest was Maria. She was
aged twelve. The other three were boys
Edward, nine; George, six; and the baby,
not quite old enough to walk.
One afternoon the children were at play,
when Edwards was ehopping in the border of
the woods, few rods from the house.
The wind had blown over large elm tree,
tearing it up by the roots, which had lifted
q large mass of earth with them, and left
hole in the ground, eight or ten feet across,
and one or two feet deep.
Over the north end of this hole the mass
of roots and earth rose like the mudplastered
ends Of log hut, affordlng the children .
pleasant shelter from the wind that autumn
day, as they played horse in the warm sun
calling the hollow behind the roots their
stable.
Mr. Edwards was choppiug another pros
trate trunk near where it Joined the roots
and the children were having merry time
lust on the other side of that shaggy wall
when suddenly he left his ak sticking in the
log, and cried OUT
"Boys, it won't be safe to play there any
longer"
"Why mott" asked Edward, who, like
some other children have heard Of, always
wanted to know why he couldn't do thi
thing or that, and often didn't believe muct
in the why, after he had learned it. al wisl
you'd li US it's real nice here"
"But this log is most off 1t will drop i
a few minutes, and then the stump may droI
back where you are, by its own weight
Two known roots to do such thing. 5
away with you, and take the baby, if Mari
hasn't taken him already" r..4Tsf
maria has gone to the house and LET
US to take care of the baby" said Edward
"Well, take care Of him, then, and your
selves too"
So the boys took the baby out of the hole
Edward giving him ride on his back, Will
George drove, and went to play in the wood
little further off,
Mr. Edwards continued chopping, and tn
bows soon became so much interested in som
new game that they forgot all about th
baby; while he, left to take care of himself
and thinking no doubt, the hole behind th
upturned elm roots very cOmfortabl
place, crawled away once more in search Q
Suddenly the trunk Mr. Edwards was eut
ting parted from the stump, and the root, a
he had more than half expected, few bac
into its place with a dull, heavy thud.
"Thers, boys" he cried, triumphantly
"you see now Why l didn't want you to pla
in therew
The two boys FASTENED to the spot to 81
what had occurred but the father notice
that Edward, as he ran, looked about hi
alarmed and confused.
"What are you looking for, Edward
his father asked. where's the baby2"
"He was out there--just 4 little viii
ago. IL don't know where he is." II
ward stammersd, and began to cry wi
terror. >,
He remembered that it had been all
and George could do to keep the baby out
the hole any time that afternoon, and that
had last seen him creeping away IN that d
rection. He was naturally good boy, al
very fond Of his little brother, and the thong
of what had now happened through his ne
ljgence filed him with the widest fear al
grief.
20, be is killed, know!" he shiekt
running frautically around the stump, a
seeing how closely the tremendous mass h
crushed down again into the hollow.
Maria, hearing the alarm, came rannl
from the house, followed quickly by b
mother. A terrible scene ensued. I
mother and children we're beside themsel'
with fright and terror. Aud no WOnde
Think oft! that dear little baby crush
under the stump, which hundred men col
not move
Mr. Edwards alone kept his head clear
"LOok in the woods" he said to his vii
call about. He may be behind some Il
Edward, Maria, run to the neighbors
them to bring their oxen and log.chair
quick as you can go George, help 20
mother search !"
AS for himself, he ran for spade, a
began to throw out the earth under the 81
of the stump where he thought the Oh
most likely TO be; working as he me-
worked before nor after in all his life.
George and his mother searched the wO'
in vain, while the father dug as fruitlesl
Meantime Edward and Maria ran 10