Middletown transcript., 1877-05-12


fast" And giving hasty but careful
look to the stove to see that the fire wal
burning bright, she threw on her sun
bonnet aud ran to the barn. There
we're no sleeping children there. She
looked in the calf pen The two little
red bossies were nestled close to the
bars, looking out impatiently for theil
mother cows, but no little girl stood
near them
"Willie-Mary-my children !"
The words were screamed out as only
a frightened mother can scream Echo
answered her, and then the silence was
unbroken
A stream headed up into the prairie
a little further on, and beside it clus-
tered young growth of cottonwoods.
1t was her last hope. and with frantic
steps she ran there. Mary's little sun
bonnet lay on the bank, the strings
stained with strawberry juice, but where
rested the golden locks it had SO often
shaded?
The mothers limbs shook as with
spasms, her throat felt ohoked, her brain
Whirled. the color went out from her
cheeks and the light from her eyes, she
sank upon the grass. feeling the weak
ness of death 1t was dark before she
revived enough to realize truly her
whereabouts. And it was only after
many struggles that she at length rose
and tottered toward home.
The baby was screaming in its faith
er's arms, and he, poor, weary man, as
he now paced the floor with the little
wrestling child, and then stood With it
in the doorway trying to peer out into
the gathering shadows, wondered and
wondered again where his wife could
have gone
Something moved in the path between
him and the barn 1t came ncarer-it
assumed shape-it made light footsteps
1t was her, his Mary.
"What has happened. mother? ? What
ails you? Where are the children ?
Speak Mary. for Heavens sake. tell me
what has happened"
A sob. groan, and the falling of
her body on the floor we're his only
answer.
"Willie-Mary-my children-lost
lost on the wild prairie p
In broken accents the words strug-
gled from her lips, as life returned to
her Then, as her heart once more
bounded strong, through uneven pulses,
she reused herself, and standing up
right, caught her husband by the arm,
and told him in a few brief, terse SEN
tences the sad story of the children's
wanderings.
leave mel am weak-sick-but
| shall Twelve till I see them, or"
She shuddered and wrung her hands
passionately for a moment. Then as
suming calmness, she said firmly,
Take the colt, William, and the Ian
tern and the coB-bells and your gun
Go straight down to the creek and raise
all about there, making all the noise
you can Then. if you get no trace,
ride over to Nick's cabin and rouse
them, and get their old hound-he was
a great pet with the" she could
only sob the word children. Take
Mary another sob" bonnet and
William, bring them back to
me !"
A single kiss was left on her white
lips, and the anxious father left her,
and springiUg on to his half-broken
colt, he started. The prairie echoed to |
he reverberations of his gun, to the |
noisy tinkle Of the bells, to the echoes
If his voice. but no answering sound |
zane up out of the still, grassy depths.
Again and again, be made the circuit
If the little clump of cottonwoods, and
ben sadly he turned away and spurring
lis horse into wild galIop, be started
or the nearest cabin The four miles
we're soon passed, and the sympathiz-
ng neighbors aroused to aid bis search
"Call the dog, Tom, " said the father,
IS be lifted his wife on to the horse,
nd then sprung into the saddle
II have, father. but l can't find
i'm Was he here at supper, mother %
Il didn't mind. child | set down
is pan of bones, but l had heap of
hores to do, and l didn't mind whether
e came up or no. Run to the shed
nd see, child"
1.-The bones amt been touched
here can be be ?"
"Well. we mustn't stop for him =
Tut, Tom, when he does come, you
how him the bonnet. It'll start him. I"
nd giving the word to his horse, he
,llowed the heart-broken father.
Leave me here" said good Mrs.
'onnett, as they halted at the creek.
l can End my way to the cabin if 1t is
ark, and I'll take good care of her tso
Il get her to take some of that cordial
uff my old doctor in Indiana used to
AXE up for folks what was nervous,
I'd if can once get her to sleep, Ill
sep her SO" And with feet steps she
astened to the lonely home.
But it was only after much coaxing {
lat the mother was prevailed upon to I
vallow the cordial and lie down, and
zen it was more to crafty her neigh
'r than from any faith in the virtues /
the medicine. But the result proved I
at it had not been extolled too highly, 7
r her limbs soon ceased their convul- q
vo twitohings aud her lips their low.
d moaning, and ere the clock struck
'elve, she lay in profound, sweet
sep. d
Lucky | thought to bring it along" !
id Mrs Bonnet, lifting her head as T
on as the measured breathing Of the 4
other assured her she had forgotten \
r troubles. Poor thingp' And she i
Mt compassionately over her, and 4
loothed back her disordered hair, ;,
my heart aches for you" =
"l'll fix the fire all ready to light, !,
! Al /