Nebraska advertiser., 1877-12-27
ALOST BOYS ADVENTURES.
Home Again After Seventeen Years.
Wanderings-A Happy Thanksgiv-
ing Day in an Iowa FARM
House.

From the Des Moines Iowa. Register.
There was one happy household, at
least, in Polk County on Thanksgiv-
ing Day. There was rejoicing, and
cause for rejoicing. in the home of
john Cressout, of Washington Town
ship, over the return of son, whom
g they had not seen or heard from for
seventeen years.
In 1860, Mr.. John CTessout, an
humble tiller of the soil in the Buck
eye State, resolved to remove to the
rich prairies of Iowa with a hope of
bettering his condition. His family
consisted of bis wife and two chill
dren-a boy of thirteen and a girl of
ten. His health and that of his family
was good, and he thought by settling
upon a new farm upon the fertile prai-
ries Of Iowa, be might secure a COM
petence for himself and them. Ac-
cordingly he sold his farm In Ohio,
and with his family took up his wea-
ry journey overland toward the set
ting sun.
In those days the railroad facilities
were not as abundant as at the pres
ent, and the only direct and passable
route laid through the city of Chicago.
When he arrived at Chicago he tar
ried few days in order to confer with
some land owners in reference to the
purchase of farm. During their
stay in the city, Robert, his son, avail
ed himself of The opportunity to see
the sights, and accompanied his faith
er in his walks about town. One day.
while his father was husily engaged
In conversation with a land-brOker,
Robert stepped out, and, seeing a
large crowd down the street, thought
he would go and find out what was
the matter. When he reached the
mob and found that it was only a
street auction, he determined to 60
farther on, and pursued his walk
down the street until be reached the
wharf, where the ships and steamboats,
were lying by the hundreds. Having
never seen steamboat before, he was
naturally lost in wonder. Seeing a
great crown entering one of the large
steam boats, he thought he would so
on also, and look around, as he sup |
posed the crowd were doing. So he |
went abroad and wandered down into /
the cabin, and finally down into the |
hold where the great engines were |
situated. While engaged in viewing /
the wonders about him the steamer |
loosed her cables, and started on her |
journey over the lake. He suddenly |
became aware of the fact that the |
steamer was moving. aud hastened |
on deck-but too late. The vessel was
far out in the lake, and, when he
reached the upper deck. the City of
Chicago, that held all that was dear
on earth to him, was only a speck in
the distance. He told his story to the
Captain, but In vain. The Captain
thought he was only vagab0nd who
was endeavoring to steal his passage
over the lake, and would not listen to
him, but told him If ne did not keep
quiet he would deliver him up TO the
officers of the law upon their arrival
at Grand Haven, and have him put
in prison. So Robert was compelled
to dry his tears and conceal his emo
ton, knowing that every revolution
Of the great paddle-wheels of the
steamer bore him farther away from
his parents and sister.
When his father found his boy was
lost be secured the aid of several de-
teetives, and made thorough search
of the city to find him, but in vain.
After fruitless search of over a week
he was compelled to give his son up
as lost, and pursue his journeying
toward Iowa. The mothers grief
knew no bounds. She wept continu-
ally. and. like Rachel of old, refused {
be comforted. Her boy-her only I
son, the pride of he. heart--was lost /
and only God knew what his fate I
may have been. So, with broken S
heart and anxious mind, she took up 7
her journey with her husband and
daughter to their new home in Iowa. {
They reached this State in the fall of q
1850, and settled on new farm of 160, q
acres, in Washington Township, Polk o
county. Fortune favored them, and Q
Mr.. Cressout made money very fast. o
He was prudent, economical man, o
and his wife was the best of wives
IA every sense helpmeet. His lands o
grew broader, his herds multiplied, o
and in few years be gained a hand
some competence. But the loss of &
his son was the one great shadow of n
his life, as we'll as that of his wife.
their cheerful fireside Il
the subject would be related, and the fl
tears of sorrow would fall like summer il
rain whenever Roberts name was 81
mentioned. "
But what of Robert? When he
'ound himselfin Grand Haven, Mich,
he destination of the steamer, be d
Knew not what to do. He had no .
money with which to telegraph to his ;
riends, and no one would believe his e.
tory. So he was compelled to go to Q
york at something, and finally Sc L
ured employment in a large saw o
nil as a driver of a saw-dust cart. tl
lie worked here for sometime, until o.
,e obtsined some money, and then set io
bout irving to find his parents. He CT