Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-04-21

listened. Had been mistaken? No,
there it was again. But in what direc-
tion could not tell. 1 couldn't see q
thing. 1t was, rs have said, rs dark
Ms pitch. Getting of my horse, I felt
about, but could find nothing. And
while was seeking tho cry came again
the faint moan of child in pain.
Then began to wonder. / am not su-
perstitious, but l asked myself how it
was possible that child could be out on
the prairie at such IN hour and in such a
night. No; real child it could not be.
Upon that, came another thought
one less welcome: Was it n trap to him
der me on my way and ensnare ne ?
There might be midnjsAt robbers wi
would easily hear Of 81 ,imost certai1.
ride home that night and of the money I
should have about me.
I don't think. sir, I am more timid
than other people; not as much 80, per-
haps, MS some; but I confess the idea
made me uneasy. My best plan was to
ride on as fast rs could, and get out of
the mystery into safe quarters. Just
here was about the darkest bit of road in
all the route. Mounting my horse, I
was about to urge him on, when the cry
came again. 1t did sound like child's;
the paiutive wall Of child nearly ex-
hausted.
"God guide mel" said, undecided
what to do. And as I sat another mo-
ment listening, I once more heard the
cry, fainter and moro faint. I threw
myself off my horse with an exclamation.
"Be it ghost or be it robber, Anthony
Hunt is not one to abandon child to die
without trying to save it"
But how was to save it ?-how find
it? The more I searched about, the less
could my hands light on anything, save
the sloppy earth. The voice had quite
ceased now, so I had no guide from that.
While I stood trying to peer into the
darkness, all my ears alert, n flood of
sheet lightnings suddenly illumed the
plain. At a little distance, just beyond
a kind of ridge or gentle hill, caught
glimpse of something white. 1t was
dark again in moment, but made my
way with unerring instinct. Sure
enough, there lay poor little child.
Whether boy Or girl + could not tell. 1t
seemed to be three parts insensible row,
as took it up, dripping with wet, from
the sloppy earth.
"My poor little thing!' I said, as I
hushed it to me. "We'll go and find
nanny. You are safe now."
And, in answer, the child just put out
its feeble hand, moaned once and nestled
close to me.
With the child hushed to my breast I
rode on. Its perfect silence soon show
ed me that it slept And, sir, thanked
God that He had let me save it, and
thought how grateful some poor mother
would be! But was full of wonder for
all that, wondering what extraordinary
fate had taken any young child to that
solitary spot.
Getting in sight of home, I saw all the
windows alight. Deborah had done it
for me, I thought, to guide me home in
safety through the darkness. But pres
emily knew that something must be the
matter, for the very few neighbors we
had were gathered there. My heart stood
still with fear. I thought of some Ca
lamity to one or other of the children.
had saved like one from perishing, but
what might not have happened to my
own.
Hardly daring to lift the latch, while
my poor tired horse stood still and mute
outside, 1 went slowly in, the child in my
arms covered over with the flap of my
long coat. My wife was weeping bitterly.
''What's amiss ?" asked in faint
voice. And it seemed that whole chorus
of voices answered me.
"Dolly's lost"
Dolly lost Just for n moment my
heart turned sick. Then some instinct,
like ray of light and hope, seized upon
me. Pulling the coat off the face of the
child I held, 1 lifted the little sleeping
thing to the light, and saw Dolly
Yes, sir. The child had saved was
no other than my own-my little Dolly. |
And l knew that Gods good angels had
guided me to save her, and that the first
flash of the summer lightning had shone
Just at the right moment to show me
where she lay. 1t was her white sun
bonnet that had caught my eye. My
darling it was, and none other, that 1
had picked up on the drenched road.
Dolly, anxious for her doll, had wan
dered out uns cen to meet me in the !
afternoon. For some hours she was not
missed. 1t CHANGED that my two elder
girls had gone over to our nearest neigh
bor's, and my wife, missing the child
just afterward, took it for granted she
was with them. The little one had come
on and on, until night and the storm
overlook her, when she fell down fright
ened and utterly exhausted. I thanked
Heaven aloud before them all, sir; as 1
said that none but God and his holy
angels had guided me to her. It's not
much of story to listen to, sir. I am
aware of that. But often think of it
in the long nights, lying awake; and 1
ask myself how could bear to live on
now, had I run away from the poor little
cry in the road, hardly louder than a
squirrels chirp, and left my child to die.
Yes, sir, you are right; that's Dolly
out yonder with her mother, picking
fruit: the little trim light figure in pink
with JUS the same sort of white sun
bonnet on her head that she wore that
night ten years ago. She is a girl that
was just worth saving, sir, though say
it; and God knows that as long as my
life lasts shall be thankful that came
on home that night instead of staying in
the town.