The Newtown bee., 1878-05-02
LOS
\ LEGEND OF VERMONT.

the events of my story OCcur. c !. Ii WAS in NCrnont, within the limits ol either the township of Rockingham or Springfield it is impossible now 10 sty which, that the log r,,Dlu W MlIicu WAS the home of the hcrOi.IC stood, surrounded by forest. The real names of the ar- tors in this trlGGly y of the woods have passed out of the Ic@cHd, aEd l, there fore, substitute the first names which come 10 mind.
 al have liniShcd my spinning, Robert, and Shall carry tlc yarn home tO-,iay. think I will spcnd tie d;y wi. h Mrs. Green, and l wish you would come and meet me and bring baby home" said the young wife, taking the linen yarn in her apron and the baby on her arm. 1 every well, replied the husband, giv- 1 ing the growing child kiss. as he started off with his hoe over his shoul- , der for the wheat field. He Was hocing ill wheat that day. His lot had been burnt over and sowed with wheat, but the huge stHnls of the old trees, the logs lying abcut and inc thick under ground roots in the new land prevented l the use of the plough.
 | All day ho WC rkcl hnsily in the fresh soil, with the trangc woOd-SO'nds about him, eating his lunch at noon, from his ! little basket, until the lengthcning shadows of the forest around his small clearing bct' kened the approach of sunset. Then he started uii to meet his wife.
 4 mile or two away in the forest his | neiyhbor Green had made his 'clcar. ing" He went on without meeting the wife and baby, until he reached his i neighbours door.
 Why" said Mir. Or, 0 I. in answer to his inquiries, "didnt you meet her! She hasn't been gone long only few minutes"
 Can she have missed the marked : trcea?" asked Robert Harris, ftghast.
 'DOn't be alalmci, ncighlor,' said 1 Mr. Green T wi go back with you"
 The two men went together through the forest, which every mOnC grew darker and drraricr. Not "n dark but they could see thc wh tc gash cut on tar side of every prominent tree, Wli 'll mark, along the dense woods, Was the only indication 'f highway. They called Mrs. Harris name loulIy at in- : tervals, but there came no reply. They l kept saying to each other, "We may i find her at home" but they wore heavy at heart. The | g-house was reachel, i but home it was no longer to Mir. Har- ri5. The mother and bahy were not there. Inc COW lowed to be nilkcd, and the pigs, which ran in tine wood: and came home at nlghl, riamored i0l their usual feeding, but the men took no notice of then Back again through woods, with laItern, calling and h H. 1 l0oinS. Then they went on to the nrYt clearing and the next. "A woman Is lost P What telt gram in these exciting days of battle CT fell more thrillingly on human nerves than these wOrls go. ing from mouth to mouth among the humc-ncsts of tic new country. Witl iron muscles and determined wills tho warm-hcartcd settlers started out. "Wt ! will SCOUT the woods, we will find them
 never fear" According to a custom they had at such tim3s, thcy blew cin ner horns, built fires, and shouted Wti they were hOarse. No tidings of ill, lost ones on that night. All 1he next day they searched, and day after day as long as possii le. Fires were left smoul dering among the trees, men who knew woods kept rcsouteIy lo the search, bu the budding April forest held its secret When Mrs. Harris Startc.l with hcl baby ill her arms, from Mrs. Greens expecting momently to meet her nus band, she went on carrlessly, her attrn tion being directed in part to her chiid il l,tt,i.InTil- lOnIyit,r nm s.hn fl cred no white SC ITS of the axe on ah tree in sight. But she fancic,i she had only just stepped out of the track, ant might in q mom"nt regain it. A vaiI fancy Nothing familiar m her eyes The night came on. The little hIrd went to rest, the owls lau, he'd dOlefully She was alone with hcr infant in th, great sea of forest where ncier d wood mans axe had echoed. She was lost She sat down, faint and tired, and Woman-likc, began to cry. Hark Tha was certainly human sh ut. She rose and holding her sleeping chil firmly ran, as fast a5 the tangled undergrowtl and fallen trees across her path wOult permit her, towards the welcome voice She shouted lack, but her small voic, would never hc heald: she only wake' the little ch ld, and must now st, D an' hush it. Then she started on again Hark the s, Il Id of q horn, but in ca tirely another direction. Turning hcl course, she ran, breathless. towards it And now sine thought she heard it again farther of. Many hours of the night were spent in rushing, with hysteri, sobs aud palpftaiing heart. towards tn, voices of her friends; so acar thlt s', could hear them, btu so far away tha no effort of frenzied strength could en ableher to reach their protecting pres ence. What night it was Towar,k morning shs slept. leaning against ; tree with the baby ot h r bosom. Bu she started ne:yously in her drc; m
 and at the first hiri-s, ng woke to fui consciousness. With the day Ircal came renewal of her courage. Sh' would not weakly give up to die. He