The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-08-01
BERTIIA'S RiyINE.

htA iibltChto 1Nti HiiVN II
in tho state, the knowledge of which
appalls the stoutest hearts. Bertha was
the second daughter of Gilmore Good
Ripton Hollow. She was but six years
and u half old, unusually bright and ac-
tive, her form plump and strong, her
complexion ruddy, her features very
pretty, with blue eyes and dark brown
wavy hair. About O'Clock on the al
tcrnoon of July 18th, after returning
from school, Bertha and her older sister
were sent oil an errand to a ncighbor's
who lives less than half mile distant
by the circuitous carriage road, which
distance was very much shortened by n
footpath across, through II point of
woods and thick bushes. an cut
across and you go around, and see who'll
get home first" says Bertha to her sis
ter, as she ran up the bank and into the
bushes. Although perfectly familiar
with the path, she mistoolS her way,
when nearly across and almost in sight
of her home, and entering log-road
ran on down into the thick wood.
In due time the sister arrived at the
house, but Bertha did not come. The
mother, growing anxious about hcI,
went out into the bayfield, and told her
father, who replied, "Don't be troubled;
can find her i'll five minutes" lie
went, and so did tile mother; but find
ing no trace of her, the neighbors were
warned. From mouth TO mouth the
awful tidings flew, "Bertha Goodyear
is lostW Hayfields were abandoned,
suppers uneaten and unpreparcd, Men,
women and children hurried away to
the woods where Bertha, the favorite
at home and school, was supposed TO
be, frightened, lost. Up and down they
searched far and near, into every dark
nook and tangle they pccrcd, but no
sign of the lost one, or print OF her little
bare feet was to be seen. Night was
fast approaching, and with it came new
accessions to the searchers. Before mid
night hundred lanterns lit up the
thickets. The woods were alive with
mother, darling through bush and
brush, is heard calling, " Bertha! Bcr-
thai" but the darkness brings no re-
sponse. For many hours, through the
woods from side to side, the father ran,
his steps scarcely keeping pace with his
thoughts, until, exhausted and over
come, he fell insensible. Far into the
night the search continued. Then a
halt was ordered for rest and refresh.
ments.
Ripton is rugged mountain town
and flowing through each of the north
ern and southern portions is stream
OF considerable size, styled respectively
North and South Branch These, meet
ing mile below (wcst oO the Hollow
form what is called the Middlebury riv.
er. 1t was in the dense wood whicl
fills the angle formed by the coniunc
ton of these streams, that Bertha wa.
lost. AT day-brcak hundred and fit,
men assembled, and, forming in tive
lines, they set out in so close order tha
every foot of the ground might be seen
soon the footprints were found in an
other log-road down nearer the junction
OF the streams. Had she turned TO tho
left in this road she would soon have
found her way out to the carriage road
not far from the village But she wcnt
the other way, down to its terminus
near the North Branch. Her track was
next found along the bed of this stream
which is thickly strewn with large boul
iders, and whose banks, high and pre-.
cipltous, are covered by heavy srowtl
of dark timber. In the little shoals o.
sand and sawdust between the boulder.
her tracks were frequently found, meas
uring from twcnty-scvcn to thirty in.
ches apart, showing that she must have
been running at no very moderate rate
Across this valley were ranged a line OF
seventy-fve men, whose faces wore q
look of determination which NOTHING
but the finding Of the little lost cir
could eflace. On they swept toward
the junction of the streams, lcaping and
wading along its course or scramblno
among the trees upon the banks, cling
ing to rock and root to keep from fall
ing hcadlong. Should any ono find hcl
a shot from a pistol was to bear the
news. Below the junction the river
finds its way through one of the wiltlcst
defiles of the whole Green Mountain
range, place almost entirely unknown
except to very few who here fount
their advance suddenly cut oil, as Will
rod or rifle they attempted its passage
The morning was hot and sultIy
Great beads of sweat gathered tlncl
and fast and trickled down those sun
Drowned faces. 1t was Just sever
O'Clock, when up from the very deepcst
darkest part of the gorge rang out the
sharp report of navy revolver. 4
shout shook the mountain air and rcvor.
Deratcd among the overhanging cliffs as
into the frightiul abyss lcaped the men
Bul let us return TO the girl: Along
the river way she had fled like fright.
ened fawn- Now, spanning the noun
tain torrent by incredible leaps among
the huge bouldcrs with which its bed j.
thickly strewn; then waist deep, stem.
ming the swift current. On either side
the precipitous mountain walls forbade
ascent. The rayine grows narrower
the stream frightiully rapid, until,
reaching an immense gateway in tho
solid base of the mountain, where rock
nearly over-arch and trees clasp hands
hundred feet above, across the fright
ful chasm, it makes perpendicular lean
OF twenty-five feet into dark cavern
below. Carrying in her hand her little
pink sunbonnet, now. torn almost to
shreds on her way through the woods.
from rock TO rock the little bare feet
leaped, or waded the dark whiring wa
tiers between. Nearing this mountain
pass she thought 10 scale the almost DC r
pendicular wall by Selling the roots OF
a cedar which chung to its side fully ten
feet above her. Here her life journey
and the fearful journey CT the day came
to simultaneous end. Climbing TO the
very edge that overhnng the boiling
waters, with one desperate effort she
sprang for the roots, but missing her
hold and leaving her bonnet there upon
the upturned moss, she pitched forward
tiacturing her right temple on project
ing rock ten feet down. And Bertha
awoke in land where there are no ra-
vines. The next instant the dark gure-
ling waters below received her liicless
form and bore it on some fifteen rods,
where it was fosnd in the shadows.
And as those strong-nerved men
stopped and lifted little Bertha's body
to their broad shoulders and bore il
home to the distracted parents, tears
coursed down cheeks unused to such a
bathing. The parents, nearly prostrat-