Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-01-14

Getting of my horse, felt about, ou'
could find nothing. And while | was
seeking, the cry came sgain-ihe isin'
moan OF child in pain. Then | began
to wonder; l am NOT superstiliOus. but |
asked myself how it was possible that
child could be out on the prairie at such
an hour and in such a night No; real
child II could not be.
Up that came another thought-one
T. >S W" "ou": Was it trap to hinder
me on my w',y and ensnare me? There
might b, midnight robbers who would
easily hear vi ny almost certain ride
home that night. and OF the money |
should have about me.
don't think, SIR, am more timid than
other people-not so much so. perhaps,
as some. but confess the idea made me
uneasy. My best plan was to ride on as
fast as could, and get out OF the mys-
terY into sale quarters. just hero wss
about the darkest biz of road in all the
route. Mounting my horse. was about
to urge him on. when the cry came again
1t did sound like childs-the painliye
wall OF 3 child nearly exhausted
God guide me-" | said, undecided
what to do. As | sat another moment
listening, l once more heard the cry,
fainter and moro faint. l threw myself
off my horse. with an exclamation.
BE it ghost or bo it robber, Anthony
Hunt is not one to abandon a child to die
without trying to save it,"
And how was to save itP-how find
it?
The more | searched about the less
could my hands light on anything. save
the sloppy earth. The voice had quite
ceased now, so had no guide from that
While l stood trying to peer into the
darkness, all my ears alert. flood OF
sheet lightning suddenly illuminated the
plsin. At little distance, just beyond a
kind OF ridge or gentle hill, caught Il
glimpse of something white. II was
dark again in moment. but made my
way with unerring instinct Sure enough,
there lay poor little child. Whether
boy or girl could no, tell 1t seemed
to be three parts insensole now. so
took il up, dripping with wet, from the
sloppy earth.
My poor little thing p | said, as
husbed i. to me. Wen 60 and find
nanny. You are safe now"
And in answer the child jus, put out its
feeble hand, moaned once, and nestled
close TO me.
With child hushed to my breast
rode on. Its perfec, silence soon showed
me that it slept. And, sir. thanked God
tha. He had let me save it. and though,
how grateful some poor mother would
be. But | wss iul OF wonder Tor all that.
wondering what extraordinary tate had
taken any young child to that solitary
spot.
Getting in sight OF home, | saw all the
windows alight. Deborah had done il
Tor NJ, thought, to guide mo home 10
safety through the darkness. But pres
emily knew that something mus, be the
matter, for the very few neigbbors we
had were gathered thero My heart
stood still with fear. 1 thought Of some
calamity to one or other OF the children
| had saved little one from perishing,
but what might not have happened to my
ownP
Hardly daring to hlt the latch, while
my poor tired horse stood still and mute
outside. went slowly iu, the child in my
arms covered over with the flap OF my
long coat. My wife was weeping
bitterly.
What's smiss - asked in a faint
voice. And it seemed that whole cho-
rus of voices answered me
"Doily's lost!'
Dolly lost - Just for one 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 | held, | lifted tho 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 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 tight moment to show me
where she lay. 1t was her white sun
bonnet that had caught my eye. My
darling il was, and none other, that had
picked up on The dreDched road.
Dolly, anxious tor her doll had wan
dered out unseen TO meet me in the after
noon. For some hours she was not
missed. II cbanced that my two elder
girls had gone over to our nearest neigh
bors. and my wife, missing the child just
aiterward, took it for granted she was
with them. The little one had gone on
and on, until night and storm overlook
her, when she Tell down frightened and
utterly exhausted. | thanked Heaven
aloud before them all, sir. as said that
none but God and His holy angels had
guided me to her. It's not much of q
story to listen TO, sir. am aware oi
that. But often think OF it in the long