Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-09

to one who has but little capital to adj
vance his interests.
While in the employ of this house, I
met for the first time niece of
one of the members of the firm,
my wife; and when, two years
later, my father died, and left me small
competency, took it and entered into
business for myself, and, within year,
married. From the date of our mar
riage, my life was blessed one indeed;
nothing seemed to disturb the even tenor
of our lives, for we drifted along in the
current, forgetful of all else save our
own happiness, and [ now fear, selfishly
needless of the cares and troubles of
others.
After five years of unalloyed happi-
ness, my wife became the mother of a
beautiful boy; and it seemed as though
I had nothing more to desire, no greater
boon to ask for.
Shortly after this, our child was taken
sick, and it seemed for months as though
we should lose him. He finally rallied,
and partially recovered, though my ply
stefan, after many mysterious hints that
1 can understand now, told me, that if I
wanted to see HIM grow to years of ma
| l. he
a home upon some western farm.
1 can't tell you, sir, how / dreaded to
inform my wife what the physician had
said; it seemed q terrible sacrifice to ask
her to make; and it was only after months
of hesitation that ventured one day to
breach the subject to her. To my great
Joy she saw the necessity, and at once
consented to leaveNew York-our friends,
acquaintance, culture, ease and luxury
for the discomforts of pioneer life.
In closing my business In the city, an
opportunity occurred which enabled me
to secure what was termed fine tract
of wild western land, and to it we came.
| built this house, and surrounded my
home with such comforts as we could
procure; for here we determined to re-
main and rear our child, who was fast
growing to be noble boy.
When Benny was four years old, he
was child that any parent might have
been proud of; and when we saw his
ruddy cheeks, and the perfect picture of
health that he appeared, his mother and
myself both felt that no sacrifice we had
made for him had been too great. He
was the apple of our eyes, sir, the
breath of our Life: and had grown to be
the idol of our home, our household
god, to the exclusion of all things else.
Three years ago this fall, when Benny
was almost five years old, one dark No
vember day, was in the field where I
had couple of men at work, and late in
the afternoon Z CHANGED to look up, and
saw the little fellow, accompanied by
his pet rabbit, coming toward me from
the house.
/ went to meet him, and, taking him
in my arms, told him it was too cold for
him out there, and to run back to his
thought no more Of the matter until Just
before dusk, when [ returned to the
/ house and my wifi e met me at the door
with the inquiry:
"Where's Benny?"
Before the question had fairly left her
lips, l felt a chill go over me like an
ague fit; cold hands seemed to clutch my
heart, cold lips to whisper in my ear,
"Benny's dead" [ turned towards my
wife, and saw that as she looked into my
face hers grew ashy pale, while she
waited for my answer. My tongue fairly
cleaved to the roof of my mouth, and I
could not have answered word had my
life paid the forfeit. At last she seemed
to read my thoughts; for, seizing my
arm with grasp that can feel to this
day, she gave such wall of anguish as
mortal ears never listened to before, and
fell to the floor insensible.
[ can't tell you why I thought so, but,
from the moment my wife asked for the
child, / had a persentiment that Benny
was dead. Ithashed upon me like light
ming, nor could [ get rid of it, though it
weighe d me down like an incubus.
We were alone IN the house at the
time, and picked her up from the floor,
and carried her to the room there, and
laid her upon the bed. Then | sum-
moned assistance, and went out of doors
to find that IL had grown bitter cold, as
well as very dark. / instantly dispatched
my men to rouse the neighbors and then
returned to the house to endeavor to con-
sole my poor wife. AS I entered the
door the sound of my steps appeared to
rouse her to consciousness, for she sprang
towards me, and, throwing her arms
about my neck and looking pleadingly in
my face, cried:
''You will bring me back my darling
boy, won't you, Paul?"
[ promised her that I would; and she
bestowed on me hundred kisses, MUIR
mur1ng all the time:
"Thank God! he's safe then; thank
God! he's safe, then
Perhaps you can imagine, in some de-
gree, my feelings. No person ever ex-
perienced such feelings as [ did when I
realized what had promised, for knew
that the boy was dead as well as l know
it now; and all the while she lay at my
feet, moaning like some dumb creature
in pain, and trying to console her with
assurances that [ knew in my heart were
false. But what else could [ do?
When the neighbors came in they car
ried her to her room, while I went out
to search for our child. In less than an
hour all the settlers within five miles
were hunting, with torches and lanterns,
over the prairie for the boy. AS for me,
where l went, or what [ did, have new
er known; for had one thought con-
stantly on nv mind.-that our bow was