The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-04-08
HOW BETSEY WAS LOST.

"Chlck8deeG'
Henry r. D0rT. In 81. Nicholas.
HOW BETSEY WAS LOST.
els our little Betsey here?'' said
Mr.. Hathaway, putting his cold pur-
pied nose into the door of the Chase
farm house.
1t was bitter cold night in Deem
Der, with snow lying deep on the
ground, a frozen wind bowling through
the forest and fire built as high as
they could pile the logs on the old iron
fire dogs.
And the farmer and his wife were
roasting apples and cracking nuts on
the hearth with the children, while a
pitcher of cold, sparkling cider and a
plate of home made gingerbread was
on the table.
Charley and little Bell sat side by
side on the big settee, in the very deep
est angle of the chimney. where, by
looking straight up, they could sec the
stars shining in the sky overhead, and
watch the sparks 90 careering madly
up the wide throat of the chimney.
Johnny was on his knees. with the
hammer, cracking away at the butter
nuts and hickory-nuts, and Rosa was
reading by the Ii ght of the shaded lamp.
Your little Betsey?' said Mr..
Chase, the farmer. ''No;. certainly
not! Come in and warm yourself. Mr..
Hathaway. Isn't she over at her
grandfather
"No, she isn't" said Mr.. Hathaway,
with a perturbed face. ''She went
away at three o'clock, and her mother
supposed she was only gone to the saw
mill to play with Minnie Locke. But
we've seen nor heard nothing of her
since, and nobody seems to know
where she is. No, MIR. Chase
thank'ee kindly all the same-but 1
couldn't sit down nor rest until know
where my little gal is, this freezing
winter night"
"You don't think she's lost2'' said
Mrs. Chase, involuntarily shuddering as
she clasped little Bell closer in her arms.
Mr.. Chase got up.
"Wife, where's my big, shaggy over
coatp" said he. "Pm not going to sit
here, warming my feet at the fire, when
my neighbor's little one is in danger of
freezing to death. Get me the lantern,
Johnny"
"Fatherr' cried Johnny. "can't L
90 and look for little Betsey. too?"
For Mrs. Hathaway's "little Betsey"
was a universal favOrite in the neigh
bOrhOod.
A curly-headed, blue-eyed little elf of
four years, who was always begging for
fairy-stories, ginger cookies and flow.
ers, who wanderedup and down in sum-
mertime, with her sun-bOnnet hanging
down her back, and rode down hill on
the boys sleds in winter. with fur
edged hood tied tight around her bloom
ing face-ittle Betsey was everybody's
pet.
She had little difference of opinion
with her mother that afternoon, it
seemed. She had been sitting up at
the table, eating bread and butter and
apple-jelly.
"Me want some more jelly, mamma"
said Betsey, at last.
"You have had enough" said Mrs.
Hathaway.
"Me coiH have some MORE" said Bet
sey.
.sNo, my dear, you will not" said
the mother, who sometimes found it
necessary to govern the little willful
creature With firm vet gentle hand.
"Then nell run away!" said Betsey,
defantly.
Mrs. Hathaway smiled q little at the
threat. Betsey often "ran away" but
she had never as vet gone further than
the steam saw-mill at the foot of the
hill. where little Minnie Locke. child
of her own age, had a whole colony of
dolls, made out of cOrn-cobs dressed up,
and wooden blocks, with eyes, mouths
and noses, marked with shoe backing,
on their faces.
She never even looked around when
Betsey stood on three-legged stool to
reach down the scarlet hood, with the
edging of gray fur around the face, and
trudged of, with her little nose stuck
up in the air.
"She will be back long before sup
per-" the mother said to herself.
But supper time came. and no little
Betsey, and the darkness settled dreari-
ly over the many hills and frozen woods.
and then they became frightened. and
Mr.. Hathaway went in one direction
and Peter, the hired man, in another.
and Mrs. Locke, of the mill. came to
stay with the terrified mother until
news, either good or bad. should arrive
OF the lost child.
''The worst of it all is" said Mr..
Hathaway. "that she may have strayed
OIL into the woods and lost her way.
And she's such little mite of q thing
and the snow so deep. and drifted all
about BY the wind-and if she should
drop down anywhere for q minute to
rest, there's that dreadful drowsiness
that comes with cold. And l shall new
er see my poor little darling again.
Keep up 8 brave heart, Neighbor
Hathaway" said Mr.. Chase, although
there were tears in his own ewes.
Never despair. Wen find the little
lass yet, God willing"
"And Hunter Gabriel was telling.
only last week, of q savage bear that
was lurking somewhere among the
Rattlesnake Rocksr' said Mr.. Hatha-
way. with troubled voice. "And ev-