Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-02-08
Kew CoIIy Was Saved.

on the western prairie. Wilds? Yes
sir; it's little else than wilds now' nul
YOU should have seen it when AMI
my wife first moved up here. Ihere
was mol house within sight tor miles.
E,,n nOS we have not many neigh
tors: but those we have are do"nrlgs'
good ones. To appreciate your neigh
bors a. you ought, cir, you must Jus'
live 10 these lonely places, so fAr re-
moved from the haunts OF mau.
What am going 20 tell happened ten
years ago. Twas going TO distant
town or settlement, 10 sell some hii>
head Of cattle-fne creatures, sir, as
ever ,ou saw. The journey wis a
more rare event with me than it is now
aud my vie had always plenty ofcom-
missions 10 charge rue with in the shap'
Of DIR, x. Cds aud groceries, and such
ike thiugs.
Our Youngest child was a sweet little
geulle thing, who had been named alter
her aunt, Dorothy. We called the
child Dolly. This lime my comml'-
,ions i.,cludlng one for her child-a
doll. She had nrver had real doll;
that Is, a bought doll; only the ray
bundles her mother made for her. For
some days before my departure the
child could talk OF nothing else-or we,
either, Tor the matter OF that-tor she
was u great pet, the darling OF Us all.
1t was 10 be biz, big doll, with golden
hair aud blue eyes. shall never for
vet the chiids words the mornln. l
as starting, as size ran after me 10 the
gate, or the pl city picture che madr.
There are some children sweeter anu
prellier ,han others. AZ you can't baIe
but nolictd, aud Dolly "as one.
"a very great big doll, please, DADDY,
she called out after me. Aud please
briug II very soon.'
l lern,d " nod yes TO her, as shr
ood III her clean wh:ley.brogn plna .
FIRE against the gate, h.r uuIsbrown
b ,ir falling ia cUrls about her neck, aud
tho light breeze stirring them.
"A bra,c uOll, answered, for NJ,
little Que. Almost as BIZ as Dolly
Nobody would berieye, | dsresay,
Low iull my thoughts we're OF thai
prumis, doll, as rode alous, or what
ulce oLe heaut " buy. 1t was mo-
oiteu sp. INT mOuey III what my good.
tur.lty wuc would have called waste;
but Dolly WAS DolIy, and meant "
do il now.
The cattle sold, | went about my pur-
chases, aid soon had 10 end Vi parcels
10 be packed iu The saddle Tags. Tea.
sugar, lice, caudles-but | need no
near, you, Eli, With telling OF them,
.ogelner with The calicoes Tor shirts
aud uishtgowns, and the delAlne ior
tic ch ldieu's new fiOcks. Last of all
| vent about the dOll-and found h
beauty, 1t was not as biz as Dolly. OF
half as big; hut it had faxeu curls and
ok, blue eyes; aud by dlut ot pulling II
wire you could open or shut the eyes III
will.
DO it up carefully I said to the
Q orekeeper. My listle daughter would
cry sadly fsny harm came 10 1t.
The day VAS pretty we'll ended before
all NY work was done; and just for
moment or tAo hesitsted whether |
should not stay in the town and start
for hume 10 the morning. 1t would
have been the more prudent course.
Bu, | thought OF poor Dolly's anxiei,
10 yet ner treasure, aud OF my owu
happiness iu watching the rapture in
her delrghl, d eyes. so with my parcels
packed III the btst way they could DC, l
mounted my horse and started.
II was ia good aud steady horse as
YOU ever rode, sii but uight began 10
sci ia b, fore vas we'll nile away
FROM the town; 1t seemed as it it were
going to be an ugly night, TOO. Asalu
Tie thought struck me-shOuld l turn
back aud wait Till morning? l had the
price of The cattle, you see, sir IN my
lr,ust pocket; aud rubberlss, aye. aud
murders also, were not qIite unknown
,hipgs On the prairie. But / had NY
brace OF sure pistols With me, aud de-
clded to press Onward.
The night Came Oh as dark as pitch,
and part Of The way may road would bc
pl,ch dark beside. But on that score l
had no fear; | knew the road WE'LL
every luch Of l.. though could nos
ride as fast AS sholld have done in
the lipnt. Twas about ak miles from
home. l suppose, aud 1 know the time
must be close upon midnight. when
the storm (which had been brewing
broke. The thunder roared, the rain
fell in torrents; the best | coul1 do was
10 press onward IN it.
All at once, as | rode on, a cry
startled me; faint, wailing sound, like
a CRY of child. r, ining up, 1 sat still
and listened. Had l been mistaken
No. there it was again. But in wha'
direction could not tell. l couldn't
see a thing; it was, as | have said dark
AZ pitch. Getting of my horse, | felt
about. but could 6nd nothing. And
while was seeking the cry came again;
tie faint moan # child in pain. Then
began 10 wonder. am not super
s,itiou.: but l asked myself how 1t was
ros,ible tLat child could be out on the
prslrle Ut such an hour and such nigh
No: a real child it could not be.
"