The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-10-13
miscellaneous.


My name is Anthony Hunt. am dro-
yer, and live miles and miles away upon the
western prairie. There wasn't house with
in sight when moved there, my wife and 1,
and now we haven't many neighbors though
those we have are good ones.
One day about ten years ago | went away
from home to sell some fifty head of cattle
fine creatures as ever ] saw. was to buy
some groceries and dry goods before came
back, and, above all, doll for our youngest
Dolly she had never had store doll of her
own-only the rag babies her mother had
made her.
Dolly could talk of nothing else, and went
down to the very gate to call after me to buy
her big one. Nobody but n parent could
understand how full my mind was of that
toy, and how, when the cattle were sold, the
the first thing hurried off to buy was Dolly's
doll. | found large one, with eyes that
would open and shut when you pulled wire,
and had it wrapped up in paper, and tucked it
under my arm, while | had the parcels of
calico and delaine and tea and sugar put up.
Then, as late rs | was, started for home. 1t
might have been more prudent to stay until
morning, but felt anxious to get back, and
eager to hear Dolly's praise about her doll
was mounted on a steady. going old horse
of mine, and pretty well loaded. Night set
in before | was mile from town, and settled
down as dark rs pitch while was in the mid
die of the widest bit of road | know Of /
could have felt my way through, remember
ell it so well and when the storm that had
been brewing broke and pelted rain in tor
rent was five miles, or maybe SIX from
home yet, too.
rode as fast as could, but all of a sud-
den heard n little cry like child's voice.
7 l,l,n :.
| called and it answered me. | couldn't see
Il thing; all was dark as pitch. Igot down
and felt around the grass-callcd again and
was answered. Then began to wonder. |
am not timid, but l was known to be a dro-
yer and to have money about me. 1t might
be trap to catch me unawarcs and rob and
murder me.
am not supcrstitious-not very; but how
could real child be out on the parties in such
a night at such an hour2 1t might be more
han human.
The bit of a coward that hides itself in
most men showed itself to me than, but once
more | heard the cry, and says /
"If any mans child is hereabouts, Anthony
Hunt is not the man to let it die"
searched again. At last l bethought me
of a hollow under the hill and CROPPED that
way. Sure enough found little dripping
thing that moaned and subbcd as took it in
my arms. called my horse and the beast
came to me, and | mounted and tucked the
little soaked thing under my coat as well as
| could, promising to take it home to nanny
1t seemed tired to death, and pretty soon
cried itself to sleep.
1t had slept over an hour when ] saw my
own windows There were lights in them,
and supposed my wife had lit them for my
sake; but when got into the dooryard saw
something was the matter, and stood still
with dread fear at my heart five minutes
before could lift the latch. At last did it
and saw my wife among some of the neigh
bors weeping.
When she saw me she tried to hide her
face.
"oh, don't tell him, she said. at will kill
him"
"What is it, neighbors ?' cried out.
Nothing now | hope-What's that in
your arms? ?"
"a poor lost child" said I. 81 found it on
the road. Take it, will you. I've turned
faint" And lifted the sleeping thing, md
saw the face of my own child my Dolly,
1t was my darling and none other whom
had picked up. My little child had wan
dernd out to meet daddy" and the doll,
while her mother was at work, and whom
they were lamenting rs one dead. thanked
heaven on my knees before them all. 1t was
not much of a story, neighbers, but think
much of it in the nights and wonder how
could bear to live now if had not stopped
when heard the cry for help upon the road
the little baby's, hardly louder than squr
rels chirp
That's Dolly yondcr with her mother in
the meadow, n girl worth saving, think (but
then Pm her father, and partial may beg the
prettiest and sweetest thing this side the Mis-
sissippi.