The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-05-05
A WESTERN DRoyER's STORY.

Myname Is Anthony Hunt. lam drover
and live miles and miles away upon the west
ern prairie There wasn't a house within
sight when 7 moved there, my wife ard I,
and now we haven't many neichbors, though
those we have are good ones
One day. about ten years AGO, I wentaway
from home to sell some fifty head Of cattle
fine creatures as 7 ever saw. was 20 buy
some groceries and dry Goods before came
back, and, above all, don for Our Youngest
Dolly: she had never had a store doh Of her
own-ouly the rag babies her mother had
made her.
Dolly could talk Of nothing else, and vent
down to the very gate to cali after me to buy
her big one. Nobody but a parent could
understand how full my mind was Of that
toy. and how. when the cattle were sold, the
first thing I hurried of 70 buy was Dolly's
doll I found q large one, with ewes that
would open and shut when Won pulled
wire. and had it wrapped MP in paper, and
tucked It under my arm, while 7 had the par
GELS Of calico and delsiue and tea and sugar
put m Then. late as it was, started FOR
home. It might have been more prudent TO
stav until morning. but I felt more anxious
to get back, and eager 20 hear Dolly's praise
about her doll.
was mounted on a steady-Coinr old horse
/ Of mine. and pretty well loaded. Night set
/ in before I was mile from town, and settled
/ down as dark as pitch while 7 was I'm the
[ widest bit of road know Of. 7 could have
/ felt my way. though. I remembered it so
/ well, and when the storm that had been
/ brewing broke and peIted i'm rain torrents I
/ was five. OF maybe six. miles from home vet.
/ Irode as fast rs I could. but aU Of a sud
/ den ] heard n CRY like child's voice.
/ STONED short and listened-I heard 90 again
+ I called aud it answered me. Then I began
. 10 wonder I'm not tfmid, but was known
. to be a drover and 20 have money about me.
It might be a trap TO catch me unawares and
rob and murder me-
lam not superstiti0us-not very: but how
could a real child he out in the prairies In
such night. at such an bour7 II might be
more than human
The bit OF n coward that hides itself in
most men showed Itself to me then, but
once more heard the cry, and saysI:
'If any mans child is shereab0uts Anthony
Hunt is not tie man to let It die"
I searched again. At Lass I hethought ne
Of a hollow under the hin, and rroned that
way. Sure enough I found a little dripping
thing that moaned and sobhed as I took Sc In
my arms. I called my horse, and the beast
. came 10 me, and 7 mounted and tucked the
little soaked thing under my coat as wei rs
I could promising TO take It home TO NAM
my. 1t seemed tired to death. and pretty
soon cried itself TO sleep against my bosom.
It had slept there over an hour when saw
my own windows. There we lights I'm them,
and I supposed my wife had lit them for my
sake: but when I cot into the door yard
saw something was the matter, and stood
still with dread fear at my heart five min
utes before I could lift the latch. at last I
did it, and saw my wife among some Of the
neilEbors weeping.
When she saw me she hil her face.
ooh don't tell him" she said. cit viii
kill him"
"What is IT, neishb0rs @" 7 cried.
Nothing now, / hope-what is that In
your arms o''
"a poor lost child" d" said T. ct found it
on the road. Take it, VIII you I've turned
faint +" And ] lifted the little sleeping
thing and saw the face Of my own child my
Dolly.
i was my darling and none other, whom
had picked M on the drenched road.
Ny child had wandered out to meet dad
dy'' and the doll. while her mother was at
work, and whom they were lamenting as
one dead. 1 thanked heaven on my knees
before them all It is not much of a story,
neighbors but I think much of IL in the nights
and wonder how ] conId bear to live now if
had not stopped when I heard the cry for
help upon the road, the little baby's call hard
IL louder than q squirrels chirp
That's Dolly, yonder with her mother in
the meadow. girl worth saving, ] think,
Cbut when I'm her father and partial nav
be- the prettiest ahd sweetest thing this side
of the Mississippi.