Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-08-30
A WeekTin the Woods.


beating through the wild shrubs and
tangled thlckets, and frightening timiG
birds and animals with their loud
"hallOo-oo-s, that, in another part OF
the forest, brave nine-year-old boy
trudged wearily through the underbrush
carry ing his sister upon his back. Both
their faces were pale and white with
exhaustion, and the little girls bore the
mark of tears. But Theodore LORE
was a plucky lad, and had by no means
lost heart. He had kept up his courage
and cheered his little sister through all
tbs days and nights that they had spent
in the woods, and he had even thought
out way of escape, and planned a rsute
which he felt must bring them out OF
their prison-for the vastness and shad-
ow of mighty forest can form as strong
and gloomy d prison, if you do not know
some way cut from it, as was ever
made by stone walls and iron bars.
But" YOU will ask. "h0w did they
live? What had they To eat:
In Order 10 ans wer tl!"se questions
fully,we must retTace their wanderings.
After parting the PdlsOn sisters lone
whole week before They arrived al the
resting place where We have just seen
them, fheudnre and ArmIHda Wandered
on, Seeking constantly for some path ur
road, until day began 10 fade. As The
darkness closed in upon them, little Ar
minda could not keep back the tears, and
her heart was filled with dread. But
Theodore WAS not easily frightened
Cheer up, Sis" ne said; it'll be just
iLaa At ali 10
took out his pocket kulIe and proceeded
to cut some bushes for bed.
Mother won't like it and will be
dreadfully scared" said Arminda.
well, don't know as like it any
better'n Mother" said Theodore, But
| am not going to be scared"
Arminda, however, seemed 10 have
on her mind.
Did you ever see bear?" she whis
pered, as il she feared that Mr. Bruin
might even then be i'll the thicket and
overhear what she said. II saw pic
ture of one, once," she went on, land he
was eatin' up great big man. l guess
that man was scared, l guess he was"
well. don't let old make-believe
pictures scare me-" said Theodore.
N confusion, at the strange surround
ngS.
Little Arminda started, and opened
Ter ewes, too, in daZe. why, slept
Ill night with my dress on! Why,
we've runned ava, r. she exclaimed.
That's what the folks ii say, s'pose,"
'eplisd her practical brother, jumping
lp cneerily now that daylight WAS on
land AN they'll say we ought to be
whipped, too, | guess. But I'd be willin'
o be whipped when get home, If [ on
V could get there. And ola, but Amt
so am l." said Arminda.
well, let's have some breakfast, then"
uggssted Theodore. There are nice big
,erries all round here. see some.-l
lust wait"
He soon came back with an arm full |
f branches from the heavilyladeD BUSH
s, and they both devoured an unlawful
uantity.
| guess they'll make US sick, such a
ot," said Arminda, in cheerful tone; |
but there's lot more in the pals; and |
ye m must'nt lose our pals" she added
And if we carry 'em home full of ber-
les, then they'll like it better"
I'VE must pick our pals full" said
'heodore, 80 that if We don't find any
lore, we won't starve." Aud he pro-
seded to ill the pals.
I'm all skeeter-bites" sobbed Armin-
a. And the spiteful insects had in
eed cruelty wounded the little girls
ace and neck and soft, round arms;
nd Theodore, too, bore many a mark of
leir sharp stings. well, we must hur-
y and get home" said he, land moth
ri cure EN-"
So they set out on their journey, eat
lg the big ripe huckleberries from the
ushes aS they walked, filling their
ails. in case they should come 20 places
here there were no berries, and quench-
lg their thirst at the creeks and small
reams which they chanced upon at in
rivals. This day, too, wore slowly
wav, and once more they made rude
ed at thu spot where darkness overlook
lem, and slept as best they could
lnday came and passed. The little
les walking hand in hand through the
snse underbrush, could find no clew to
aide them out Of the wilderness. Yet
/ day they kept moving on.
But that night The third which they
I'd passed in the woods--they heard an
her sound far away in the distance.
20. no! O-ho-ol O-ho-o-ol' {
Theodore recognized his brothers voice
I'D shouted loudly in answer, Arnlnda
lining. They called again and again.
ut The wind WAS against them. The :
,uud they had heard grew fainter
Ieir brother was evidently moving
way. At last, only Il poor little echo
IS wered their cry, and then the great
oods seemed more silent than ever. |
The next day, while they were walk {
o along. Theodore thought he heard
ii, and they stopped to listen. "T'wds
,er yonder," said the boy. You wait {
ere minute, and I'll go.and see if l
N get sight of EN-" He rushed S
rough the brake few rods, shouting S
I'd calling. and at last thought lie saw
man moving among the trees in the |
III distance. But the ligure soon fad {
from sight.
In the early dawn of the next morning
heodore leaped suddenly from the bed
laavss where he was lying, and look
wildly about him in every direction.
Z had heard il again and far-off "O-h0-
O-ho-o-ur' And what was that, now
}, now down, dancing in and out among f
e dalk trees? Could it be light? Il
,uld it be The light of his fathers Ian L
IN? Yes, it WAS, AS the daylight t
ew, he could distinctly see his father L
ith lantern III the distance. But all T
s frantic shouts failed TO reach the b
archer's ear, aud, in his terror at los t
Z his sister, Theodore resolved that a
,lhing should tempt him to leave her. o
In the evening of the next day came b
e storm Arminda sobbed and trem- 0
ed; but Theodore comforted her by p
ling her not To be frightened, "for he Il
as there with her" v
Whats goip' to hurt us here?" be g
outed, proudly, amid the tumult OF t
und. 81 like to be out in the rain" "
Il like to get wet, too," Arminda an p
,ered, weakly. "lt makes my skeeter il
tes feel good W
Morning came at last, but still the o