St. Landry democrat., 1885-11-28
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
FOUND.

When was DrlghGeyeo lass1c
IN the time of Long Ago,
One night. when the wind was moaning
And fhe ground was white with sneW;
Twas to be a grand Thanksgiving
For the harvest stored away
Safely in barn and CELLAR
A time to feast and pray.
Alike in the cot and mansion
Was hurrying here and there,
And the scent of the browning turkey
Filled, like incense, all the air.
Dear little Puritan Ruthie
Looked on in glad surprise,
With her small hands quantity foldeds
And her blue eyes grave and W1seS
And a host of eager questions
Fitting from brain to tongue
To puzzle the busy workers
Their savory tasks among
Until her mother lost patience;
"Ruth, it's Thanksgiving-Days
She said; land we all are busy
Do thee go out and play.
81 will call thee when want thee"
Then quietly little Ruth
Tripped out of the noisy kitchen.
Though she'd rather not, in truth
But without the sun shone warmly
And the air was crisp and clear;
1t seemed to Ruth Thanksgiving
Was the gem of all the year.
The last of the trees bright garments
Hung duttering, gold-and-brown,
As the wee maid wandered IDLY
The forest pathways down;
A-humming in baby-fashion
A snatch of some quaint old airS
And laughing to hear a squirrel
Chatter at her from his lair. ,iss-H8a
Still letting her careless footsteps
Just where they were minded stray
She wandered on in the brightness
OF that glad Thanksgiving Day.
The dinner at last was ready
The haste and hustle we're DER,
And the mother, flushed with toiling,
Swung open the cottage door
Calling: "Come child, now want thee!
Iwant thee, Ruth! Does thee hear?
And her face grew white that moment
With sudden, dreadful fear.
Where was she, her little daughter2
The forest was deep and wide:
Ruth! Ruth" but only the echo
Of her trembling voice replied.
She turned back into the cottage
1.-THE child-She is lost! she said,
And they, to arouse the neighbOrS,
Down the woodland trail she sped
The dinner was left untasted:
And the search went bravely on,
Till the pale stars shone in heaven
And the daylight ali had gone.
" Have you tidings of the lost oue?'
Twas a heartsick mothers cry
To one and another searcher;
None yet, was the low reply.
But there soon must be-be trustful!'
And all through the darksome night
The torches famed and flfekered
Under the stars pale light.
at last in the east glimmer
Told of day begun;
And the scattered band of hunters
Heard-Was it the signal gun?
Thank God for His gracious goodness!
Each heart with hope beat high;
Bang! bang! and the joyful chorus
1t seemed would rend the sky.
Found in a sheltered corner
In hollow snug and deep
AL rosy. unframed and PEACEFUL
The child lay, fast asleep.
Foundi but the joyous clamor
OF sudden died in air,
For the golden head was nesting
On great, black, shaggy beari
He growled at the waving torch-lights:
Ruth 8 blue eyes opened wide;
!" I'm glad you've come to lind me-
knew you would r. she cried.
She glanced at the leveled muskets-
Half-a-dozen, all around:
AND forth, with cry of terror,
She sprang, at single bound.
!" Don't shoot the dog!'' she pleaded ,.sts
Her wee hands clasping ght;
!" He has kept me warm and safely %tts9
All through This cold, dark nights
!" SO be itY' cried her father.
As he clasped her in his arm;
o Not single hair of his shaggy coat
Through us shall come to harm ]"
Then home went the glad procession,
Through the morning, growing fair,
To the cottage in the forest,
10 the mother, waiting there
For the child whose face she sprinkled
with the tears she could not stay;
! thank Thee, Lord she murmered,
For this Thanksgiving Dayl"
Now, Goldie and May and Teddy.
All gathered around my knee,
have told you the little story
Just as twas told to me
When was a bright-eyed lassie
(And the tale is true as truth,
By the little Puritan maiden
My own eat-grandma, Ruth.
Youths Companion.
II {, =.