Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-08-19
THE DROYER,S STORY,

3 -.
I am a drover, and live miles and
miles away upon the western prairie.
There was not house within sight
when we moved there, my wife and l,
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-fne creatures as ever saw.
1 was to buy some groceries and dry
goods before I came back, and, above
all, doll for our youngest, Dolly; she
had never had a store-doll of her own,
only the rag-babies her mother made
her.
Dolly could talk of nothing else, and
went down to the very gate to call after
me to "buy big one.'' Nobody but a
parent can understand how full my
mind was Of that toy; and how, when
the cattle were sold, the first thing, l
hurried off to buy Dolly's doll. l found
large one, with eyes that would open
and shut when you pulled wire, and
had wrapped it up in a paper, and
tucked it under my arm, while I had
the parcels of calico and delaine and
tea and sugar put up. Then, late as it
was, started for home. It might have
been more prudent to stay until morn
ing, but I felt anxious to get back, and
eager to hear Dolly's prattle about her
toy.
Twas mounted on steady-going
old horse of mine, and pretty we'll load
ed. Night set in before was mile
from town, and settled down dark as
pitch while was in the middle of the
widest bit of road knew Of. I rode
on as fast as could; but all of sud-
den l heard little cry, like a child's
voice! I stopped short, and listened
/ heard it again. called, and it an
swcred me. [ couldn't see thing; all
was dark as pitch. I got down and
felt about in the grass-called again,
and again; was answered. Then I be-
gan to wonder. I'm not timid; but
was known to be a drover, and to have
money about me. 1t might be trap
to catch me unawares, and rob and
murder me.
l am not uperstitious-not very;
but how could real child be out on
the prairie in such a night, at such an
hour? 1t might be more than human.
The bit of coward that hides itself in
most men showed in me then, and l
was half inclined to RIM away; but
once more heard that cry, and said 1:
IF any mans child is hereabouts,
Anthony Hunt is not the man to let it
de-
/ searched again. At last I be-
thought me of a hollow under the hill,
and grouping that way found little
dripping thing that moaned and sobbed
as took it in my arms. l called my
horse and the beast came to me, and l
mounted, and tucked the little soaked
thing under my coat as we'll as could,
promising to take it home to nanny.
1t seemed tired to death and soon cried
itself to sleep against my bosom.
1t had slept there 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 l got into the door yard, [ saw
something was the matter, and stood
still with dread fear at heart five
minutes before could lift the latch.
At last did it and saw the room full
of neighbors and my wife amidst them
weeping.
When she saw me she hid her face.
'Oh, don't tell him. she said: "it
will kill him.
"What is it, neighbors?' 1 cried.
And one said: Nothing now, Ihope.
What's that in your arms?''
"a poor, lost child" saidI 1. ''Ifound
it on the road. Take it, will you've
turned faint!'' and lifted the sleep
ing thing, and saw the face of my own
child-my little Dolly.
1t was my darling, and none other,
that I had picked up upon the
drenched road.
My little child had wandered out to
meet "daddy" and the doll, while her
mother was at work, and whom they
were lamenting as one dead. |
thanked Heaven, on my knees, before
them all. 1t is not much of story,
friends; but | think of it often in the
nights, and wonder how l could bear
to live, now, if had not stopped when
heard the cry for help upon the road
the little baby cry, hardly louder
than squirrels chirp.
That's Dolly, yonder, with her
mother, in the meadow; girl worth
saving, l think-but then I'm the
father, and partial, may be-the preti-
est and sweetest thing this side of the
| Mississippi.