The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-09-15
4 WESTERN DROvER'S STORY.
The Wee Cry that Touched Fa-
Tiers Heart and Saved His Child.

droyer ami live miles and miles away
upon the Western prairie. There wasn't
house in sight when first moved there,
myswife and l, and now we have not
many neighbois, though those we have
are good ones.
One day, shout 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
q doll for our youngst, Dolly. She had
never had store doll Of her own--only
|ra& babies her mother had made her.
D6iTy could talk%HotbiDg@ else, and
went down to the very gate to call after
me to get big one. Nobody but q
parent can understand how full my mind
was of that toy, and how, when the cat
tie were sold, the first thing l hurried of
10 bdv was Dolly's doll. found a large
one with eyes that would open and shut
when you pulled q wire. and had it wrap
ped up in paper and tucked under my
arm while / bad the parcels OF calico
and delaine and tea and sugar put up.
Then, late as it was, / started for nome
II might have been more prudent to stay
until morning, but felt anxious to ge,
back and eager to hear Dolly praises
about her doll.
/ was mounted on steady going ole
horse and pretty well loaded. Night Sc,
in before / was a mile from town, and
settled down as dark as pitch while
was in the middle Of the darkest bit o.
road know of. / could have felt my
way, though, / remembered 1t 80 well
and when the storm that had been brew
ing broke, and pelted the rain in tor
rents, was five miles or maybe sil
miles from home.
! rode as fast as I could, bat all of ,
sudden ] heard little cry like child.
voice. stopped short and listened.
heard it again. / called and it answered
me. couldn't see thing; all was al
dark as pilch. 1 got down and fel
around in the grass-called again, ant
again was answered. Then began ts
wonder. I'm not timid, but l wa
known to be drover and to have mon
ey about me. 1t might be trap tt
catch me unawares and rob and murdel
me. / am not superstitious, not very
but how could real child be out on The
prairie in such night, at such an hour
1t might be more than human. The bi
of coward that hides itself in mos
men showed itself to me then. but ono,
more heard the cry, and said r.:
"If any mans child Is hereabouts An
thony Hunt is not the man TO let it die
searched again. At last bethough
me of hollow under the bill and group
ed that way. Sure enough l found
little dripping thing taat moaned ant
fsobbed as took itin my arms. 'csllet
my horse and the beast came to me, an.
mounted and tucked the little soaked
thing under my coat as well as l could
promising to take it home to mamma
1t seemed so tired, and pretty sool
cried itself to sleep on my bosom.
1t bad slept there over an hour wher
saw my own windows There wer,
lights in them, and Supposed my wifi
had lit them tor my sake, but when
got into the doorway l saw something
was the matter, and stood still With ,
dread fear of heart FIVE minutes before
could lift the latch At last did it
and saw the room full of neighbors, ant
my wife amid them weeping. Wher
sue saw me she hid her face.
"Oh, don't tell him, ut will kill him.
"What is it neigbbors 2" l cried.
Nothing now, hope. What's thai
you have in your arms2"
"A poor lost child" said I;"I found
it Oh the road, Take it, will your I've
turned faint" And lifted tue sleeping
thing and saw the face of my own child
my Dolly.
1t was my own darling, and none otb
er, that had picked up on the d-enched
road Ny little child had wandered ou
to meet papa and tue doll, while the
mother was at work, and they were 10.
menting her ss one dead. / thanked
heaven on my knees before them.
1t is not much of story, neighbcrs
but / think OF it often in the nights and
wonder how could bear to live now Il
| hal not stopped when heard the cry
for help upon the road, hardly louder
than squirrels chirp.
That's Dolly Youder with her mother
10 the meadow--a girl worth savlng-l
think (hut, then, I'm her father and par.
tial, may be) the prettiest and sweetest
thing this side of the Mississippi.