News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-09-09

would probably never have been writ
ten; but I did not feel so seif-confdent
as had in the morning. So l thanked
the man as best l could, and started
hotfoot for Airolo.
Away went, as never 1 had gone be-
fore. / thought of my dear father, fal
away over the mo ntains, wringing his
hands for his lost son, and all the weari-
ness went out of my legs. There was
but one thing to do, felt-to go back
to the hosplce where we had slept the
night before, and take fresh start. 1t
was an sll-night tramp, but that was
all right if only could let father know
that was safe and sound.
1t was nine o'clock when | started up
the mountalnside. paid no attention
to the winding road, but went straight
up over the rough rocks like a goat.
| had not got far up when the full moon
arose on my right, and turned the noun
tainside into falryland. How beautI-
full it was And how still | was the
only moving thing in the big mountain.
saving the dancing cascades and the
ravines, and even they were checked as
the advancing night grew colder In
spite of my anxiety, l felt my spirits
rising amid the witchery of the scene,
and look back upon that night now
now that | have forgotten the aching
legs and blistered feet-as one Of the
happiest experiences of my life.
Well l must cut a long story short.
At four O'Clock in the morning reached
the fork in the roads, and saw my mis-
take. Half an hour later l reached
Hospenthal. There was diligence, or
stage, at eight, and | thought my trou-
bles over, but when, after three hours
sleep, turned out to take it, behold
there was not vacant seat. 1t was a
sore disappointment, but felt l could
not wait, and as | had not money enough
with me to pay for a carriage, away |
went, aches, blisters, and all, to hoof
it. will not tell the tears l shed that
day, as toiled over the steep rocks that
cut into my POOR, blistered feet. Once
carriage came along with two pretty
young ladies and an old gentleman in
it. Theys.were Americans evidently |
was too bashful to ask for lift, but l
tried 10 look pleading and suggestive.
/ noticed that one of the young ladies
appeared very much interested, and
thought it very heartless when the cal
riage drove on without me. And what
do you think. boys? This young lady
said afterwards that she noticed I was
suffering and longed to ask me to ride,
only l had such cold, proud look, she
did not dare
1t was getting late in the afternoon
when | met a man who looked at me in
strange manner, and tried to speak
little English. l was on the down
grade then, and could see the wonder
full Rhone Glacier and the big hotel
that stands beside it. The queer man
said something about guide. l told
him to go away wanted no guide.
But still he stuck to me, talking Ger
man, and laughing, until l was very
angry. How was | to know that he
had been hired by my father to search
for the lost boy, and that he was trying
to express his honest Joy at finding me ?
/ thought he was a rascal, after my
pocket0ook At last he turned and ran
like deer to the hotel ! waved my |
pocket handkerchief, and saw a score
futtering in the distance from the big |
group ON the hotel veranda. Then, for
the first time, l broke down, and cried
ike big baby. Ten minutes later l
was in my fathers arms, and was the
zero of the hour.
All, WE'LL this was many years ago, |
and my dear father has long since gone |
to heaven; but among my mothers most |
precious relics is little piece of paper !
in his handwriting, bearing these words, |
written that thankful night: "For this |
my son was dead, and is alive again. y