The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-07
1T WAS HIS OWN CHILD.
4 Romantic and Touching. But Rather
Fiahy story.


Fishy story.
From he san Francisco Cal.
My name is Anthony Hunt. am
drovor, and live miles and miles away
upon the Western prairie. There wasn't
a house In sight when first moved there,
my wife and |, and now we have not
many neighbors, though those we have
are good ones. One dav, about ten years
ago, | went away from home to sell my
fifty head Of catte---fine creatures as
ever saw. was to buy some groceries
and dry goods before | came back, and,
above all, doll for my youngest-Dolly.
She had never had a store doll of her
own--only rag babies her mother had
made her.
Dolly could talk nothing else, and
went down TO the very gate TO call after
me 10 yet n big one. Nobody but
parent can understand how full my mind
WAS Of that toy. and how, when the cat
tie were sold. the first thing | hurried
OF 10 buy was Dolly's doll. | found
large one, with eyes that would open
aud shut when you pulled wire, and
had Il wrapped up in paper and tucked
II under my arm, while had the parcels
of calico and delaine and tea and sugar
put up. Then, late as Il was, / started
For home. 1t might have been more
prudent 10 stay until morning, but felt
anxious to get back. and eager to hear
| Dolly's praises about her doll.
was mounted on a steady-going old
horse aud pretty well loaded. Night set
| In before ! was mile from town, and
| settled down as dark as pitch while | was
| IN the darkest bit Of road know of. /
. l. N.nN
| mcmbcred Il so well and when the storm
that had been brewing broke, and pelted
the rain in torrents, | was FIVE miles or
may be six miles from home.
/ ] rode rs fast as / could, but all of a
sudden heard little cry like child S
voice | stopped short and listened-I
heard Il again. | called and it answered
me. couldn't see thing. All was ms
dark as pitch. | got down and felt
around In the grass-called again, and
again was answered. Then / began to
wonder. I'm not timid, but was
known 10 be drovcr and to have money
about me. II might be trap to catch
me unawares and rob and murder me. /
am not superstitious--no very; but how
could real child be out on the prairie
In such a night, at such an hour2 II
might be more than human. The bit OF
coward that hides itself in most men
showed itself TO me then; but once more
heard the cry, and said /:
If any mans child is hereabouts, An
ihony Hunt Is not the man to let 1t die. u
searched again At last bethoughi
me Of the hollow under the hill and
CROPPED that way. Sure enough, found
the little dripping thing. that moaned
and sobbed as took it in my arms.
called my horse and tho beast came tc
me. aud mounted and tucked the little
soaked thing under my coat as well as
could, promising to take it home 10 nam
ma. II seemed 80 tired, and pretty soon
cried itself to sleep on my bosom. 1t haC
slept there over an hour when / saw my
own windows. There were lights il
them, and | supposed my wife had Ii
them for my sake; but when ] got int
the doorway ! saw something was th
matter and stood still with dread fea
of heart five minutes before could lif
the latch. AT last did it and saw tn,
room full Of neighbors and my wife amiC
them weeping.
When she saw me she hid her face.
ooh, don't tell him." she said. II
will kill him."
What is it, neighbors?" I cried.
Nothing now, l hope-whars tina
you have In your armsv'
5 "a poor lost child" said l; 'I foun,
5 ii on the road. Take it, will you? Tv
Q turned faint" And lifted the sleeping
, thing and saw the face of my own child
my Dolly.
1t was my own darling. and none other
: that had picked up on the drenche
road. Ny little child had wandered ou
to meet papa and the doll, while til
mother was at work, and they wer
lamenting her as one dead. | thanke
: Heaven on my knees before them. 1t
l. not much of a story, nelghbors, but
= think of it often in the nights, an
wonder how could bear to live now if
had not stopped when heard the cry fl
k help upon the road, hardly louder tina
d a squirrels chirp That's Dolly yond,
,. with her mother in the meadow, a gi
, worth saving-I think (but then I'm h,
= father, and partial, maybe) the prettti
X and sweetest thing this side of the Mi
sissippi.