The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-06-20
THE BABES In THE WOOD
BY PATIENCE srAPLEroN.

He was little pauper boy being re-
turned to the State that must maintain
him. lie sat very quiet in his seat
thinking of his grandmother, who had
died in that little village that was send
Ing him away. He thought of her grave
on the hillside burying ground, where
wild roses and raspberry bushes clung
about the stones where the bees hummed
in the sunshine, the birds sang in the
naples, and the long grass in the soft
summer breeze blew across the graves
like pals. He remembered a horny
handed farmer, who had passed. him on
his sad journey to the depot with one of
the selectmen of the town, and the
farmer had patted his head, saying
kindly: Take this five cents, bub; keep
it and you'll never want money for you'll
allus have it," lie pondered over this
arithmetical problem until his brain was
tired. When he drank from the rusty
tin cup he thought of the rolllcking
brown brook that run through the vii
lage, and wondered if the children play
ing on its banks would remember him.
No one tried to talk to him, for he was
such small, quiet child he was not no.
ticed. No one saw the pathetic little
face grow pale or the shadows come in
his dark, bright eyes. He dreamed the
second night of his journey, that with
his grandfather, he was walking on a
long bridge and great steamship
breathing dense, black smoke came
crashing down upon them. He awoke
with li4te cry and found himself lying
on the ground under the stars. There
had been an accident to the train and
some kind men had lifted the uncon.
scious child out of window. A light
flashed close to his face.
''lt's the little chap shipped to Wis
consin, said brakeman, holding his
light lower, he is dead | think and
better OIL no doubt, poor little fellow.n
A&r long blank the child came
BAG ITO life with those words ringing in
h Fars, ''Dead and better off" There
were thick woods near, and close TO him
wounded people lying on blankets.
Afar oil was lurid light where one OF
the wrecked cars was burning. lie
wondered what had happened in terror
he staggered TO his feet, and with the
blind instinct of sleep walker, STUN
bled into the forest. When the wounded
were carried away he was forgotten. He
was all alone in the world; there was no
one to miss him.
In a cool, grassy hollow hidden by tall
green ferns he slept until late the next
day. He wondered then if he were
dead-he seemed deserted by every one,
and he had no idea how he came into the
woods. He saw his little basket near
him, noted his clothes were burned and
dusty. He listened and the ripple of
hal 20 IL
and bathed his head and the wound in
his forehead that began to smart. There
was little rustic in the alder bushes,
and there across the brook, looking at
him with beaming face, was little,
golden-haired child. Her blue eyes were
red with tears, her pretty white gown
dirty and torn, her blue sash trailing on
the ground.
Harry, my Harry" she cried, stretch
ing out her little arms, ''come get baby,
baby never wun off no more
He went across the brook carrying his
basket. She was very hungry aud his
generous heart Tejoiced that he had eaten
little al the journey and had clung tight
to his basket through his trials. From
her confused talk he learned she had
been lost in the woods the day before
and slept all night at the foot of a tree.
She saw he was not Harry, but stroked
his face with her loving hand, saving:
lou hurted, poor other Harry2 Mamma
make on we'll" His senses coming to
him with this new charge, he took her
by the hand and set out to find some
body.
Hewas not afraid in the woods, for he
and his grandmother had slept many a
night under the stars. Toward dark he
saw on a side path pair of shining eyes,
round globes of fire. He was carrying
the child, and he kept bravely on, say
ing the prayer his grandmother had
taught him. The luminous eyes disap-
peared quickly, and he knew it was only
harmless little fox. When he could
go no further he laid the child down,
covering her with his jacket, and watched
until he fell asleep by her side.
So quaint and pretty a pair might have
been those two sweet babes left in the