Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-01-31
LITTLE DoLLY's CRY.

LITTLE DoLLY's CRY.
One Of Those Sweet Little Stories which
Touch Every Heart
My name is Anthony Hunt. am q
drover. and live miles and miles away
upon the Western prairie. There
wasn't house in sight when I first
moved there, my wife and l, and now
We have not many neighbors, though
those we have are good ones. One
day about ten years ago I went away
from home to sell my fifty head of
caffeine creatures as I ever saw. I
was to buy some groceries and dry
goods before I came back, and, above
all, doll for my youngest-Dolly.
She had never had 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 to get a 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 I
hurried off to buy was Dolly's doll.
l found large one with eyes
that would open and shut when you
pulled a wire, and had it wrapped
up in paper, and tucked it under my
arm, while l 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 morning. but l felt anxious
to get back. and eager to hear Dolly's
praises about her doll.
was mounted on a steady-going old
horse and pretty we'll loaded. Night
set in before was mile from town,
and settled down as dark as pitch while
l was in the middle of the darkest bit
of road l know of. l could have felt
my way, though, I remembered it SO
we'll; 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 as fast as l could. but all of a
sudden l heard little cry like child's
voice. l stopped short and listened
I heard it again. called and it an
swered me. couldn't see thing. All
was as dark as pitch. got down and
felt around in the grass.called
again, and again was answered.
Then l began to wonder. I'm
not timid, but l was known to be
a drover and to have money about me.
1t might be trap to catch me una
wares and rob and murder me. / am
not superstitiOus-nOt very; but how
could real child be put out On the
prairie in such night, at such an hour?
1t might be more than human. The
, bit of coward that hides itself in most
men showed itself to me then; but once
;; more l heard the cry, and said L:
IF any mans child is hereabouts,
Anthony Hunt is rot the man to let it
die"
/ searched again. At last I be-
thought me of the hollow under the
; hill and CROPPED that way. Sure
enough l found the dripping little
thing. that moaned and sobbed as l
, took it in my arms. 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 mama.
1t seemed so tired, and pretty soon
cried itself to sleep on my bosom. It
had slept there over an hour when l
saw my own windows. There were
lights in them, and l supposed that my
wife had lit them for my sake; but
,, when l got into the doorway saw
something was the matter, and stood
still with dread fear of heart five
minutes before l could lift the latch.
At last l did it, and saw the room full
of neighbors, and my wife amid them
weeping.
When she saw me she hid her face.
"Oh, don't tell him." she said, 1t
| will kill him.
''What is it, neighbcrs?' I cried.
Nothing now, l hope-what's that
you have in your arcs?"
"A poor lost child" said 1; II found
it on the road. Take it. will you?
I've turned faint" Aud 1 lifted the
sleeping thing and saw the face of my
child. my Dolly.
1t was my own darling and none
other. that l had picked up on the
drenched road. My little child had
wandered out to meet papa and the
doll, while the mother was at work,
and they were lamenting her as one
dead. thanked Heaven on my knees
before them. 1t is not much of a story.
neighbOrs, but l think Of it often in
the nights and wonder how l could
bear to live now if l had not stopped
when heard the cry for help upon the
road, hardly louder than a squarrers