The Wahpeton times., 1889-08-29


crossed some of the little hills with
out noticing them, and kept on, and
on, and on, until I grew tired, and
still l was going up, up, up, but the
sun was at my back, and l knew /
could not be wrong. My nuts grew
so heavy that I made u little pen of
stones at the foot of a big tree and
poured them in, intending to come
after them the next day.
"Then I wandered on again until
it began to grow dark, for the sun
had gone down. I could not under
stand why ! could not get over that
hill and begin going down into the
valley. I listened, but there was not
a sound. My limbs ached so that I
could hardly drag them along, and I
was getting very hungry. 1t was
now so dark that I could not see any
distance in front me. Then it occur
red to me to call out, and I screamed
"Father!" ut the top of my small
voice, just once. did not do itany
more, for my voice sounded so that
it scared me, it made such q noise
in the awful silence.
"Utterly wearied out I dropped
down at the foot of q tree upon some
leaves, and must have went to sleep
Immediately. Once during the night I
awoke, and feeling very cold got up
and walked around awhile in the
dark. I'm lost because it $50 dark, >
1 said to myself; but l will find the
place when daylight comes.' Then I
said my prayers and laid down again.
I seemed to have no fear, but I was
very angry at.myself because / could
not find the way.
"When l opened my eyes again the
sun was shining on the other side of
me from where it ougth to be, and I
was just one great pain all over me,
and oh! so hungry! I at once began
to crawl about and look for nuts,
but there were none there. Directly
I was able to use my feet, though
they were awfully sore. Then /
seached further, but not a nut could
I find. The trees were all gum and
beech, and everything, but nut-bear.
ers. Then I cried for the first time,
not so much because was hungry as
because had been Ounce enough to
part with my apronf:l of nuts.
/ now forgot all about being lost
in my search for nuts, and looked q
long time for the place where 1 had
left my apronful the night before. /
had now lost all idea ofthe direction,
because had lost confidence in the
sun. 1t was always on the wrong
side. At last I came to q little hol-
low and a tiny spring. Here I got a
drink, and felt much better. NY
limbs were not SO sore now, and nv
feet did not hurt me 80 much. Then
l found some acorns and sat down
to eat them, and while doing 80
went to sleep. When I awoke it was
night again, and my feet and limbs
hurt worse than before. I wondered
how a day could be so short, but said
to myself, I must really go home.
Mamma will worry about me-
II tottered on again the best ]
could, and in few minutes I began
to see lights, and suddenly I was in
q big garden just like our own, with
the house at the upper end. I start.
ed to run up the porch steps and fell.
Down, down, down went a fearful
distance, and hit my head against
something. For a moment I realiz.
ed that I was still in the wood; then
for time I knew nothing.
'The next sensation I had was
that of. flying through the air at q
great speed. My eyes were open,
and coald see the rocks and trees
flying past me, and II knew that g
man Of terrible height and awful
long legs was running away with
me.
Hog Mackey has got me at last,
I said to myself; but I must have
said it aloud, for at once a loud
roaring, painting voice answered:
!" Yes. Hog Mackey has got you
at last"
"And when I awoke again I was
coughing and strangling and crying,
and my throat was on fire. could
dimly see before me, where lay on q
bed, an old man sitting, holding a bot
tlein one hand and a spooni in the 9th.
er, and big tears were running down
his face. After had coughed and
strangled q little more, and got hold
Of my apron and wiped my tears
away, looked at the old man again.
What are you crying for?'
"He utaway the bottle and spoon,
and wiped his eyes with the back oi
his hands, and said:
"Im notcrying; it's only sweat
old man, you shouldn'tlie,' I re-
marked, for felt concerned about
him. He only gave a kind OF depre.
catory grunt and started at me.
Are you Hog Mackey?' I asked.
" Yes, I'm Hog Mackey.'
!" Are you going to eat me?'
+" No. he said calmly; little girls
are out of season now; and: besides,
l think you have more need to eat
somebody or something yourself
II am right hungry, I candidly
admitted. "With that he hurriedly
brought me gourd, full of milk,
which he thrust into my hands and
was rushing after something else,
when I dropped it on the floor, being
too weak to manage it. He quickly
filled the gourd again and held it fol
me while I drank. Then he softened
bread in the milk and gave me. AS
soon as my hunger was a little salts.
fled, he ran out of the house and