The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-10-01
"GOD KNOWS"
A skeleton Found ON the Western r,

A skeleton Found ON the Western Prairie.
We had been riding for two long days
over the dreary plains same mo-
notonous scenery always In view
rough, sterile ground outcroppings of
rock-a lone tree or brush at long in
tervals-the ground baked and cracked
under the summer sun. The prairies
We're made to enrich the farmer-the
plains to revenge on man and bird and
beast. Only the serpent can live there.
Over these barren stretches no bird
flies on them no wolf can find living.
The monotony is maddening-the ste
rility appalling.
The sun was only an hour high as the
column obliqued more to the left in
search of camping ground. Those of
us in advance were Just ascending O
swell covered with large powders when
trooper suddenly cried out in alarm
and pointed TO something on the ground
at his horses feet. We gathered around
him, and for minute no one spoke
There, cuddled against the rock, was
a skeleton-a clean picked, bleaching
skeleton, with never bone missing
from its place. Ii was, as all saw at IA
or years of age. The shoes, which
had rotted from the feet; the few bits
of cloth the buttons living about, proved
it to be the skeleton of little girl. 1t
had sought what little shelter the rock
afforded, and it had died there-died as
If the grim messenger had come in its
dreams 1t lay on its side, the head
resting on the right arm, aud the limbs
were as composed as if death had
brought no pain.
Whose child?" asked sergeant,
whose child, aud when"
All who could answer! Fifty miles
away was the immigrant trail. One
two-three- perhaps five years before,
wagon had left the convoy for some
reason and became lost on this desolate
expanse. A child had wandered away
from camp In search of flowers had
fallen from wagoa and been stunned
had been left sleeping in the grass by
accident. No one could tell how it hap
pened, but everyone could imagine
what followed. A child of seven left
alone in this awful region, where the
voice of a bird is never heard-where
rattlesnakes sun themselves on every
ledge-where the starving wolf fits by
like a shadow as lie hastens to other
fields. The very terror of it would
strike her dumb. She would stare
about her with an awful wildness in
her eyes-her face would be winter
than snow-her lips would part, but no
word could pass them. Then she would
flee, attempt TO run away from lone
1 i 1,A.
two days three-four. Then hunger
and thirst and mental torture would
overcome her, and she would lie down
TO die.
Whose child, and when ?" asked the
sergeant as others came TO look down
on the bleaching skeleton.
This time captain answered.
bronzed-faced gray-haired man who
had seen many mysteries of the kind.
Removing his cap he turned his face
to Heaven and answered.
God only knows"
Hearts had ached-hearts may have
broken--hearts might be aching then
and for long years TO come.
We sent TO the wagon for spades and
a head-board. A few feet from the rock
we dug little grave and the skeleton
was tenderly lifted up and deposited
therein, and as the earth covered them
up score of men uncovered their
heads and the captain said:
Earth TO earth-ashes to ashes
dust to dust The mystery is with
thee, o Lord!'
And en- the head-board we carved
the legend which men may read to-day :
.............. ...... .-s..s.s'