The Monitor., 1891-03-13
THE CHILD'S CRY.

droger, and | live miles aud miles away
upon the western prairie. There wasn't a
home within sight when we moved there,
my wife and l; aud now We haven't many
neighbors, though those we have are good
ones
Zone day, about ten years ago, l went
away from home to sell sorne fifty head of
cattle-fne creatures as | ever saw. l
was to buy groceries and dry goods before
came back, and above all, doll for our
youngest Dolly; she had never had store
doll of her own, only rag babies her
mother had made for her. Dolly could
talk of nothing else, and went dow q to the
very gate to call after me to- buy big one.'
| Nobody but parent can understand how
my mind was on that toy, and how. when
the cattle were sold. the FIRST thing
hurried off to buy was Dolly's doll.
found large one, with eyes that would
open and shut when you pulled wire,
and had it wrapped up in paper and
tucked in under my arm, while had the
parcels of calico and delaine and tea and
sugar put up.
1T might have been more prudent to stay
till morning, but felt anxious to get back.
and eager to hear Doly's prattle about her
doll. | mounted steady-going Old horse
of mine, and pretty well loaded. Night
set in before was mile from town, and
settled down, dark as pitch, while | was
| in the widest bit of road know of. l
could have felt my way through, | remem-
Der it so well, although when the storm
that had been brewing broke out and pelt-
| ed the rain in torrents, | was almost five
miles, or maybe six from home rode on
fast as | could.
| but all of sudden heard a little cry,
like child's voice. l stopped short and
listened. heard it again. I called and
| it answered me. | couldn't see thing.
| All was dark as pitch. | got down and
felt about in the grass called again, and
again / was answered. Then began to
| wonder. I'm not timid; but / was known
to be drover, and to have money about
| me. 1t might be a trap to catch me una
wars, and rob and murder me. am not
| superstitious-uot very; but how could
real child be out on the prairie 10 such
night, at such an houro 1t might be more
than human. The bit of a coward that
| hides itself in most men showed itselfto me
then, and was half inclined to run away.
''But once more heard that cry; and
| said |, If any mans child is hereabouts,
| Anthony Hunt is not the man to let it die
searched again. At last | bethought
me OF hollow under the hill, and CROPPED
that way. Sure enough found a little
| dripping thing that moaned and sobbed as
| took it in my arms. | called my horse,
aud the beast came to me; and | mounted,
and tucked the little soaked thing under
my coat, as we'll as could. promising to
| take it home to nanny. 1t seemed tired
to death, and pretty soon cried itself to
| sleep against my bosom.
at had slept there for over an hour
wheu | saw my own windows. There
were lights in them, and l supposed my
wife had lit them for my sake; but when
| got Into the door-yard, | saw something
was the matter, and stood still with dread
fear of heart five minutes before could
| lift the latch. AT last did it aud saw the
room full of neighbors, and my wife
amidst them, weeping When she saw me
she hid her face.
40, don't tell him, she said; it will
| kill him.
:" What is it, nei ghbors?' | cried.
Aud one said, Nothing, now, hope;
what's that in your arms?'
".A poor lost child, says l. L found
it on the road. Take it, will you? I've
turned faint;' and l lifted the sleeping
thing, aud saw the face of my own chile.
my little Dolly
1T was my darling, and none other, that
had picked up upon that drenched road.
My little child had wandered out to meet
| daddy aud doll, while her mother was at
work; and Dolly they were lamenting as
one dead. thanked heaven on my knees,
before them all.
sit is not much of story; but l think
of it often in the night, and wonder how
conld bear to live now, if had not stopped
when heaid the cry for help upon the
road-the little baby cry, hardly louder
than squirre.'s S chirp."
! 1t is much of a story. 1t is a story in
which the great moral of the worlds re-
demption lies wrapped up. 1t is a story
which translates for us the deepest meaning
of the cross. In exposing his life to danger
| this man restored the life that was dearests
| to him. ''He that ioseth his life shall
find it.''-Dr. 4. j. Gordon.