The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-05-07

deep, mental agony OF the poor, loving
So sincere wass the sympathy
Of some of the villagers, that one man
to give hundred dollars to
whoever should find the child alive,
and nine others quickly joined him,
making the handsome sum Of a thous-
and dollars reward, which it was right
ly believed would prove great
Stimulus to exertion ON the part of
many who might otherwise prove
comparatively Indifferent.
In fstct, the news OF the reward did
fly rapidly, and the effect was almost
magical. Several of those present
who q minute before, were so tired
from their days work as scarcely to
be able to drag their weary limbs
home, now hurried off to get their
supper, procure lanterns, and con-
tinue the search all night, while num-
bers at the village, who could not find
it convenient that day to give their
time to this work of humanity, now
turned out with an eagerness that
clearly showed how potent was the
spell OF money,
Not being in very good health my
self, and wishing to husband my
strength for the following day, I went
home, and went to bed at an early
hour. Though very much fatigued,
could not sleep for long time,
and moved restlessly to and fro, my
mind filled with painful thong hts OF
the poor child dying of starvation in
some lonely spot, and the poor moth
er shrieking away her reason over the
horrible discovery. At length came q
confused, half-conscious state, and
then that peculiar condition in which
we dream and know we dream, yet
have no desire so wake. I thought I
was out hunting the child, as had
been that day, and that besides the
persons who had pursued the search
with ME, there was also a stranger, a
man with a pale, ascetic face, and
dressed not unlike a clergyman. Walk
ing close up to me, and fixing his dark,
expressive eyes intently upon me, he
said, in a mild, pleasant tone, with a
winning smile:-"You are troubled
about this lost child, it does credit to
your heart-and l have come to show
you where she is.
"Oh, if you know, speak!' said l.;
mot because of myself, but for her
sake, and her almost frantic moth
er's."
"Follow mel" returned the stranger,
at once leading me away from all the
rest.
Then thought we were at the foot
of the hill already more than once
mentioned, at the very point where my
companions and myself had begun it's
ascent and that instead of going up,
as we had done, the stranger turned
to the right, and led the way through
a kind of swamp, till he came to a
grassy meadow, through which flowed
a sparkling rivulet. This he crossed,
and continued on till he came to an
other hill, which was steep and rocky.
Clambering up this hill, past rock after
rock, we soon came to ledge that
was very difficult to ascent, and
around the base. Of which the shrub,
berry was very dense. Turning into
this thicket, and keeping around a hill
we soon reached a point where the as.
cent to the top OF the rocks was com.
! naratively easy, and on coming to the
'mmit of the ledge, there sat thepoo1
live girl, crying and wringing hel
hands, and occasionally stopping tc
gaze with q shudder upon the dreary
scene below.
At this point of my dream, awoke
but the whole scene had been so real
that it was some time before L became
convinced that had been dreaming
and hadnot seen the child at all; anc
even then was so impressed with tn.
idea that the vision was somethin.
more than a chance fancy, that fell
quite confident 1 should find her on tn,
morrow.
At the first streak of day I arose
broke my fast, and started off il
haste, telling my family of my dream
and that really expected to find tn
lost one. A large number of the vii
layers set off at the same time as my
self, and on our way to the wood W,
met nearly as many returning HON,
from q fruitless nights labor, some O
them completely worn down with {
constant vigil and travel of four and
twenty hours. To none of those 20
ing out or coming in, however, did
communicate my secret hope; but
llle1IdSlLS w SepdidCe lily Sell liOIn dill
REPAIRED with all haste to the spo1
where the stranger of my dream hat
led me away from my companions.
To my great delight might al
most say, surprise, though 1 confess
half-expected the RESULT discovered
the very swamp 1 had gone through il
my sleep; and beyond it, too, the very
same meadow and rivulet. My hear
beat fast. Couldiit be, after all, that
| had been directed by some higher
intelligence? and that I was destined
to save a sweet little life, and bring
great Joy to the almost breaking heart
Of a fond mother? j fervently prayed
it might be so.
I htprried on, and still saw every
thing exactly as had seen it in my
dream. | came to the hill, ascendet
it, and discovered the ledge. was al
nlost to the end Of my journey
should soon know! Hark! did l no
hear a child's cry? My heart seemed
to rise to may throat and choke me
Could the dream be a, .clairvoyan
sight?
| plunged into the bushes, and raj
around. I'D the hill. PAINTING with ex