The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-22
THE LOST BOY.

Boreas whistled and whiTled the snow
Gpitefully about the windows aud doors
and banged the loose shutters in a saw
age way, as if angry that the group of
laughing boys and girls about the blaz-
ing hearthstone should bid defiance to
his power. Father was reading and
Hodding in his big armchair, in the
Harmest corner Of our snug nook.
Nother was busy with the inevitable
knitting, while Uncle Paul leaned his
chin on his staff, and watched the pranks
Of his grand-nephews and nieces, who
clustered about his chair, with an
amused smile or quiet chuckle.
"Uncle Paul' was our mothers uncle,
and an old, old man. As long ago as l
can remember, his face was scanned and
Hrinkled from brow to chin, his scanty
locks were white as snow, and he walked
feebly by the aid of two canes. He used
70 pay long visits to our home, where he
was received with great cordially, for
he loved every chick and child of us, and
pranks or refused us the story we clam
med for, so it was little wonder that we
welcomed his frequent visits with youth
tul enthusiasm.
The red-cheeked apples had nearly
disappeared from the dish, the butter
nuts had been cracked and eaten
"with sprinkling of salt, to aid diges
tion," as our mother told us-and now
we were ready for some new diversion,
aTell us story, Uncle Paul, was the
universal entreaty.
oAbout the Indians going about and
soaring folks and scalping of EN-" added
Joe.
"About Indians Scalpng folks and
burning their homes" echoed Ned, who
vas next in age to Joe, and had gained
the soubriquet of "JOe's supplement"
as he always followed his elder brother 8
lead and echoed his sentiments.
After this we all agreed that an Indian
story would suit US best.
81 don't know" said Uncle Paul,
neditatively; at seems to me have
told you all the Indian stories l ever
knew. might tell you how they burned
Royalton, though"
Mother looked up from her knitting.
''Did you ever tell them about your lost
Smother, Uncle 2'' she queried.
81 don't remember that ever did
Gnay be yOu would like to hear about
Gat. though there was no scalping done
or burning that time" said Uncle
docking at Joe and Ned meaningly.
90, we just want to hear about the
lost boy, and am delighted that there
20 be no scalping DONE" said Sarah, who,
DE it known, was not so fond OF hair
Gaislng stories as her brothers.
SIT all happened u great many years
ago, when was q baby" he began,
''nnd we all thought it must indeed have
been q very long time ago, for it hardly
seemed to us that dear old wrinkled
Uncle Paul had ever been baby. My
father was young man when he emf
grated to Vermont, and he made little
clearing in the forest and built log
cabin, to which he carried my mother
m their marriage. There they lived
happily until four children were born to
Ghem. had one brother and two sisters
older than myself. BY tins time the lit
tie opening in the wood had increased to
many acres, and other settlers had come
n around them until there were many
other 'clearings' within the radius of five
miles, though the nearest neighbOr was
amile from my fathers house. One
spring, when my brother Thomas was
six or seven years old, father was at
work in the sugar camp, boiling sap for
maple sugar. There had been sharp
freeze, folio ged IL warm and sunny
days, and the maple sap flowed abun-
dainty, and father was very much hur-
ried to boil it in fast enough to save it.
Being too busy to come to the cabin for
his dinner, mother packed it carefully in
a basket and sent little Thomas to the
sugar camp with it. Some time passed
and he did not return, but this gave my
mother no uneasiness for he knew the
way perfectly, and she supposed that
father had kept him to watch the kettle,
while he gathered in the sap. She was
80 busy with the flax wheel spinning the
Enen which was to furnish her little
family their summer clothing, that the
sun had nearly reached the western
nountain-top before she thought of sup
per Then she made haste to prepare
Che evening meal, which was ready
Before my father came home with his
pals of syrup.
"Why, where Is Tommy" asked
mother, as soon as she saw that my
father was alone.
'nIsn't he here ? l sent him home soon
after had eaten my dinner" said father
N alarm.
Smother turned white, and, before
father could reach her. she fell fainting
% the floor. For few nom nts every.
thing was in confusion in the cabin. Tie
little girls were frightened to see mother
fall and look 50 white, and cried We
hemently; SO / sent up an answering
sbriek from the cradle, as any baby
would have done-at least that is what
ff,e- tOld mo did hut I can't cav that