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

to the settlers, and organize a search at
once.
emo, Thomas had not been seen on
their premises, neighbOr Bennett said,
in answer to fathers anxious inquiry,
but neighbor Huse, from thee miles dis
tant, had been at the sugar camp that
day and repo ted that some hunters had
seen a small band of redskins in the
woods few miles south of us, the day
before.
'Shall comfort this for my anxious
father, who lost no time in rousing the
settlers, and, sooner than you would
suppose possible, all the men within five
miles were out with lighted torches,
searching the woods for some trace of
the lost boy. At intervals they gave
loud 'halloa' to attract his attention if
he were lost in the woods, and 1T was
agreed that if anyone found him or any
traces of him he should give three dis
tinct 'hallOas' in succession. In the mean
time my mother gave my sisters their
supper and put them in bed, bidding
them to lie quiet and not be afraid if they
awoke and found her away, 'for,' she
sand, 4 am going to find little Tommy
"Ehey soon slept, and taking me from
the cradle, she wrapped me to her bosom,
lighted dry, pine knot, and started out
through the darkness on fruitless
search. Around and around, through
the thick woods, she wandered, peering
behind each tree, bush and rock, crying
pitifully, Tommy, TOMMY but no
voice from out the darkness replied. At
times the faint 'halloa' of the distant
searchers would cause her to turn her
steps in new direction, but with equally
fruitless results. With a love and "a long
ing that knew no fear or WEAKNESS, she
kept up ceaseless search until late i'll
the night, when father found her, and,
partly by persuasion and partly by
strategy, he lured her home for time,
but no entreaties would prevail Oh her 0
lie down and sleep. In the first light Of
the morning, when the men, wearied and
disheartened, were about to give up the
search, one of the number, in crossing
the river on the ice, discovered tracks Of
many feet-moccasined feet apparently
in the snow that was yet unmelted on
the ice. They continued tine search from
that point and farther on they found one
little shoe-Tommy's shOe-e,idenlly
lost off in running,-and that was all the
trace they found of the lost boy, then or
for many years. There was no distinct
trail, for the tracks crossed and recrOssed
each other in every direction, and there
were no old Indian hunters among the
settlers, though there were brave men
who were willing to lisk their lives, if
need be, in rescuing their neighbours
child. After long and earnest counsel
together, they decided that it would be
useless to attempt a rescue, as the In
dams had so many hours the start that
they would reach their tribe in Canada
long before they could overtake them.
Sadly, and reluctantly, the tired men
went to their several homes, leaving my
heart-broken parents to bear their loss as
best they might.
But new grief awaited my father.
Ny mother was dazed by the sudden
| calamity and he could not make her
| understand that it was of no nee to
search longer for little Tommy. There
was wild, unsteady light i'll her eye
that showed the mind unbalanced. AS
soon as father lett the cabin, she would
wrap me up, and, clasping me i'll her
arms, wander the woods through and
through, calling Tommys name in tones
OF endearment 1t seems almost won
der that she never lost herself in her wall
behring's, but she always came home uu-
eningly, when wearied out with the
search.
'POOr mother; she never regained the
lost balance of her mind, though sane on
many subjects. She brooded ever over
her loss, which remained IN her mind
always fresh and new bereavement.
Years came and went, aud still she
JuC hOOuo lOI IlCl IOob
boy, long after he must have reached
manhood, il living, hut he was always
little Tommy in her mind Sons and
daughters grew up about her, cherishing
her the more tenderly for her misfortune
but there was never child to her like
the boy who went SO suddenly out of her
life that spring day. Weary and worn by
grief, not time, she lay down to die
while yet almost a young woman"
Uncle Paul pasued and wiped his eyes
because OF sorrow for the tender mother
who had rested so many years in her
grave. With almost bIeathless attention
we had listened to the tale, but as he
paused Joe ventured to ask did they
never find Tommy, Uncle p
Eyes, Joe, he was round after many
years, when his mother, worn out with
grief had gone to rest, and father, too,
h nj been dead long time. A returned
missionary, who had been labOring
among the Indian tribes of Upper Can
ada, reported finding white chief among
them, who could not only speak English
but remembered when he was taken
captive by the Indians, and many Incl
dents of his early life. When heard
IA