The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-01
a. A PIONEER sIETCH.
A TOUCHING TALE OF a BURIAL ny
THE WILDERNESS

The Lonely Grave Of Little Ruth, Which,
| Was Cared For by Some Kindly Hand
For Thirty~flve Years-A Mothers Awful
Grief Almost Alone In tho Forest.
In the year 1899 steady stream of
immigration was flowing into tho terri
tory Of Michigan. The ever restless peo-
pie of the east had heard wonderful sto-
ries Of the abundance of game and great
fertility Of soil to be found in the new
territory, and the sturdy, adventure
some farmers of rocky New England
were pushing their way westward. with
the hope of finding tho FL Dorado of
their drea1na
Detroit, at this time, was sight to
behold It's streets were thronged with
the covered wagons Of tho immigrants.
Hunters and Indians, half breeds and
Among the great throng Of home sock
ers that left Detroit on the Cd day of
May, 1899, were james Harris, his wife
and year old baby. Young Harris had
put all of his earthly possessions into a
covered wagon, and bidding goodby to
friends and relatives had joined that
endless stream Of homo seekers that were
pushing their way into the wilderness
of Michigan. hoping by their energy
and perseverance to build up homo for
themselves and an inheritance for their
children.
The road westward from Detroit fol
lowed an old Indian trail, and by con-
slant travel the mud had become so
deep TINT it was almost impossible
Many of the pioneers left the old road
and struck off into the wilderness, max
ing roads for themselves.
Among this number WIS james Hnr-
ris, and I'LL went we'll for few days
After camping one night tho wind sud
denly shifted to the northwest, and cold
rain set in. This was tho eighth day
after leaving Detroit. The company that
they had begun their journey with had
gradually dropped off, and for two days
they had travelled alone, alone in the
great wilderness, unprotected savo what
protection the canvas covered wagons
gave them Was it any wonder that us
they listened to the howl of the wolf
and the boot of the owl they became a
little honcsick? Harris had mndo n
great fire of dry brush, and while it was
burning brightly the family had gone
to sleep. From this sleep the young
mother was aroused by sharp hoarsc
cough from her baby. She Immediately
awoke her husband, fresh fuel was
thrown on the fire, and as it blazed up
tho young mother pcerod anxiously into
the face of baby Ruth One glance at
the little drawn face resting on her arm,
IN f1,ot 1>,I 1,n, Il
that dread disease, the Group Every
thing was done for the little sufferer
that the distracted parents could do.
They We're young and inexperienced,
and all night long they fought for tho
life of their little one, but all in vain
Just rs the first glimmcr of light APP
peared i'll the east the spirit of baby
Ruth took its fight The young mother,
wild with grief, pressed tho form of her
darling to her breast, moaning and say
ing over and over again, "Baby is
deadl" She refused to let her husband
take the little one from her. She would
never give it up; no, neveri All that day
they remained i'll camp, Toward evening
the wife became calmer, and standing
near the wagon with the babe i'll her
arms she saw her husband dig the little
grave, and when twas finished q rude
box was made, and she tenderly laid her
baby to rest, with her own hands plao-
ing it i'll the grave, and as the dirt rat
tied down on the lid she fell senseless
into her husbands arms.
After filling the grave the young ia
ther took two little sprouts of Lombardy
poplar that he had in the wagon, set
ting one at each end of the grave, and
cutting the words "Baby Ruth" on g
piece of board he placed it at the head
of the little mound, and then they re-
sumed their journey. Years passed, and
road was laid near tho spot. The pop
lars grew and became living monu-
mcnt. The piece Of board that had told
the little ones name was annually nc
placed by some kind hand
Time passed quickly and May 10
had come and gone 30 times since baby
Ruth was laid to rest in tho wilder
ness; the poplars had grown to be
trees and stood i'll cleared field near
the roadside; the surrounding forest had
long since disappeared A board wa,
nailed to the trees with the words "Ba-
by Ruth" painted on it, A carriage was
passing by when the driver, an elderly
man, glanced toward tho trees and saw
the inscription. He looked at tho trees
and at the sign, hitchcd his horse, mnde
inquiry of farmer near by as to the
meaning Of the sign and was told that
when he came to the country no found
the little grave marked with rude
board, and that he had spared tho trees
and nailed up anew board. His inform
ant wondered ut the emotion of the