The Red Cloud chief., 1899-09-29
The village Darning-Nccdle.


"Oh. what shall | do? What shall I
10? I've lost the village darning-nee-
ale!' cried good Mrs. Dickson, wiring
ing her hands. II was a bright July
day in the year 1875, soon after the
iigning OF the declaration of indepen-
dence; but the people of Mystic had
got heard OF that great event. 1t took
lays, sometimes weeks, for news to
De carried to towns that were far away
rom the large cities and seapoTts. The
news OF the loss of the village darning-
needle was a great blow to the good
wives of Mystic. Out they ran. some
to scold poor Mrs. Dickson, who had
lost it while on her way home from the
mill, and some to look for the needle
which was, Of course, a great deal
more sensible. The village was a long
way from any place where new darn
ns-neeuies could be bought. and
women did not go shopping in those
lays. They stayed at home and spun
What goods they needed for clothes and
So 1t happened that just at that time
there was only one darning-needle. and
all the housewives used 1t in turn. 1t
was sent, carefully wrapped up. from
one house to another. And now Mrs.
Dickson had in some way let 1t fall
from her apron while jolting along on
horseback from the mill. Three miles
Of forest road along which she might
have dropped 1t! 1t was a deal of
space in which to hunt, but hunt they
must, or stockings could not be mend
ed! All the children, and all the
women, yes, and some Of the men,
turned out to look for the village darn
ing-needle that bright July day. Mean
time. the news of the declaration OF in
dependence had reached another vii
age fifteen miles nearer to the city
than Mystic was; and after the people
there had got over their first excite
ment, and had settled down to plan
ming how they should celebrate the
Fourth Of July properly. even II 1t
vas a few days late, some one proposed
that the news be sent on to Mystic.
All the boys In town were eager to &c,
but Paul Davenport was soon chosen.
uCNduoC nc iIdu TIC SWiltcol hOiSC, anu
was known to be a brave and fearless
lad. 1t was no uncommon thing in
those days to meet with Indians in that
part OF the country. and one had to de-
pend mainly on n brave heart and a
last horse then. Paul felt very i'm
portant as he rode out of the village
and started on his journey. 1t was
such a lovely day that it seemed as II
nature was really smiling for Joy. Most
If his way lay through the woods, and
he could hear the songs OF birds and
the chatter OF squirrels as he rode
along. Fortunately Paul met no one.
Few people travelled far from their
home in those days. At length he
came out of the woods upon the high
way that led to the village. He had
made up his mind to ride straight to
the green, dismount there, and tell his
aews with all the ceremony 1t ought
20 have. He entered the village flying,
but strangely enough, he saw no one.
The fields were empty. and no house
wives were out on the doorsteps, or
spreading their webs of linen to bleach
n the yards. Doors and windows
we're wide open. but no faces looked
.orth. Paul leaped from his horse and
went to one Of the houses to look in.
Everything was in order, and a baby
ay asleep In its cradle.
1T could not be n raid by the In
iians." thought the boy as he went
tut. "They would not leave a child,
IND, besides, there are no marks of
,attle around" Just her he heard a
.aint sound of shouting. For a min
lite he was frightened, thinking II was
perhaps a band Of Indians; but, as he
ooked, he saw OH the edge of the vii
g q crowd OF women. boys and girls.
with a few men carrying on their
lhoulders a little girl. The children
rere capering about and shouting,
'Hurrah! Hurrah! Ruth found It,
Ruth found IT," When Paul got up
o the crowd he found what was going
IN. 1t was the party of searchers for
he lost darning-needle. They had not
lad to go very Ear. for before a half
nile had been searched, the bright