The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-20

the following story OF strange DC
currence in the lives Of the people o
an adjoining county. which prove
that romance exists all about us, ant
that stranger things than are fOunf
in novels occur daily in the live O.
commonplace people:
Early one morning. sixteen years agt
little Louis Rowland, son of Mr.. ant
Mrs. Needham Rowland. who wa:
three years old. was riding stick
horse in front of his parents resi-
dence, near Gardner, about twenty
five miles south of this city, while
his mother was preparing the morn
ing meal. When the little family
were ready to take their places at the
table. the mother went to the door
and called Willie. Willie. come &c
breakfast" but no answer came from
his childish lips.
The mother then remembered tina,
she had seen her son. who was her
first born. going in the direction OF
clump Of scrub palmetto, and at
once Went in search, calling TO her
husband to Come and help find Will
lie"
That search lasted for sixteen
years, and every man, boy and many
women in this county have never
ceased in their efforts. although many
had years ago given the little fellow
up for lost To this world, believing
that h. had fallen a prey 10 some
wild animal. But lot so with IN
parents. and especially the mother
who continually said that her baby
10y vas still living. and prayed Y
God NIGHT and morning TO turn h"r
footsteps toward the path that would
lead 70 her darling child.
That prayer was answered. and on
Wednesday, in this city, after siXte&l
long and weary years of heartaching
Louis was again clasped in the arms
OF his mother and fondled BY hi,
father
The story Of this ease reads NOR
like a romance than "A fact, but her,
il Is from the lips of Mr.. T. \. Bass
Ir.. Of TT. Myers, in whose employ
Rowland has been for over a year:
when Mrs. Rowland was young
and comely Miss. she became engaged
to a man by the name of lvey Bird
and intended marrying him when SHE
reached the proper age. but as She
grew into maturity she met and loved
Mr.. Needham Rowland. an indust'
rious, honest and hardworking farm.
er. whom she married after short
courtship
This angered Ivy Bird. and he /.
alleged to have told Mrs Rowland
that she would shed more tears than
ever woman shed beforc: but she
gave little thought to his threat. and
let the incident pass out of her mind
But not SO with Bird. for il is said
he bided his time. and when the OPP
portunity arrived. struck the blow
that would leave the deepest and
most lasting wound for he is sup.
posed to have carried away her first
born and given him to his brother
Jason Bird. who was married and
lived on the east coast. near Fort
Pierce.
The little fellow lived with The
Birds until he was twelve years old
and was known as their son. and
called Louis Bird Al the age OF
twelve h. ran away from Jason BIRD
and his wife on account of ill-treat'
, ment. and wont To Tantie. which i:
on the north shore NJ Lake Okeecho
bee. where he worked for Mr.. l.. VI
Raul,rSon for year. and then went
to live with Mr.. Peter Rauierson
with whom he remained somethins
over four years. From there l.oui.
Went to Fort Myers and secured
position with Mr.. T. A. Bass. Jr.. and