The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-08-10

but still no little Joe As the day
closed hundreds Oh. others had joined
in the search, and new companies
were organized and sent forth.
Joe's father was requested to re-
main with his wife in her distraction
and signals were to be gun shots as
follows: One gun shot if any trace OF
him was found; two gun shots if he
was found and three gun shots if he
was still alive. The father and
mother walked the floor all b at
night pausing at every seeming
sound, listening for the signals, but
none came. 1t was a long, long
dark night for those parents.
Before starting on this search it
was agreed b at at sun-up next
morning, a CHI company was to
meet there for further instructions
in case they did not find little Joe
that night. Therefor, about sun-up
sad faced people began to appear,
all telling the same tale. Joe's
mother did not even go the door,
she was too much cast down; her
heart was almost breaking for her
son.
Mother, with we smaller children
had remained with this sad family
through all the trouble. A gentle
man who had been chosen as spokes-
mantle country school teacher,
Prof. Proctor climbed into a wag-
on near the gate and called the brok-
enhearted parents, saying: We have
searched everywhere. We are sat
isfied that he has not been devoured
by wild beasts, nor has he fallen in
to the lake.. He has been stolen no
doubt, by those Gypsies that passed
this way three days ago." Joe had
not been lost three days, and | knew
he had not been stolen and SO told
my father. Prof. Proctor further
said: 1T is useless to keep this
search up any further, no matter
how much we would like to do SO.
The broken hearted mother had
heard this remark, and was at the
door in an instant. Her face was
sad, but she was very calm. She
said: Erie nds! | call you all
friends, for I know you are! You
shall always have my deepest graft
tude for what each of you have dooe.
| could be resigned if | knew Joe,
my baby boy, was dead and out of
his misery. But if I knew he was in
those wildwoods and was hungry or
sick, then | would always blame my
self for his sufferings. Please make
one more search !"
Tears came in to every eye; they
were yeomenry. but their hearts
were not scared with contamination.
Father sat on pony at the front
gate and he said: How many will
join me in another search for little
Joe? Those who will do so hold up
your right hand" Every hand went
up. Then he said: Meet me here
at ten o'clock for the final search, /
will be back at that time." He called
mother to one side and spoke to her
in low tone, and then rode away.
In some way he had heard of
social party of young people, some
ten mile distant. It was war times
and President Lincoln had just been
elected, and the party was made
up Of young soldiers who were bid
ding their sweethearts good bye and
this party was for that purpose.
There were over a hundred cou-
pies, and when told of little Joe's be-
ing lost they all gladly joined the
searching party. There was no tel
ephones in those days. hence, news
travelled very slow. They had
heard of the lost boy, but thought
he had been found by that time.
A little before ten o'clock we saw
father coming, accompanied by some
five hundred people, both men and
women; some walking, some on horse
back, others were in wagons and
buggies. / can see them again as it
were. There was one large portly
young man, who was walking we'll
up in front. His name | still re-
member-Newton Vann. He had
been born and reared in the neigh
borhood and was young man of but
few words. He was a Christian and
soldier; he stood aloof from the
others. Getting up into wagon
he looked in every direction. By
this time the other searchers began
to arrive, swelling the crowd to over