Year: 1870

Z
a home within sight when we moved
there, my wife and l, and now we have
Mt many neighbors, though those we have
are good ones.


One day about ten years ago, / went
a@ay from home to sell some fifty head
OF cattle--fne creatures as ever you saw.
| was to buy some groceries and dry
goods before | came back, and above all
doll for our youngest Dolly. She had
never had store doll of her own, only
the rag babies her mother had made for
her.


Dolly could talk of nothing else, and
went down to the very gate to call after
me to buy big one" Nobody but a
parent can understand how full my mind
was of that toy, and how, when the cat
tie were sold, the first thing hurried off
to buy Dolly's doll. found large one
with eyes that would open and shut when
you pulled wire, and had it wrapped
in paper and tucked it under my arm
while / had the parcels of calico and de-
laine and tea and sugar put up. Then
late as it was, started for home. 1t
=! might have been more prudent to stay
until morning, but felt anxious to get
back, and eager to hear Dolly's prattle
about her toy.


| was mounted on a steady going old
horse of mine and pretty we'll loaded
! Night set in before | was a mile from
town and settled down dark as pitch
while | was in the middle of the widest
| bit of road | know of. / could have felt
| my way though, remembered it so we'll
and | was five miles or, may be six from
home, when the storm that had been
J brewing broke, and the rain pelted down
in torrents.


/ rode on as fast as l could, but all of
a sudden l heard little cry like child
voice! Istopped short and listened-I
heard it again. l called and it answered
me. | couldn't see thing all was dark
as pitch. Igot down and felt about in
the grass-called again, and again was
answered. Then | began to wonder
Tn not timid, but 1 was known to be a
drover and to have money about me. II
might be trap to catch me unawares
and rob and murder me.


Tn not superstitious-no very. But
how could a real child be out on the pra,
RE in such night, and at such an hour
1t might be more than human.


The bit of a coward that hides itsel
in most men showed itself to me then,
and l was half inclined to run away, bu
once more | heard that cry, and said l


eff any mans child is hereabouts An
thony Hunt is not the man to let it die.


l searched again. At last bethought
me of hollow under the hill, and crop
ing that way, sure enough, found lit
tie dripping thing that moaned and sob
bed as took it in my arms. l callec
my horse, and the beast came to me, anc
I mounted and tucked the little soaked
thing under my coat as well as | could
promising to take it home to nanny
1t seemed tired to death and pretty soor
cried itselfto sleep against my bosom.


1t had slept there over an hour wher
| saw my own windows. There were
lights in them, and supposed my wifi
had lit them for my sake, but when
got into the door yard / saw somethin,
was the matter, and stood still with
dead fear at my heart. Five minute
passed before | could lift the latch. A
last did it, and saw the room full o
neighbors, and my wife amidst then
weeping.


When she saw me she hid her face
/" Oh, don't tell him." she said, cit vii
kill him."


What is it neighbors," I cried.


And one said, "nothing now l hope
what's that in your arms p
. CA poor, lost child" said /. " / foun
it on the road. Take it will you "
turned faint" and lifted up the sleel
ing thing and saw the face of my owl
child, my little Dolly.


1t was Ly darling, and none othe
that l had picked up on the raind drencl
+ ed road.


NV little child had wandered out t
meet daddy" and the doll, while hi
mother was at work, and whom the
!, were lamenting as one dead. l thanke
Heaven on my knees before them ALL
1t is not much of story neighbors, b'
!. think of it often in the night, ar
p wonder how l could bear to live now
!. l had not stopped when | heard the CT
d for help upon the road, the little bal


cry for help, hardly louder than a squi
rers chirp.


That's Dolly yonder with her moth


in the meadow, girl worth saving,