THE LOST CHILDREN. 123 and rest, while we is a sarching for them leetle across 'em soon, seein' there's so many on us." "Back to the house?" exclaimed old Mrs. Carter, opening her great black eyes wide upon him, "back to the house? why, man! are you mad?" Willie's mother were there-she with her head leaning upon his shoulder, and weeping bitterly-boys. Poor leetle creeturs! I know we'll come refusing to be comforted. They now drove into the river; another cart, filled with people, and another, followed-for the village was almost deserted. Men and boys, at work in the fields, had dropped their implements and run; carpenters at work upon the roofs of houses, had slid precipitately off, and joined the hurrying throng; old and young were there, with throbbing hearts and eager faces. There was, in every countenance, that expression of grave and earnest reverence which settles on the features when a deep human feeling is stirred to its utmost depths; not a single word was lightly spoken, or lightly heard; even little children gazed reverently into each other's eyes, or looked around them with a glance that was more than usually thoughtful; for, then and there, was strikingly developed the deep and innate sense, which dwells within us all, of the value of a human life. Scarcely a word was uttered as they forded the river, except by the driver, who found it impossible to manage his horses without keeping up the racket to which he had accustomed them. Half way across the river might be seen the old ferryman, in his trusty canoe, rowing with all the power which he could call into his still quite vigThe boat was filled with people. Here and there might be seen an individual, who, disdaining the usual modes of crossing the river, had plunged bravely in, and was trusting to his own resources. Foremost among these were Joe and Will Carter, the former holding his gun out of the water with his left hand. orous arms. Having all now crossed the river, the whole company assembled round the cart in which the widow rode, and began, for the first time, to question her minutely. Her answers were short, distinct, and directly to the point. She told them the story, simple as it was, that the boys had asked permission to go and gather peaches, had promised her they would not be long away, had gone to the peach trees quite early in the morning, and she had not seen them since. After hearing all she had to say, the throng pressed on. Arrived at the cluster of peach trees, again they halted, to form some plan for the most efficient search. Most of the men were skilled in discovering tracks, but here they seemed at fault; the little feet had skimmed along, and left no trace behind. Willie's mother, Mrs. Carter, and Susan, while the consultation was going on, wandered uneasily backwards and forwards, but neither of them uttered a word. The old ferryman, Ginger, coming up to Willie's mother-with whom he felt best acquainted-said, "You women had best stay here, or, maybe, go back to your house "Not as I knows on, ma'am," meekly replied old Ginger, backing off to a respectful distance; and then he could not forbear remarking to himself, "Vidders sartainly is curous creeturs, and I might a know'd more an' to put myself so close to 'em." Susan, and Willie's mother, only shook their heads at the proposal, and though not so violent, were quite as resolute as Mrs. Carter; old Ginger therefore moved away, and joined the crowd. Joe and Bill Carter had already started off in different directions, having consulted together in whispers, and seeming totally unconscious of all that was going on around them. "Now that aint right," said one of the villagers, as he gazed after their retreating forms;" we ought all to understand each other, and not go capering about without rhyme or reason. Here, Joe! Bill!" Joe and Bill, however, never so much as turned their heads, but kept steadily and rapidly advancing in the path which they had taken. "Let them alone, neighbor," said uncle Heinrich; "you can't expect them to be bound by rules and regulations now; let them take their own way, poor boys! Johnny is their idol, and you see they are almost beside themselves; there are surely enough of us without them." "No, do n't plague 'em," exclaimed old Ginger; "there aint no keeping down natur, nohow; and them boys 'll run the feet off their legs afore they'll give up the sarch. So will we all, for the matter o' that, I reckon." The plan was at length laid, so that all the different sections of the forest should be most ef fectually searched, and the various parties started off in several directions, young Ned and Ben keeping very near to Uncle Heinrich, as if they thought that where he was, there surely would be safety and success. But now a sudden thought struck Susan, and she flew to Uncle Heinrich, exclaiming, "Your dog, Uncle Heinrich, your dog! where is Leo?" return. It seemed an age to Susan till Uncle Heinrich's All her hopes had centered upon Leo. But when Uncle Heinrich reached home, alas! Leo was not to be found. Finding the place deserted when he returned home-for he had been off on some canine expedition when the family started on their search-he had gone off again, nobody could tell where. Uncle Heinrich shouted and searched for him in vain. Leo had recently contracted the questionable habit of roving abroad for several hours at a time; for, finding that, when allowed the freedom of the school-room, he attracted too much attention, Uncle Heinrich had forbidden him to enter it during school hours; and, naturally fond of society, it was not wonderful that he should go to seek it. "Oh! Uncle Heinrich! where is Leo?" exclaimed Susan, when she saw him returning without the dog. Garments belonging to each of the little boys were shown to him. He smelt them for some time, and then looked up into his master's face, as if for directions. 66 Find them, Leo! good dog! find them!" said his master. Leo scented about among the peach trees for some time, and then started off. The little party, consisting of Mrs. Carter, Willie's mother, Susan, and her two brothers, watched the movements of the dog with intense and breathless interest, while Uncle Heinrich followed him at a little distance. "Has n't he found the trail?" inquired Ben, looking at his sister Susy, and clapping his hands. "Look how he runs along now with his nose upon the ground." 66 We'll see," replied Susan, with as much composure as she could assume. Presently Leo seemed at fault, however; for he stopped awhile, smelt about, and then returned to the peach trees, still keeping his nose to the ground. There he ran about a little, and again went off, in rather a different direction, and further than before; the whole party we have mentioned following him as well as they were able. But he doubled and turned constantly, and seemed very "He has gone off, Susan, and cannot be found," much perplexed; yet still he kept his nose to the was the reply. ground as if he had the trail. This was continued for some time, till finally it became impossible for any of the party to follow him closely, and Uncle Heinrich feared that if he kept calling him back, he would lose the trail, or else become dis Susan's countenance fell, for, as I have stated, ever since she had thought of Leo, and his uncommon sagacity, her faith had been strong that the boys would be found, and found speedily. "God have pity upon us!" she exclaimed mourn-couraged and give up the pursuit. fully, sitting down upon the ground, and burying her face upon her lap-" everything seems to go against us." "We had better remain here," said Uncle Heinrich, "Leo will now certainly find them, I think; and if he does, he will not be very long in Susan!" said Uncle Heinrich, in a reproach- making us aware of it." So the whole party, ful yet tender tone. The sound of her name thus pronounced, recalled her to herself; and, like Mary of old, when Jesus suddenly pronounced her name, her eyes were opened, and her heart recalled from the depths of its despair. She looked first at Uncle Heinrich, and then up to Heaven, exclaiming, "God forgive me!" How tediously the hours crept along while the search was carried on! Afternoon, and twilight, and then the dark, silent, and mysterious night had come, and still the little wanderers had not been found. But those deep forests were not then, as usual, dark nor silent; for here and there were bright fires burning, which had been lighted by the different parties to afford them the means of seeing; and from all quarters of the forest resounded the incessant shouts and calls of men, women, and children. Uncle Heinrich, after having taken several journeys to the village and back again, had at length found Leo, the truant, and brought him to the scene of action. nearly fatigued to death, sat down upon the ground, and endeavored to be patient. But, in a little while, a loud, long, and cheering blast was heard, and then a succession of auswering shouts and cheers from different quarters of the forest echoed through the woods. "That's Uncle Joe's horn, I am sure," exclaimed Susan, starting to her feet, "I know the sound of it right well!" and she sprang away like a startled fawn, and flew in the direction from which the horn was heard. "God in Heaven be praised!" exclaimed Mrs. Carter, slowly rising; and her agitation was so great that she tottered forward as though she would have fallen. Her intense joy had completely overpowered her. Willie's mother, when she attempted to rise, had fallen back upon the ground, and was nearly fainting. Uncle Heinrich assisted her to rise, but she seemed scarcely conscious of what was going on. Mrs. Carter had by this time recovered herself, and was following the direction of the cheerful sounds with THE LOST CHILDREN. wonderfully rapid steps. Each new shout, as it arose, and was borne joyfully along, caused her old limbs to spring, and infused new life into her heart. Susan was flying forward with the fleetness of the wind. Ned and Ben had started at the very first echo of the horn, and were out of sight in a moment; but Uncle Heinrich remained behind, to assist Willie's mother, who was utterly unable to walk without his aid. As they drew nearer and nearer to the spot, and the mingled sounds became more and more distinct, Leo's deep hoarse voice was plainly heard. Uncle Heinrich now almost carried Willie's mother in his arms, for her limbs absolutely refused their support. But all, at length, were gathered around the spot where the children had been found. Wonderful to tell, they had not been awakened by the bustle and din around them, but were still fast asleep, locked closely in each other's arms, just as they had laid them down to sleep in the spot which they had decided to be "the kingdom of Heaven." Overpowered by the fatigue of their wandering, and the keenness of their anguish upon the discovery that they were really lost, they seemed almost to be sleeping the quiet sleep of death; yet smiles were on their lips, and the rosy hue of health upon their little cheeks. It was a wonderfully interesting and affecting scene. There lay the little innocents, all unconscious of the interest they were exciting, and of the feelings which they had stirred up from the fathomless depths of numerous human hearts; and all around them were countless human faces, beautiful and homely, dark and fair, aged and youthful, gazing down upon them with the intense earnestness which can only be felt at such a moment, when all the life within has been quickened into vital action. Men standing upon tiptoe to see over the shoulders of those who were before them, children making innumerable crevices through which to peep, and calling to their parents "Do let me see, daddy; do let me see, mammy; lift me up, daddy, lift me up "-all added to the interest and excitement of the moment. Joe Carter sat upon the ground beside the children, with his hunting horn in his hand. He was gazing intently at the little sleepers, his huge frame in attitude of the most entire earnestness, and occasionally he brushed hastily away from either sunburnt cheek, something which looked very much like a tear. What! tears from that brutal man? Ah yes, tears; the tokens and the tributes of that humanity which never utterly departs from the bosoms of the most abandoned men. Susan was on her knees beside her Uncle Joe, leaning tenderly over the little boys; Mrs Carter was weeping aloud upon the bosom of her other son; Willie's mother had fainted entirely away in 125 Uncle Heinrich's arms; and Ben and Ned were standing near, looking from one to the other with all the wondering simplicity of childhood. 66 But the children were to be awakened, and how was it to be done? If suddenly aroused to see such a crowd of people, excited as they were, with the glare of numerous fires around them in the dead of night, so far from supposing themselves in the peaceful Kingdom of Heaven," they would have been very apt to think themselves, for the moment at least, in a very different place. Joe thought that the people had better put out their torches and fires, for they had matches, and could easily rekindle them-and then let Susy speak to Johnny, who would more readily recognise her voice than that of any other person. The fires and torches were, accordingly, instantly extinguished, and there was a breathless silence. Johnny Johnny!" said Susan, in a gentle voice, and with her lips close at his ear. Johnny moved a little, and muttered half inaudibly, "thy kingdom come." "What does he say? what does he say?" was heard around in gentle whispers. Susan replied in an under tone, but in an accent so clear that it was heard by every one, "he says, thy kingdom come." The people looked at each other mysteriously, but finding that, in the darkness of a starlight in the woods, they could not catch the expression of each other's faces, turned away again, and bent their heads to listen. softer voice than any body had ever heard him use before. The children were taken home in triumph. Joe took Johnny in his own arms, a privilege "Grandma is here too, and Uncle Heinrich," which all seemed to graut him as a right. Uncle said Susan Heinrich took Willie, and thus the whole crowd "Will grandma whip me for getting lost?" started off, taking the house of Willie's mother in asked Johnny in alarm. their route. They were a very different-looking set of people from what they had been a few hours before. Intense and long repressed excitement was now obliged to expend itself in a variety of ways. Some sang, some shouted, some whistled, some capered and danced, and the boys waved their torches in the air, and pranced about as if they were demented. Even Leo partook of the general exuberance of feeling, and perpetrated sundry antics which were quite remarkable for a dog of his usual dignity of character, and lofty and grave demeanor. 66 Susan said nothing; her constitutional fear of her grandmother suggesting to her that she had better not attempt a reply upon a point of so much delicacy. No, no," said Joe Carter, quickly, and this time the tone of his voice was quite natural-" no, no, Johnny, that she won't; I'll see to that." Mrs. Carter now came forward, and threw her arms round Johnny's neck, who was by this time standing up. This was a signal for Ned and Ben, and they too rushed up to Johnny, and hugged and kissed him to their hearts' content. "You must now wake up Willie, Johnny," said Susan," and tell him all about it, but do n't frighten him. His mother is here." By this time the torches were all rekindled, for the people knew that poor little blind Willie could not be startled by the greatest blaze of light. Johnny awoke his little companion with the most consummate skill, and gave him the most precise information of the state of things. Then, and not till then-for she had sometime before returned to consciousness-did Uncle Heinrich allow the poor woman to rush forward, and clasp in her convulsive embrace her now recovered child. And then ensued a scene of tenderness, which drew tears from every eye, and of which it would be folly for me to attempt a description. When the crowd of people had seen Willie safely home, and taken leave of his mother and himself by three prolonged and hearty cheers, they turned their steps to the river, and in process of time arrived at the widow Carter's. Here they went through the same noisy ceremony, after having borne Johnny from hand to hand over the heads of the people, that every one might bestow upon the little favorite a kiss of thankfulness; and then, light-hearted and satisfied, they departed to their respective homes. Johnny was immediately put into the best bed the house afforded, not, however, till he had knelt at his sister Susan's knee, and they had together offered up their praises, because the lost had been found. A ROSE FROM PLATO'S GARDEN. BY M18S HANNAH F. GOULD. PLATO, according to the most approved authority, died on the 17th of May, in the year 347 before Christ, and on his birth-day, having exactly completed his eighty-first year. By an invitation, which he could not well decline, he attended a marriage festival on that day, and appeared in good health; yet, with his habitual temperance, he ate only a few olives. But, while a friend was yet congratulating him on his healthful looks, and flow of spirits, he was seized with sudden illness, and fell senseless into his arms. He was removed to his home, and soon expired; while the piece he had been engaged in writing till he went out, lay near him on the table in the same room, waiting the master's hand to finish it. His tomb was in the garden of his country-house, and near the Academy. The modern traveller finds that ancient classic ground overspread with a grove of olive-trees. My friend and relative, H— B—, Esq., of the U. S. Navy, on his late return from Greece, brought me a Rose which he had plucked from the site of Plato's Garden, and said it should be mine, on condition that I would "make it the subject of a poem." The following is the price. |