A Border Alarm
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When Mrs. Lain started to milk the cows she discovered the lost boy on the ground near her door. She took him in her arms and carried him into her dwelling. The good woman had a kindly heart and a sound head, and she treated the wanderer as she would her own son, and with as good judgment as though bred a physician. She bathed him, dressed his sores, put him into a warm bed, judiciously fed and cared for him until he had revived succinctly to tell his name and residence. News of his safety was then sent to his parents, who for ten days had mourned him as dead. He lived to be an old man, but he never fully recovered from the effects of the adventure, and ever after needed the controlling influence of a mind more sound than his own.
In the town of Forestburg, years ago, there lived a little girl named Mary Frieslebau. She was a lovely child, full of life and animation. One day she went to the house of a neighbor on an errand with some other children. It was in winter; a deep snow lay on the ground, and the wood-choppers and lumbermen had cut the woods up into roads in all directions. In playing hide-and-seek on their way home, Mary became separated from the other children, and they lost sight of her altogether. Calling her by name, and receiving no answer, the children returned without her, and supposing she would immediately follow, did not mention the circumstances when they reached home. An hour or more afterward, when her parents sought for her, the children pointed out the spot where she was last seen; and although a score or more engaged in the search, they failed to find her.
Mary Frieslebau. She was a lovely child, full of life and animation. One day she went to the house of a neighbor on an errand with some other children. It was in winter; a deep snow lay on the ground, and the wood-choppers and lumbermen had cut the woods up into roads in all directions. In playing hide-and-seek on their way home, Mary became separated from the other children, and they lost sight of her altogether. Calling her by name, and receiving no answer, the children returned without her, and supposing she would immediately follow, did not mention the circumstances when they reached home. An hour or more afterward, when her parents sought for her, the children pointed out the spot where she was last seen; and although a score or more engaged in the search, they failed to find her. It so happened that a quack doctor by the name of Heister was living in Orange county, who was looked upon with suspicion by the people of this neighborhood where he sometimes came on professional visits. Inasmuch as he was seen to pass along the road with his wife about the time of Mary's disappearance, they surmised he was concerned in abducting her. Some children having reported they had seen Mary in Heister's sleigh, served to confirm their suspicions; and accordingly a warrant was made out, and the doctor and his wife were arrested and brought to Forestburgh for examination. Two days were spent in investigating the affair by a Justice of Peace, and the evidence was so much against the prisoners that all believed them guilty; they were therefore held for trial and were required to give bail.
Heister was living in Orange county, who was looked upon with suspicion by the people of this neighborhood where he sometimes came on professional visits. Inasmuch as he was seen to pass along the road with his wife about the time of Mary's disappearance, they surmised he was concerned in abducting her. Some children having reported they had seen Mary in Heister's sleigh, served to confirm their suspicions; and accordingly a warrant was made out, and the doctor and his wife were arrested and brought to Forestburgh for examination. Two days were spent in investigating the affair by a Justice of Peace, and the evidence was so much against the prisoners that all believed them guilty; they were therefore held for trial and were required to give bail. A rain had meantime fallen, which carried off a portion of the snow with which the ground was covered, with the result of exposing a portion of the dress of little Mary, where she lay in the snow with her face downward. She had fallen down exhausted after being separated from her companions, and was concealed from view by the snow which at the time was rapidly falling. She had probably perished before her parents had set out to look for her.
This chapter would not be complete did it not include the adventures of Mrs. Silas Reeves, the wife of an early settler of Fallsburgh. Her husband manufactured mill-stones and was absent from home most of the time. Mrs. Reeves was one of your true women, who met the hardships and privations of frontier life with a courage undaunted. At one time she traveled several miles to the house of a neighbor and brought back living coals to replenish her fire.
Mrs. Silas Reeves, the wife of an early settler of Fallsburgh. Her husband manufactured mill-stones and was absent from home most of the time. Mrs. Reeves was one of your true women, who met the hardships and privations of frontier life with a courage undaunted. At one time she traveled several miles to the house of a neighbor and brought back living coals to replenish her fire.One evening, her cows having failed to come home, she bade her children remain in the house while she went after them, and told them not to be afraid of the dark, as she would be gone but a little while. Taking up the chubby babe and kissing it, she gave it and its little sister into the charge of their elder brother, a bright lad of six; then shutting and securing the door behind her, started on her errand. As it began to grow dark the smaller ones showed symptoms of fear; but the little fellow was equal to his charge. As the hours went by, and the mother did not return, he gave them their frugal supper and put them both to bed; not, however, without a protest from the babe, who wanted to sit up till his mama came home. Then propping himself up in his chair, the whole household was soon wrapt in slumber.
Mrs. Reeves and the Wolves
Early next morning, a neighbor in passing found the children alone, and heard their story. The two younger were clamoring lustily for their mamma, while the boy was offering such consolation as he was able. The children were at once sent to the house of a relative to be cared for, while the neighborhood was aroused and search made for Mrs. Reeves. For three days the inhabitants far and near were ranging the woods looking for her, and when they at last found her, she was exhausted and almost speechless, having lain down to die. One night she climbed to the top of a high rock to get out of the reach of the wolves that were on her track. Here she was serenaded all night, during which they made many unsuccessful attempts to reach her; nor did they leave her until the dawn of day, when they vanished into the forest.
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