LIMESTONE PLAINS.

Western Star, Issue 5, 13 December 1873, Page 5

LIMESTONE PLAINS.

[from our correspondent.] An incident of rather an unusual nature for this locality occurred last week. A little girl, five years of age, daughter of Mr. David Lyon, while returning from school on the evening of the sth, lost her way. As evening wore on, her protracted and? unaccustomed absence naturally alarmed hei®parcnts, and a few of the neighbours being apprised of the matter,, a party was speedily organised to search for the missing one. Success did not attend their efforts, and the long night passed away without any trace being dissevered of the little girl. At daylight next morning the search party was largely reinforced by recruits from the surrounding farms ; but their although extending over a wide area, 'fsTill. continued fruitless. However, the anxiety of her parents was put an end to in a very happy manner. About 9 o’clock on Saturday morning the little truant was espied, about 100 yards from her home, wending,her way quietly thereto, gathering flowers by the- way, and looking as if nothing had occurred. When interrogated as to ' the reason of her not coming home the previ-

ous night, she"elplained that having lost her way, and being overtaken by darkness, she had lain down beside a tussock and slept the night. On awakening, she started for home, but took the road line for Flint’s Bush, where her tracks were found; but on finding her mistake, she retraced her steps, and made her appearance close to her home as described, without having been seen by one of- those looking for her. The cool, methodical manner in which the little thing acted when she discovered that she had lost her way stamps her as possessing a high degree of courage ; and, perhaps, in future [years, if occasion demands, she may develop into a New Zealand Joan of Arc or Maid of Saragossa.