Part 8
Having been raised in the forest, he knew he should find some place where the wolves would not get him, so he searched for a suitable tree in which he might spend the night. Most of them were too thick for him, or the first branches were too high for him to reach. At last he found one right near the path which looked safe, and he began to climb. it immediately. After reaching a comfortable place, he sat down; and tied his left arm to a branch, fearing he might fall-asleep and fall down.
Night came on getting-darker and darker. The wind started to blow and shook the trees, but this did not frighten him because he was used to its howlings; he had often listened to it at home with a quiet enjoyment. Of course, it was quite different to sit near the warm hearth at home, protected from the storm, than to sit in the branches of a tree swinging to and fro. William was very brave for his age, but one sound made him afraid, which was the howl of a wolf in the distance, just like he heard the evening before.
He lifted his eyes upward and from his heart arose a quiet prayer to his Father, which gave him courage and looking around him, he saw a light in the far distance, which he followed in the direction of the path. The light disappeared for a moment but again he saw it on the same spot. He jumped down from the tree as quickly as possible for he thought there would be someone where the light was and ran as fast as his feet could carry him over the uneven path, fearing to meet the wolf he had heard just a short time before.
After running for a quarter of an hour or so, he reached a point from which he could see the light again but it seemed larger this time because he was closer to it.
William stood still for a moment to breathe, then he began to run again. Just as the moon came out from under a cloud, he noticed a brook too wide to jump across, but he could not stop to think. what he should do, for he heard an animal coming towards him through the underbrush. Just then he stumbled over a root of a tree, and fell unconscious, but when he came to himself again, the animal was so close, he could feel the warm breath, and expected any moment to feel the sharp teeth in his flesh, but instead of it being a wolf, it was a dog, and began to lick William’s cheeks and bark for joy. When William arose, the dog jumped upon him, as he was so glad to see his loved companion once more.
“Caesar, my dear, good Caesar,” said William, and he noticed a piece of the cord his brother had tied him in the house with three days ago. He wondered how his dog got to him, but knew the Lord directed it all, and he was so thankful to the Lord for bringing to him his best friend on earth. He soon forgot all his fear, and anxious to get out of the woods started again for the light, but with Caesar by his side. He started to wade through the brook, but when he got out into the current, the water was up to his hips; the current threw him over, and good, faithful Caesar swam to him, took his clothes in his teeth and carried him to the shore. Once more William loved and caressed his dog, then went on with his companion by his side.
ML 02/26/1939