Old Man Walking through the Forest on a Cold Night Sees Barefoot Boy Lost in the Woods — Story of the Day

One night, Douglas heard cries coming from the woods near his ranch. Thinking it could be a bear, he took his dog and discovered a boy shivering in the cold. The following morning, the boy told Douglas where he lived, but the roads were covered in snow, so Douglas had a choice to make and it shocked the boy’s parents.

“There, there, boy. Good boy, Hank. Let’s keep going,” Douglas encouraged his dog as they trekked through the woods behind his ranch, deep in the more secluded parts of Root River Valley. He loved this area all his life and purchased the land after retiring from the fishing industry. This place was perfect because Douglas loved being alone with his pet.

Sometimes, wildlife approached his home, and Hank would scare them away. But today, Douglas heard strange cries from the forest and decided to investigate. It sounded like a wounded animal, although he couldn’t be sure. Who would be so far away from their home? There were no other ranches nearby for at least two miles, and it had snowed heavily.

The wind picked up, and Douglas was no longer sure where to go. But his dog had better instincts than him. Suddenly, Hank tensed and started pulling him towards something. The cries got louder and louder until Douglas could see a little boy huddled next to a tree. He was shivering and had no shoes, crying in his weak state.

“Boy, what are you doing here? Do you want to die?” the older man rumbled in a deep voice, scaring the kid. The boy looked up and stopped crying, but his teeth chattered. He couldn’t get any words out. Fortunately, Douglas was not too old to carry him back to his ranch and settle him next to the warm fire on top of a comfy rug. Hank sat near the child, providing even more warmth.

Soon enough, the kid fell asleep on the carpet before he could answer Douglas’ questions. He tired himself out there crying, but thank God I found him, the older man thought as he placed a warm blanket and pillow beneath him.

The following morning, Douglas woke the boy up. “Hey, come on. Come on, boy. It’s time for a hearty breakfast,” the older man said, shaking...