secret of its constitution has a spell to sway the minds of mankind there was added the grace of an exquisitely feminine address the union of these two attributes rendered an object of conspicuous interest in such a time as that of b shoe robinson the her youth her ready genius her knowledge and her habits of reflection much in advance of her years the impression her character was adapted to produce and brought upon her even in her secluded position a considerable share of public observation it was not wonderful that a mind so organized and accomplished should have acquired an unlimited dominion over the frank open hearted and brave temper of her brother now just stepping beyond the of mere boyhood her influence over henry was and unbounded her affections were his her faith was his her enthusiasm stole into and spread over his whole temper with these means of influence she had applied herself to into henry s mind her own sentiment in regard to the war and this purpose had led her to interest herself in subjects and pursuits which in general are very foreign from her sex her desire to his feelings in aid of butler and her conviction that a time was at hand when henry might be useful gave rise to an eager solicitude to see him well prepared for the of the day by that necessary mode of education which during the period of the revolution was common amongst the young gentlemen of the country he was a most willing and ready pupil and she delighted to encourage him in his inclination for military studies however fanciful some of his in regard to them might be she therefore saw with great satisfaction the though boyish devotion with which he set himself to gain a knowledge of matters relating to the duties of a soldier however little this may fall within the scope of female perception in ordinary times it will not appear so much removed from the or even the habits of the sex when we reflect that in the of this great national struggle when every resource of the country was drained for service the events of the day were contemplated with no less interest by the women than by the men the with which the american women in the cares and sacrifices of the war has the frequent notice and warmest praises of its but reflected in this instance the hues of the society around the dove which consisted of many families scattered along the country side composed of i i horse shoe l sons of elevated character easy circumstances and of the politics with whom she held an and familiar intercourse another consideration may serve to explain the somewhat masculine character of s pursuits her most intimate companion at all times and frequently for weeks together her only one was her brother these two had grown up together in all the confidence of childhood and this confidence continued still their pursuits sports exercises thoughts and habits were alike with less of the usual between the sexes than is to be found between individuals in larger associations they each other in temper and disposition and henry might in this regard be said to be without to bis manly qualities a girlish boy and on the other hand with as little to be a boyish girl this freedom of produced in its development some grotesque results which my reader has doubtless heretofore observed with a smile and it will likewise serve to explain some of the peculiar forms of intercourse which may hereafter be noticed between the brother and sister the news of the battle of had not yet reached the neighborhood of the dove but the time drew nigh when all the country stood on anxious to receive tidings of that interesting event a week had elapsed without bringing letters from butler and was growing uneasy at this interval of silence there was a struggle in her mind an unpleasant that she was almost ashamed to acknowledge and yet which she could not subdue the country was full of reports of the hostile operations and a thousand were entertained which varied according to the more sanguine or of the persons who made them was taught by butler to expect defeat yet still she hoped for victory but the personal fate of her lover stole upon her conjectures and she could not keep down the which affection generally and always renders painful in this state of doubt it was that her manners occasionally rose to a higher tone of than was natural to her and by turns they sank to a moody silence showing that the of the mind was dis h r x h b and that the scales did not hang true it was the of mental resolution with a coward heart � a heart by its affections such was the state of things when in the latter fortnight of august the morning ushered in a day of beauty the air was elastic the cool breeze played upon the and stole the perfume of a thousand flowers the bu ds sang with unwonted vivacity from the neighboring trees and the sun lighted up the mountains with a golden splendor the fast drifting clouds flinging their shadows upon the forest that clothed the hills around and the eagle and the sailing in the highest heavens or around the cliffs with a glad flight as if rejoicing in the luxuries of the cool summer morning breakfast was scarcely over before henry was seen upon the terrace arrayed in his hunting dress his was suspended by a green cord across his shoulders it was a neat and glittering instrument whose was with the of silken and was displayed as as if worn by the hero of a like st in the ballad he had footed thrice the when he put the to his mouth and blew a both loud and long how 