Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-08-15


home, and was disappointed to find that
he had lost an opportunity Of accompany
ing Hannah part OF the way 10 her fathers
cottage. But the hour Of eight bad gone
by, and not even the company OF young
William Grieve, could induce the kind
hearted daughter 10 delay setting out on
her journey. few minutes beyond the
time promised 10 her parents. | do not
like The night" said William, /" there Will
be fresh fall OF SNOW soon, or the witch
Of Gief-Scrae is a liar, for SLOW cloud
is hanging over the birch-tree-iinn, aud il
may be down to the Black-moss as soon as
Hannah Lee" So he called his two
sheep dogs, that had taken their place
under The long table before the window.
aud set out half in joy, half 10 fear, to o
vertake Hannah, and see her safely across
the Black-moss.
The snow began TO drift SO fast, that be-
fore he had reached the head OF the Glen
there was nothing TO be seen but little
bit Of the wooden rail of the bridge across
the Sauch-buro. William Grieve was the
most active shepherd 10 large pastoral
parish he had often passed the night
among The wintry hills for the sake OF q
few sheep, and all the snow that ever Tell
from Heaven would not have made him
turn back when Hannah Lee was before
him add as his terrified heart told, ia
imminent danger Of being lost. As he adj
vanced, be felt that il was 10 longer a
walk Of love or friendship, for which he
had been glad OF an excuse. Death stared
him 10 the face, and bis Young soul, now
beginning to feel all the passions OF youth,
was filed with phreuzy. He had seen
Hannah every day, at the fireside, at
work, in the kirk, on holidays, at pray
Iers, bringing supper to his aged parents,
smiling aud singing about the house from
morning ill night. She had often brought
his own meal 10 him among the hills; and
ne uow found that though he had ;ieser
talked to her about love, except smilingly
and pIayfuIIy, that be loved her beyond
father or mother or his own soul 6 viii
save thee Hannah" be cried with loud
! sob, " or lie down beside thee in the snow;
and we will die together in youth. A
wild whistIing wind went By him, AMI the
snow flakes Whirled so fiefcely round his
| head, thai he staggered on foT while 10
utter blindness. He knew the path that
HaDnah must have taken, aud went ior--
ward shouting aloud, and stopping every
twenty yards to listen, for a voice. He
sent his well trained dogs over the snow
10 all directions; repeating 10 them her
name, g Hannah Lee that the dumb an
finals might, 10 their ssgacity, know for
whom they we're searching; aud as they
looked up in his face, and set off TO scour
the moor, he almost believed they knew
his meaning, and ii is probable they did,
and we're eager TO ind 10 her bewiider-
|ment the kind maiden by whose hand they
had so often been fed. Often went they
off into the darkness, and as often return
ed, but their looks showed that every
quest had been vain. Meanw lille the
snow was of fearful depth, and falling
without intermission or diminution. Had
the young shepherd been thus alone,
walking across the moor on his ordinary
business, it is probable that he might have
been alarmed for his own personal safety
may, that in spite of all his strength and
agility, he might have sunk down beneath
the inciemency of the night and perisieds
But now the passion of his soul carried
him with supernatural strength along. and
extricated him from wreath and pitfall.
Still there was no trace of poor Hannah
Lee; and one of his dogs at last came
close to his feet, worn out entirely aud
afraid TO leave its master, while the other
was mute, and, as the shepherd thought,
probably unable to force its way out of
some hollow or through some laundering
drift. Then he all at once knew that
Hannah Lee was dead; and dashed him
self down in the snow in fit of passion.
1t was the FIRST time that the youth had
ever been sorely tried all his hidden and
unconscious love for the fair lost girl had
flowed up from the bottom of his heart
and at once the sole object which had
blessed his life. and made him the happi-
est of the happy, was taken away and
cruelty destroyed; SO that sullen, wrath
ful, baffled aod despairing, there he lay,
cursing bis existence, aud 10 too great
agony to think Of prayer. God, he then
thought, has forsaken me; and why
should he think on me, when he suffers
one so good and beautiful as Hannah, TO be
frozen to DEATH" God thought both of
him and Hannah; and through bis inf
mite mercy forsave the sinner 10 his wild
turbulence of passion. William Grieve
had never gone to bed without joining ia
prayer; aud he revered the Sabbath-day
and Kept it holy. Much is forgiven to the
human heart by him who SO fesrlnlly
framed it and God is not slow to pardon
i the love which one human being bears to