Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-10-08
TIE sEDUCER.

The following interesting reidtioh 10 go
lected from the New York Literary
Journal and Bellies Letters Repository,
published monthly in that place by S. q.
Van Wrinkle. Many of our readers may
have perused it in the Journal: but it will
doubtless be new to the greaterpart.
81 entered the army at the beginning
of the revolution, an humble private sol
der, and left it, on the establishment
of our independence, a maj. and cripple
know not whether it was on account
of my yankee inquisitiveness, OF to any
better quality | possessed, but whittier
wandered, contrived to meet with, or
hear more adventures, and obtain a know
ledge of more secrets than any OF my
comrades. Indeed, was in the conf
dence of half of my regiment, and was
the faithful deposit of many love affair
1t is the common remark OF an old man,
that times have changed for the worse
unlike his young days, &c: But these
days, when men pursue their daily rou-
tine of business Of pleasure without inter
rution, eat in peace and take their rest
in security, are happily different from
those when our food was eaten with each
man his staff in his hand, and his IONS
girded" And when the ssieep which nj
ture claimed after days Of danger and ia
tigue, was but the slumber of watchful-
ness.
.sThese various scenes, the adventures
that passed before me, and which wit
messed around me, have filled my memo
nv with recollections, he recording OF
which, has often aroused the ianguid
hours of solitary age. 1t has afforded
me some qualification to fight my bat
ties DER again." and should they be deem,
ed worthy of notice, your attention will
| sometimes be intruded upon by the re-
collections of an old soldier.
1t was lowering summer day, dark
clouds, piled upon each other, frowned
over, and distant peals of thunder an
nouuced the approaching tempest, when
Mai hand Capt. Seymour, at the
head of a small recruiting party, from
the English camp, found themselves be-
widered in thick wood, without the
prospect of shelter. 1t was one OF those
|
try abounds; the paths which intersected
it in every direction, indicated that 1t was
often travelled, though the roads might
we'll perplex the traveller. Taking the
path they thought most likely 10 lead
them to the right road from whence they
had wandered, the party fastened OIL for
the space of an hour, when they heard
the gushing sound of water fall, and
presently they stood on the side Of a mar
row stream, which after dashng down
some high rocks, murmured away and was
lost in the woods. At any other moment
Mai. H-would have paused to taste the
lonely beauties Of the scene, to mark the
| contrast between the white foam OF the
water, with the dark moss which spread
its velvet covering over the rocks, and
inhale the fragrance of the locust tree.
whose white blossoms hung in wreaths
over the stream. But he hurried impa-
tlently by, for almost concealed by the
trees. stood log house which desolate
as it appeared, still afforded the hope
! of sheter.
A thin stream of smoke, which rose
from the chimney, alone beton ened that
! this miserable abode harboied q human
being.
Maior H-knocked at the door but re.
cejving no answer, he burst with his foot
the slender fastening. They entered a
room which was dark and cherries, the
roof afforded slight protection from tie
weather, thong b It's many arertures serr'
ed to light the apartment.
1t was not till they had stood moment
in the room that they perceived a female
bending over the embers, which warmed
the hearth. ferer ksirs hung irrever
emily about her face and neck; her shriv.
elled frame seemed bent with age OF dis
ease, and despair was marked Oh tie
! wrink led countenance that met the Off.
! GERS view, as she turned to look at them
and hastily averting her head, muttereo
Murder abroad again - Good dame
said Major H, will you direct us to the
main road? She returned TO answer
The officer repeated the inquiry, but the
old woman did net appear to notice him.
Damn the Old crone, he said, and placing
his hand on her shoulder in no gentle
manner--woman do you hear NE? She
raised her eyes-the light shown through
the crevices of the root full on tie mar
tal form OF tie officer. The old woman
gazed on him. and as the lightning which
flashed around them seemed to illuminate
the hut it revealed the haggard features
agitated by the strongest emotion she
clasped her hands convulsively and sale
hear you? yes and know you too, whst