American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-08-06
TOL. I.

I'm the mouse Tell deep interest In the old ma S
fate, we his hour is come--his feet will ne er
touch the living heather again. was the express
sion in which they all ioined They did not fear
to speak openly before little Flora who was now
standing beside the fire. with her lorg yellow hair
let loose, and streaming all wet over her shoulders
for the death of the oldest man in the gens was
an event TO be looked for. and the child knew we'll
Jas they did that her grandfathers hour was cove.
Many and many time did she go to the windows
to look If the priest coming up the glen and at
last began fea that the rain and the wind. which
was now beginning to rise after the hush Of the
Ithundev air would hinder h. IN from coming at all,
and that the old Man would die alone aud unconles-
sed in his Shraing. mo BODY is with him--poor
old Man-never may see his face aeain-.hut there
is no need Tor me to wait here will run rnme--
the waters cannot he much hie her than when came
down the glen Flora now wept in passion to re-
turn to the SheaIiug-and tying up thai long wet
yellow hair ready start out into the wild and
raging weather.
II happened that the minister of the pa ish--
young Mr. Gordon-was in the house. and one OF
the shepherds went TO call him out from the paror,
that he might persuade Flora t. be conented where
she was as certain death would be in her attempt
go up Glen-Nevis. He did all he could to soothe
her agitation but in vain--and the good priest,
Mr. Macdonald did mot appear he began TO think
that the old Lewis should not he left so long on his
death bed He therefore addressed himself to two
Of the moSt active shepherds. and asked ii they had
any objections to take flnra to the Shesling. They
limmediae'v rose upon with their p;aids-and ook
their STATS into their hands Flora's face med
| family through its tears; and Mr. Gordon mildly
said. "What is easy to you. shepherds cannot be
| difficult TO me- will go with you =" The young
| . uister a Highlander born--had in his boy
hood irod The mountains of Badenoch and Luchaber
= and there was not shepherd or hunsmsn lar or
near that could leave hi" behind either Oh level or
height So they all issued forth into the hurricane,
and little Flora safe under then il she
had been sitting in the kirk.
| The party kept well upon the sides Of the mcun-
tain for the Nevis overlooked many parts of the
Clens and the nameless torrents that in dry weather
exist not were tumbng down in redeemed foam
| from every scaur The river was often Ike lake
and cliffs weed with tall birches, or few
pines, stood islandrd here ard there, perhaps with
q shrIeking heron visiting on high bough for the
! subsiding of the waters. Now shepherd and now
the minister took Flora in his they breast
ed together the rushing streamsand the child telt,
hat had she been allowed to go by herself the Nevis
would have swept her down into the salt Linn
he Loeb. In an hour all the wild par Of the Jour-
ney was Their feet vast heathery
bosom of hill, down which only small ris oozed
out nj gushing springs. and soon lost themselves a.
I gain-and after few minutes easy walking, duriog
which Flora led the way, she turned about TO the
minister, and pointing with her little hand, cried
/ Yonder's the Shealing, Sir my grandfather, it
alive will bless your face at his bed side "
i Mr. Gordon knew all the county well and he
had often before been at the head OF Glen News.
Blu he had never behed it, till now, 10 all its glory
He stood on bend Of the river, which was sren
coming down from the cataract several miles dis
tant among its magnif lent cliffs ad dark pine or-
Tests That long and fpal reaC h OF the glen gieam-
led and numbered before him urid light ON he
iyet agitated heavens fell heavily the dscolored
| ho. d--the mountains OF heather that nclosed the
glen were black as pitch in the gloom but here
land there wet cliff shone forth to passing
II geam as bright as beacon The of piues
Twas ever and ano 10 soop and heave below
the storm whie the spray OF that cataract went half
way up the wooded cliff and gave slight nge of
Ibeauty, with its blue and purple mist, to the grim
and howling solitude. High above a--and il
81 standing almost in another world, was now the
] very crest OF Ben Nevis--Eor although s-vong
clouds, and mist, and steam, girdled his nous
4 sides. all vapors had left his summit and il shot up
proudly and calmly into its pure region OF sel!led
ri sky.
? But Mr. Gordon had not come here to admire
i the grandeur of natureit had sru his soul as he
e looked and stened--but now he was standing at the
5 door of the Shealing. Rocks lay all around itbut
eli was a small green plat Of its own-a and over
the door, which could be entered even by liiile
e Flora without STOPPING. extended the immense
antlers OF old deer, which Lewis had SCOT twenty
Years ago in the Forest Of Lochiel the largest ever
o seen before or since in all the Highlands Flora
C came out, with eager eyes and supp essed voice,
,fI"Come in, Sir come in, Sir--my Father is alive,
y and is quite sensible"
The young minister entered the Sheang while
. the two shepherds lay down their plaids below
:, some oserhangng rocks where the ground was Just
i as diy as he floor of a room. 'Wecome--wel-
It come, Si'-you not just the one have been ho-
ping for but IL he does arrive till am gone
IS trust that, although of different creeds' Cod
will receive my poor sinful soul OF your hands