American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-06-07

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blown down by the wind, stretch high into the all
and may be at great distance you must sc
there and wait till come TO you. Keep the messy
side OF the trees your left hand and you will find
the place without any difficulty"
J Outalisso motioned me to hurry away and de-
parted with a palpitating heart and plunged into
the recesses OF the forest and regulated my course
in the manner he directed. The moon was rising
and could see TO considerable distance around
The rustling OF the dry leaves among my feet often
made me think that some one walked close behind
me and scarcely dared to look back, lest should
see an upfted tomahawk descending upon my head.
! sometimes iancied | observed Thakakawerente
lurking among the brushwood, and stopt short till
imagination conlured up his form ina different part
OF the forest and rendered rresolute which phan-
tom should endeavor to avoid.
| reached the tree sooner than expected; il lay
along the ground and its immense roots projected
from the trunk at right angles, to the height of 2
or Ii feet, their interstices being filled up with
earth that it was impossible to see through them
sat down and found the agitation Of my spirits
gradually subside under the tranquilizing influence
of the scene. Not breath of wind shook the trees,
the leafless and delicately fbred boughs Of which,
when viewed against the cloudless sky, seemed like
a sable net work spread over head. The nests which
the birds had made the preceding summer, still re-
manned among the branches, silent, deserted and
unsheltered making the loneliness of the forest as
it were, visible to the mind while whered leaf
sometimes dropped slowly down-a sad memorial
of the departed glories Of the vegetable world. A
small rivulet ran within little distance Of me, but
its course was so concealed by long grass that
would have been aware Of its existence by the muir
murlng of its waters only, had it not glittered daz .
zlintly in the moonshne at one spot, while flowing
over large smooth stone. When | looked into
The recesses OF the oiest, saw the trees range be
fore each other like colossal pillars ard gradually
blending their siem- together until they formed a
dark am underlined mass. In some places scath-
ed trunk whitened with the moss OF successive CEN
turIes, stood erect in spectral grandeur, like being
whom immense age and associations rivetted to long
past times, had isolated from the sympathies of his
ellow morals AS the moon gradually rose on
he arch Of heaven her light fell at different angles
nd the aspect OF the woods was continually chang
ne New and grander groupes of trees came into
view and mighty oaks and chesnuts seemed to stalk
Onward with majestic slowness, from the surround.
Ing obstuuty and alter time, TO give place al
succession OF Others by retiring amidst the dark
ness from which they had at FIRST emerged Ire |
'nors ct awe began to peryade my frame and / all
most expected hat the tones Of some superhumanl
voice would break the appalling silence that prevail
ed in the wilderness around me.
My mind, by degrees, became so calm, that II
|
a distinct perception where was, but totally forgot
the circumstances connected with my situation A
slight noise at length startled me- and awaked full
Of terror, but could not conceive why should feel
such alarm until recollection made the form of
l hakakaweTente flash upon my mind. | saw al
number OF ndlstlnct forms moving backwards and
forwards, little way from me, and heard some
thing beating gently upon the ground. small
cloud foated before the moon, and waited with
GREATNESS impatence till it passed away and allowed
her full radiance to reach the earth. then disco \
vered that five deer had come to drink at the rvulet
and that the noise Of them striking their fore-fee a.
gains tsbanks had aroused me. They stood gazing
at me with an aspect meek and beautiful that they
almost seemed to incorporate with the moonlight,
but after little time, started away and disappeared
among the mazes OF the forest. 4
When surveyed the heavens, perceived by the
altt ration which had taken place in their appear
ance, that had slept considerable time. The
moon had begun TO descend towards the horizon; a
new succession of stars glttered upon the sky; the
respective positions of the different consultations
were charged; and one Of the planets which had
been conspicuous from its dazzling lustre. a few
hours before had set and was no longer distinguish
able. II was overpowering to think that all these
changes had been effected without noise tumult, or
conut ion. and that worlds performed their IevoIu.
tons, and travelled through the boundlessness oil
space with silence too profound to awaken an echo
IN the noiseess depths the forest, or disturb the
slumhers OF feeble human being.
waited mpatlentlv tor the appearance Of Outa-
lIsso, who had not informed me at wha, hour might
expect to see him The stars now twnkIed feebiy
amidst the faint glow of dawn that began to light
the eastern horizon and The setting moon appeared
behind some pines, and threw rich yellow radiance
upon their dark green boughs Gentle rustlings,
among the trees, and low chirpings. announced
that the birds began TO teel the influence of an.
preaching day and sometimes observed solitary
wolf stealing cautiously along in the distance While
engaged in contemplating the scene, | suddenly
thought saw al Indian little way off ! could
not ascertain whether nr mt II was Out.Iisso H.,