The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-05-12


artillery and baggage horses that dropped
on the road In consequence OF this, the
province of Esthona, to which several regl-
ments directed their march, was SO overrun
with these animals, as greatly to endanger
the safety of travellers. Hence in single
circle of the government, no less than forty
persons OF different ages were enumerated,
who had been devoured during the winter
by these ravenous beasts. 1t became hazard
Gus to venture alone and unarmed into the
uninhabited parts of the country nevertheless
an Esthonian country-woman boldly under
took Journey to distant relation, not only
without any male companion, but with three
children, the youngest Of which was still at
the breast. A light sedge drawn by one.
horse, received the little party; the way
was narrow, but well beaten, the snow on
each side deep and impossible, and to turn
back, without danger of sticking fast, was
not to be thought of.
The first half Of the journey was passed
without accident. The road now ran along
the skirts of a pine forest, when the traveller
| suddenly perceived a suspicious noise behind
her. Casting back look of alarm, she saw
u troop of wolves trottng along the road,
the number of which her fears hindered
her from estimating. To escape by fight
is her FIRST thought; and with unsparing
|
which itself snuffs the danger. Soon cou-
pie of the strongest and most hungry of the
beasts appear at her side, and seem dispos-
cd to stop the way.-Though their intention
seems to be only to attack the horse, yet the
safety both of the mother and the children
depends on the preservation OF the animal.
The danger raises it value; it seems enti-
tied to claim for its preservation an extraor-
dinary sacrifice. AS the mariner throws
overheard his richest treasures to appease
the raging waves, so here has necessity
reached height at which the emotions OF
the heart are dumb before the dark COM
mands of instinct; the latter alone suffers
the unhappy woman to act in this distress.
She sezes her second child, whose bodily
Iiniirmitics have often made it an object of
anxious care, whose cry even now offends
her ear, and threatens to whet the appetite
of the blood-thirsty monsters-she seizes it
with an involuntary motion, and before the
mother is conscious of what she is doing, it
is cast ont and--ennnssh- -0f the harrid Idle!
The last cry of the victim still sounded in
her ear, when she discovered her troop,
which had remained some minutes behind,
again closely pressed on the sledge. The
anguish of her soul increases, for again the
Misunderstanding forms are at her side.
Pressing the infant to her heaving bosom,
she casts a look on her boy, four years old,
who crowds closer and closer to her knee:
"But, dear mother, am good, am not II
You will not throw me into the snow, like
, the bawler?"-" And yet! and yeti" cried
the yretched woman, in the wild tumult OF
: despair" Thou art good, but God is mer-
+ ciful. .-Away!' The dreadful deed was
+, done. 10 escape the furies that ragged with.
in her, the woman exertcd herself, with pow
{ erful LASH to accelerate the gallop of the
i exhausted horse. With the thick and gloo-
my forest before and behind her, and
:. the nearer and nearer trampling of her raw
h cnous pursuers, she almost sinks under her
G anguish; only the recollection of the infant
d that she holds in her arms-only the desire
: to save it, occupies her heart, and with DIFF
Il hculty enables it to bear up. She did not
e venture to look around her. All at once,
d two rough paws are laid on her shoulders,
q and the wide open bloody jaws of an enor-
e nous wolf hung over her head. 1t is the
l. most ravenous beast of the troop, which,
is having partly missed its leap at the sledge
J. is dragged along with it in vain seeking with
h its hinder legs for 4 resting place, to enable
It it to get wholly OH to the frail vehicle. The
N weight of the body of the monster draws the
II woman backwards-hcr arms raise with
,c the child: half torn from her, half abandon
n ed, itbecomcs the prey of the ravenous beast
.r which hastily cal ries it off into the forest.
,e Exhausted, stunned, senseless, she drops
$, the reins, and continues her journey, ignor-
ir ant whether she is delivered form her pur-
,c suers.
ic Meantime the forest grows timer, and an
re insulated farm house, to which side road
n leads, appears at moderate distance. The
c. horse, left to itself, follows this new path
ht it enters through an open gate; painting
IN foaming it stands still; and amid a circle OF
te persons who croud round with good natured
I'd surprise, the unhappy woman rccovers from
a. her stupifaction, to throw herself with loud
scream of anguish and horror, into the arm.
,r. Of the nearest human being, who appears &c
- her as guardian angel. All leave theil
- work-the mistress of the house the kitchen
W. W. the thrcsher the barn, the eldest son of tht
~ ~ family, with his axe in his hand, the woot
H. which he has just cleft-to assist the unfol'
80 tunate woman; and with mixture of curl
~. osity and pity, to learn, by hundred inqui-
~ ries, the circumstances Of her singular APP
"a pearance. Refreshed by whatever can b;
~ procured at the moment, the stranger grad
Vi ually RECEIVERS the power of speech and abi!
ity to give an ineligible account of the dread
full trial which she had undergone. The in
sensblity with which fears and distress has
steeled her heart, begins to disappear: bu
Ks new terrors seize her-the dry eye seeks il
=, Alxx 1,,sv- Il L<.,,,, Il