Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-25
MISCELLANY,
THE FORSAKEN ONE

1t was near the close of a July day,
tatigued with riding, / had thrown my
rein carelessly upon my horses neck
and permitted him to saunter along at
his own rate, as descended INTO one Of
the beautiful glens that abound in the
Western Highlands of Scotland. The
clouds which during the day had oc-
casionally embodied themselves, were
now flying ofn small masses, like the
remnants Of a routed army when the
battles lost and won, and the Sun as
he retired to the chamber Of his rest,
might be compsred to warrior wrap
ping himself in his mantle as he sunk
behind bank of clouds which Showed
their grOtesque heads above the western
horizon, tinging their edges with the
richest hues Of crimson and gold The
sound of the shepherds whistle was
heard as he called his dogs together in
the stragglera Of his focks, and the
drowsy tinkling of the sheep bells,
broke upon the ear, as their wethers
leaped from crag to crag, in their rapid
descent. The cowherd was driving his
charge home, and stopped occasionally
in humming a native air, to scold at
some Of his cattle who, tempted by the
rich herbage turned aside from their
path. The gigantic shadows Of the
western hills were stretching themselves
over the bosom of the valley and the
yane on the spirc ofthe village church
was seen sparkling in the suns last rays,
whilst the hamlet it,elf was in dark
shade. Delighted with the peacefuIness
and quiet of every thing around me,
my thoughts had been lulled into state
Of listless repose, when turning round
the projection of a rock, my attention
was fixed by female figure seated upon
a fragment, which in the wreck of time
had been torn from the hill side and
rolled to It's present position. Her cheek
rested upon her hand, and her eyes ap-
peared steadily fixed upon some distant
object; my approach seemed to be un-
needed by her, whilst in a wild but ex-
quisiiely sweet voice, she wartlcd, "Ah
wae's me wi this sodgering so gaudy
o." The Laird's ta'en ava my ain
highland laddio o. For a moment
she ceased singing, her eye assumed a
more wild expression, her features be-
came agitated as if by some strong con-
vulsion of feelilx, and rising from her
seat she darted across the road, and
swift as an arrow ran toward the spot
upon which she had before been gazing
screaming my wean, nay We IN, oh
save my BARN. In a shor. time | saw
her scrambling up the hill on the oppo-
site side of the valley, where having
reached point of considerable eleva-
tion, she fell near the brink Of noun
tam torrent, as if overcome by her cx-
ertions. In few moments she rose,
and pointing at tho stream, rushed down
along its side; alternately pointing and
wringirg her hands, screaming in a
voice that gave evidence of intense men,
tai agony, 'Oh save my BARN, my sweet
bonnie wcan,' until at last she was hid
den from myAicw by clump of alder
bushes, and her cries were lost in the
distance had been so engrossed with
the wrctchcd female, that my horse had
strayed without my observing it, a short
way from the road, and was quietly re-
calling himself with the grass that grew
at his feet. lightning my rein, I d.