Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-16

| the ken of those, whom excellence may IdlI 10
excite, or in whom absence can deaden afec-
lions Still her feelings were true 10 all VINO
had any claims on her love The predomi.
nance of wasting grief over the more GENIAL
springs Of her enjoyments, only went l" prove
how much greater is the influence OF the gener
Gus than the selfish qualities OF our nature, In
a,heart that is truly endowed win tenderness.
/, is scarce necessary TO say that this gentle
and constant woman sorrowed for her child
Had Ruth Heathcoate known that the girl
ceased to live, it would not have been difficult
for one Of her faith 10 have deposited her re-
gre,s, by the side Of hopes that were so justin
able, in the grave Of the innocent. But the Nv
lug death 10 which her offspring might be con
demned, was rarely absent from her thoughts.
She listened 10 The maxims OF resignation,
which were heard flowing from lips she loVed,
with the fondDess Of a woman and the meek
ness of christian; and then, even while the
holy lessons were still sounding in her a'en-
| tive organs, the workings OF an unconqueraole
! nature led her insidiously back 10 the sorrow
| of mother.
Once, indeed, a rumor Of an exciting nature
! had reached The family. An lInerant trader,
bound from the wiids Of he Inferior TO mari
on the sea share, had IN e.ed The valley. tie
brought with him report, that child, answer
ing il some respects TO The Appearance which
might now be supposed 10 being 10 her who
was lost, was living among toe sa'ages, Oh
! The banks Of he Sma Her lakes OF the adjoining
colony. The distance to This spot was great;
the path led through thousand dangers, and
h RI sui, far from certain. Yet II quickened
| hopes which had long been dormant. Ruth
| never urged any request that might involve Sc
rious hazard on her husband, and tor many
l 81. l.
the subject. SILL nature was working power
fully vi hin him His eyes, a, all times re-
flec,ing and calm, grew more houghtfu, deep
er lines OF care gathered about his brow, and
al length melancholy took possession OF
| counterance which was usually SO placid.
| 1t was a, this prsrise period, that Eben Dud-
| ley chose 10 urge the suit,he had always pres
sed after his own desultory fashion, on the de
| cision Of Faith. One Of those well ordered ac>
cid"nts which, from time 10 time, had brought
the girl & he young borderer in private CONVEX
sation enabled HIM 10 ef,ci his design with
sufficient clearness. Faith heard him without
belraying any Of her ordinary waywardness,
aud answering with as little prevarica,ion as
The Subject seee mrd to demand
" This is well Ebrn Dudley" she said, and
il is no mere than an honest girl hath risht
to h, ar, from one who la h taken as many
means as thou, to get into her favor But he
whn would nave his life ,ormen:ed by me, hath
Solemn duty 10 do, ere listen to his wishes"
4" have been in ,he lower owns and studied
tteii manner Of 'fe, and ! have been upon The
scouts OF The colon!, 20 keep the Indians III
their wigwams," reIuroed ner sutton, endea-
vourinp TO recount he itats IF !manliness that
might reasonably be expected OF one inclined
10 venture on 90 hazardous an experiment as
Capteiu for the hill lot, aud for village home
stead is drawing near tlos". and as he ne,h>
hors viii no, BE- backward al the stone bee, Or
the raising see nothing o."
I" Thou oearivesl ,hyseli, observani Dudey. f"
nterru pted the gil, "d thou beiie'es' eye OF
thine can see that which is 20 be sought, ere
one ard the same fortuAe shall he The property
Of thee and me. Hast noted, Eben, the manner
in which The cheek Of The Madam hath paled,
and how her eye Is getting sunkrn, since the
time when The fur trader lairied with us, the
week Of The storm 7?
81 cannot say that there is much change in
the wearing of TIE Madam, within the bearing
of my memory" answered Dudley, who was
never remarkable for minute observations Of
This nature, however keen he might prove in
subjects more intimately connected with his
daily pursuits. "She is no, young and bloom
ing as 'lou, ailH hut - IL oi'eh thd' We STR
81 lell thee man, that sorrow prayeth upon her
form, and that she liveth but in the memory Of
the los, infant
"rhis is carrying mourning beyond the bounds
Of reason. rhr child is al peace; as is thy bro
Their, Whiual, beyond al manner OF question:
That we have not discovered their bones is ow>
ing 10 he FIRE, which left bu little 10 tell Of"
"Thy head is a ch.rnel house, dull Dudley,
but this picture its furniture shall MOI suffice
for me- The man who is 10 be my husband
mus, have feeling for a mothers sorrows"
"What is now getting uppermost in thy
mind, Faith!-ls il for me 10 bring back the
dead 10 lite, or to place a child That hath been
lost SO many years once more in the arms of
its parents"
alt is. Nay, open no, thine eyes as if ligh,
were first breaking into the darkness Of cloud
ed brain! lrepeat it is..''
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