The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-12-25


joyiully she skipped DER hill and dale
the happiest of the happy. She was the
pride of the town, the queen of the lasses;
the sun Of her happiness never set; she
awoke with the matin song of the lark,
with dimple upon her cheek, and retir-
ed at the dusk of day with a s,naie upon
her lips. She was all sunshine; the clouds
of grief never for moment obscured her
lightness Of heart. With the hum OF her
Jenny, was heard the music Of her voice
as with her foot she pressed the form that
revolved the wheel untiring in its revou-
tons, as her spirit in gladness. The
world to her was field of flowers, there
was nothing FOR her to do, save to go forth
and pluck; twas all a bed of roses, she
knew not of The thorns therein concealed.
She judged the world by the obscurity of
her native village; vice, to her: was an un-
meaning word happily when summoned
to appear in brighter abode, she was
uncontaminatcd by its influence. Until
the adolescent age of seventeen. Ole,a
had glided down the vale of life, as
smoothly as the Indian bark over the I'M
rufIled stream. She was vet but a child,
and the joyful leader of the little
group, who clambered the high cliff to
fill their baskets, with the red berry.
From rock TO rock she nimbly sprang,
looking back and laughing at her less
agile companions, then seating her sylph-
like form upon the green swsrd, would
gaiIy sing till her playmatcs, tired and
breathless, gathered around.
Thus lnnocen.ly passed the childhood
of Oleila, but now the sorrow of woman
hood approached Her mother, irail
feeble woman, was nipt by consumplion's
blast, and consigned will. portion Of
Oleita's haI piness to the ruthless grave.
Like sorrows to youth, the grief of the
maiden was short, it found her lively
child, and left her a sedate, though light
hearted woman. The duties of the house
hold fulfilled by the adviser of her youth
now cngrosed much OF her attention, yet
still She could find time after arranging
her tea things TO go out upon the village
green, and unite with her early associates
ia dancing the sun down. She was the
belle of the vile, wooed but not won,
courtcd but not gained, by all its young
men. II IA festivity was to be observed;
a dance to take place, or a holiday kept,
Olcita was the first TO know, and to be
invited.
The star of Olcita's destiny had hither-
to shcne with but one intervening cloud,
but now her sky was to be overcast, and
the storms of grief to desolate her. The
father of Olela was stern and morose
man; self willed and overbearing, his
word was the law, In the village coun-
Gil, the decisive and forcible demeanor of
the man, was recognized in the authority
of the leader. Whilst the young ac-
| knowledged him as the father Of Oleita,
| the old feared him for the dogmatism of
| his character, and the enmily of his dis
position. Ruling so unlimited among his
townsmen, as might be expected, ia his
family circle he was tyranical; treated
| with obeisence by those who had no claim
upon him, by those who had, servility
was not mild enough nor too humiliating.
Twas whispered q know not with what
truth } amongst the villagers, that he knew
more of the cause ofhis wiie's death than
he pretended, and that twas something
nearly akin to broken heart, that rob.
bed them of kind neighbor and Oleita
of fond mother.
A wandering tribe eff oppressed Sioux
asked privilege to encamp for the winter
in the outskirts Of the village. The re-
quest was refused upon the plea of the In
dams once having stolen the horses OF the
whites, but granted at the instlgation and
pretensions OF the father of Oleita, who
impatiently related the mal-treatment OIL
the misguided aborigines, and the necessi-
ty that some among the whites should
have the benevolence to succor an Op-
pressed race, Poor O,eita! when with
sparkling eyes and clasped hands, she
seconded the humane wishes of her faith
CIR, little knew she that one of those In
dams was her fathers parent, and that the
! dark blood of the red man flowed through
her transparent veins.-But SO it was; her
father was the illegitimate son of an old
Indian sachem, and she the grardchild
OF dark and forbidden aspect yet none Of
the villagers ever dreamed the father oil
Oleita half-breed, but knew him only as
of French descent.
Amongst the warriors who had thus
settled themselves with the contented vii
layers, to make inroad upon their happi-
ness,was middle aged and brave man, and
the chief of the tribe.-With ardent gaze
he watched the sylphic form of Oleta as
she whirled through the mazes of the
dance. With jealous..eye he looked upon
the young men who enclosing her soft
hand within the grasp of their own, led
her through the reel; and when they
spoke soft nonsense in her willing ear,
the chief compressed his teeth with the
characteristic foreboding of the Indian.
To the father of Oleito, Wapaketa the
L