Richmond palladium., 1842-06-18

around it, we are prone to shed over even its
trivial incidents a glory borrowed from the Inten
siiy of our own feelings; and are hence surprised
that others gaze, with codnes5 or contempt, up
the objects Of our deep enthusiasm. 1t may
be thus perchance with this littie iaie that has
come whispering downward on the breeze Of tra-
diuoD, like the first echo of some far-of melody.
We must 60 backward far--years before even
the Genoese had dreamed of that new world,
which WIS TO ImmortaIz, his name, and mans
Ingrat,ude,
'Twas summer in Wyomng;''
but, then ,here were no golden seas Of grain,
rolling in mimic waves beneath the breezes ,ha,
swept down from her mounfaIns-no broad belts
of green pasture Hand stretching. now, far a
way into tho dense forest, like clsIIiza tion press
ing with swift foot upon barbarisn. All was one
Continuous waste of trees upon mountain, and
trees upon the plain; save where the syery
Susqueh,nna wound, cleaning in the sunlight
and sending back u free broad smile the
Dly-Gods wooIng. The valley, even then,
in its pristine widness, presented a iandsca pc
of no ordinary characier,-wilh itsgraceful reg
ulafIty of form, as If chIselled out with oyquIs
lie skill from tho mountains that sweep round
tits universal green, relieved and brilliantly
adorned by the clear stream that sparkied
onward in lis serpen inc course through the
very centre, recovIng at times bra wing tn
bu,arv that da shed down from The hills to meet
her, and at times parting her waters To encircle
fairly ise, that geams like emerald in
its rich setting.
1t was when the wild hunter still roan1ed, the
tenant Of nature, over this lovely spot iG the
brightest season of the year, that bold young
chief,ain erected his wIgwam, and led to 1t 10
triumph, the lovely NoIna-the flower of the val
ley-hs Indian bride. She was the admira ton
Of The whole tribe of the Shawnees, and the en-
nmor'd bridegroom, as he first gazed upon her in
the new home. her dark eyes sparkling with hap
pIncss felt Joy such as only those who have
II. Il,
chose for their future abode, Il lone romantic spot
near where the river first breaks into the valley
and far above the villages of their tribe as if
they wanted TO hy from the gross sensuaIity that
reigned the re; and find boiler society in pa,uro
aud their own pure hearts They dwelt Upon a
narrow strip OF lowland, between the mountain
and the stream; across the latter, directly oppo.
site their wigwam, rose bold, and road and high
perpendicular ledge OF rocks. IT it the
remnant Of some giant wall thai had IN former
nges guarded that lliIIe valley, until the noble
river como down in her might, and Glove IT al a
blow. Here they lived; the gentle stream muir
INJURED at their feet It's song of peace, but the
bleak crag frowned goofnilv he vond; thew listen.
ed 10 the soothing. and needed not the frown-
They natures free children, happy in all the
enthusiasm Of youthful love.
Ono morning when yellow aut,mn was first
beginning to blight the glory OF summer, the hun
ter forth in search of game. Mona gazcd
after him with fond eyes, as be crossed the
stream; he bounded tightly from his canoe into
the forest, and soon disappeared. The morning
passed away, the sun proudly to his meri-
dIan downward TO the west, and vet the hunter
returned not His young bride. impatient of so
long a stay, seated herself upon the bank. and
turned an anxious eye upon the opposite shore:
all there was silent the tomb; and the first
cloud of apprehension rose. she knew not whv
over tho clear sunshine of her spirlt-she look
ed upward, and the prscipice seemed to be scowl
hsr Ma
denly a loud and furious growl of rave and agony
coming, as 1t were, from the very air, broke up
m The oppressive silence. lnstinctIvelv she cast
a startled glance upon the spot from which she
had just turned away. Her eyes, wildly opened
and fixed in speochess horJor upon il; her lips
were parted, IT unutterabe shrek of woe
had died upon them; for there. upon the verv
edge OF the clilf, Is the husband of her love- in
deadly conflict with one of the fi.rcest animals
OF tho American fJrest-ihe panther. The beast
wounded, and stung madness bv the pain has
turCed in fury on his assailant. The struggle is
h1rd one. The hunter is strong and brave his
eyes qual. not, he utters no cry; though the fangs
OF the beast are deep in his flesh. He strives
TO raise his weapon, but the muscles have been
literally torn from his arm, and his strokes are
powerless. He teels his strength each moment
lessening, rs lessons the distance between them
and tho preciPice They upon the very
verge--one hnal, frantic struggle: despair nerved
his mangled limbs; he springs wildly backward
but. held in the bloody grasp Of the panther. the
impulse served but TO raise him an instant from
the rock; and the next, with a curve and then
fearful plunge, down thoy are hlred-wilh a
loud veil from the beast, but the heroic Indian is
oumb;-down-down. piercing shrek rends the
air. the pent up anguish finds for a moment vent:
and the next the bride lay senseless on the ground
When she awoke, darkness was upon the earth
She thought that she had been long asleep, and
mad dreamed some horrible dream; the forms,
which fitted through memory's magic chamber.
were vague and shadowy, bur- all were terrible
one turned Tor her husband he was not by her
side; she called on him-no answer b,, ~. e.h,