Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-03-03

In a secluded spot, in the wild and
desolatc regions Of the Alps. dwelt two
families, the only inhabitants Of the
place. Tho two chalets occupied by
them, and few patches of land laborcd
into fertility by hardy and incessant
toll, with herd of goats, who sought
their scanty food wherever the rare and
stuntcd hcrbage appeared, were the on
/ ly symptoms of human habituiion visible
for some miles. A more dreary spot
can hardly be imagined, than that where
the chalots stood. Winter roigned
there with despotc force during nine
months Of the year, and the approach Of
summer was hailed with delight known
only to those who have languished for
/ its presence through many long and
cherries day, surrounded by the drcsry
attributes Of the gloomy season.
Mountain rising over mountain, COW
cred with eternal snow, and divided by
yawning chasms, whose depths mono
had ever vcntured TO penetratc, met the
eye at every side I; tho intermediate
prospect only broken by the presence
Of a few hardy tannen and pine trees.
whose dark green foliage formed
striking contrast to the snowy mantle.
which. like the funeral pail of dead ma
turc, covered the earth for nearly three
parts'oG the year.
The first symptom Of vegetation was
welcomed in this wild spot as the first
born is by mother who has long pincd
for offspring ; and as the rays Of the sun
melted the frozen surface Of the noun
tains, and sent thousand sparkling
streams RAINING down their sides, falling
with a pleasant sound into the deep
glens beneath tho hearts Of the inhab-
tants of the chalcts became filed with
eheeriulncss, and the rigors and suffer
ings Of winter wcro forgotten.
Martin Vignolles. with his wife and
two daughters, occupied one the rude
and comforless residences in this soil
tary spot and the widow Bauvais, and
her son, the other. The husband of the
widow had been one of the most bold
and adventurous chnmois hunter in the
Alps ; and lost his life in the chase Of
one Of those wild animals, leaving his
wife and son, then an infant, wholly de-
pendant on the kindness Of their solo
friend, Vignolles. Nor did this friend
fail them in tho hour of need. lie be-
camo as brother to tho bereaved wife.
and father TO tho faherless sharing
with them his scanty subsistence, and
cultivating the patch Of land which tho
deceased had labored into fertility.
Years passed away, and the widows
son had now grown into manhood, while
Annette Vignollcs had just completed
her sixteenth year, and Fanchon, her
sister, hcrtwcllih. The young man was
light, agile, and hardy like most of The
children nurtured in the wild regions
where he had boen born, and where
activity Of person and firmncss Of mind.
arc continually called into exercise BY
the danger and difficulty with which tho
means OF existence are procured. The
melancholy Of his widowed mother, who
had ever ceased to lament the husband
Of her youth, had tinged the mind Of
her son with sofiness and disposed il
10 a susceptibility, which though it im4
paired not his animal courage in tho
hour Of danger, exercised powerful
influence over his affections, rendering
him almost a slave to ther empire.
Annette Vignolles was creature of
remarkable beauty and quickness of
feeling. She had been from her child
hood as n daughter 10 tho widow, and
had never known thought, wish or
hope in which the widows son had not
been included.
Ii was soon ailer Annette had reached
her sixteenth year, that ber father ia
extricatng one Of his goats, which had
fallen from n cliff, missed his footing,
and was hurled into an abyss, nearly
filled with snow, where certain linger-
ing death awaited him, had he mol been
rescued by the intrcpidity Of Michael
Bauvais who at the risk Of his own liio
descended where no human foo, had
ever before dared 10 tread and saved
Martin vignolles from his Per'lons sil-
uation.
This accident wns followed by tho
total los. ofthe use OF Nignollcs' lIInbs,
who, from that day became unable "