Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-04-20
MfstfIIamfoua. !.
THE GRAVE N THE wII.pEl,sEss.
ny MRS. CAROLINE oRyk.

/" The 0Tiel sang On The pendant bough,
BY the home 81 her loyfy rest,
And Ger il the star Of evening shone,
Like The smile pf .anIangel Hesl.r
II wasol bright morning 10 The month
Of May, that the wagon Of an emigrant
might have been seen slowly moving along
tie rough gtass-covered road family trac-
ed through the heart Of the South wes-
tern Wilderness. II is seldom that the
sun looks upon a scene Of richer beauty,
and yet the hearts Of those who beheld
il, pinned for the home they have left be-
yond the mountains.
Rosa, how do. yoh feel now'' said
Mr.. Osborne. with an expression Of great
anxiety. looking back hto the wagon from
The seat where he sat guiSing the horses.
This was addressed 10 bis daughter, girl
Of seventeen, who lay ON bed placed in
the bottom Of the wagon, with her head
supported in her mothers Zap.
"a little better" she replied, In a
faint voice.
(" oh. no, said Mrs. Osborne, "lheffe-
Yer-fash on her cheeks deepens every
moment. do wish that We could fad
some epot where we might rest; she can
not bear the motion Of the carriage"
1--WE must 90 on till we can find wa.
ter, al any rate, !" replied her husband
'fand IL am moi deceived, the nature Of
of the soil indicates ii to be neariat hand. =
| I" Let anes and ! alight. father, and
go on forward said handsome, active
Soy oE.thir,een. land see1if we eannoI
lind some"
| His father assented. and 9alighiing, the
boys bounded along the road, which now
began to enter a deep forest. Leaving
the read on the left, they soon emerged
Into the open country, and ascending a
spotlcf ground somewhat elevated, they
10 their great delight, beheld at litile
distance, stream Of water sparkling
brightly in the sunbeams. The shout o
10y which they uttered al the discovery
rose Ehrill and clear on the air, and wa
waited back TO those left behind. Mr.. Os
borne cheered the horses into quIcke
H pace, and in a few minutes they had ar
rived at the point, where The eldest boy
l|.whose name was, Robert. had stationed
i himself, tina: he might direct bis fathe
4 which way to. proceed l. as' with
considerable difficulty, thougRvthe dis
lance was short, that Mr.. Osborne led tn
horses through the iniricacies Of the forest
The interlscing boughs or@luxuriant vine
frequently checking all further progress
till cut or torA away.
"TheIe, Hther," said Robert wbe
they had at last arrived at the foot Of III
eminence, you see where James stand
in the shade Of those large trees. Wei
/ the water, though we cannot see itihert
is not more than half rod from that spo
and looks almost as bright and spafklin
. as The brook that used TO run back Of OF
house, which Rosa used 10 love sd wei
There are no such smooth pebbles al tn
bottom, though" he added with sigh.
II was not long before they halted
1.-THE shade Of d cluster Of noble trees. h
isame which had been indicatedby Rober
Here il was sheir first care 10 arrange
bed for Rosa.
4 II was lonely and quiet .spot; Ii
rustling Of the foliage, and occasionally
gush OF sweet, wild music-Aom some bir
aloRe breaking the Sabbath stiffness. I'll
air, soft and clear, and laden. with II
breath Of The many brilliant lowers gen
ming the green sward, as il famed II
brow Of tie fair girl. for a moment appea
ed 10 alleviate her sufferings. / From III
place where she lay, she could behoIdtt
sparkling stream. and she thought of III
clear brook on whose pebbly bed she ha
10 childhood. so often stood and iwatcbe
its waters like stream of liquid amb,
gurgle over her small, bare feet, and Ii
!" tened 10 IFS musical voice that SCENE
whispering 10 her of days Of Joy YET
come. There was a. liying form, too, ihl
rose amid, the scene. and hallowed an
endeafed tie memoriesof her late hom
! The spot where Edgar Ashton had To-
ther Of his love. aud conmunicAiedto h
The plans bel had formed Of Joining her
the fat West as soon as be had accumul
II ted a sum that would make The lit
homestead comfortable for bis widowt
mother and his two young broshers,rose i
50 palpably before her. that she held b
!, breath TO listen. expecting to hear
fvoice. The loud carol 81 bird. such as d
/ had never heard before. dissipated Il
Illusion, and covering her face with b.
hands, she Wepl as she became consciol
thai her mind was yisIdin 10 the bewl
dering influence Of her disease.
The nooniide hour had long bee
past. and Nj. Osborne and bis Two so
completed Sigh. structure. formed
The limbs 6dlboushs Of trees, as snt