The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1843-10-20

nestle, was girl whose name was NAN
Cy, a Young woman of pectable parent
age and no small share Of personal charms.
In the same family, was a young man OF
similar station in life, between whom,
and Nancy, a mutual attachment existed,
real and sincere on her part, but on his,
there is TOO much reason to suppose, no
thing more than passing fancy. After a
few years service in the family of Mr..
W., they had agreed, at the close Of au-
tumn, 10 20 down to Portsmouth where
they were to be married Condding III
the sincerity and honor Of her lover,
Nancy placed in his keeping her little
stock of money, the saving Of several
wears of industrious and faithful service
Taking advantage of her absence to a
neighborng town, the young man clan
destinely left Dartmouth, carrying with
him her little all.-Lcarning on her re-
turn wha! had happened, and that her
iailhless lover had been seen by some
travellers journeying towords Portsmouth,
Nancy, with womau's love and a wo-
mans resolution, determined TO follow
him; nothing doubling that she could
persuade him TO fuIi! his vows and re-
quite her own faithful affection. Winter
set in with more than its usual vigor.
Deep SHOWS had fallen, rendering the way
through the forest, which in those days
was little more than lOotpath, almost
impossible. From Dartmouth TO Bart
lett, a distance of more than thirty miles,
there was not a habtation OF any source
from whence any human succor could be
obtained by the weary or perlshlng tray
eler. Yet, nothing daunted, and against
the remonstrances and entreaties of her
friends, Nancy determined to set out on
her perilous journey. She would listen
to no persuasions and give no heed to
the representations of the dangers OF the
way. Providing herself with a few ne
cessares for the journey, and wrapping
herself in her long cloak, she babe adieu
few hours, when the sky, before serene
became overcast, and a violent storm Sc
in-one of those fearful tempests whct
are the popularity Of our northern climate
Snow after snow succeeded for sevcra
days, and all communication between the
scattered hahtanons of the settlers wa,
cut off. The al accent mountains reareC
their white peaks in fearful sublimity tC
the heavens, deep forests in every dlrec
ton were loaded down with snow, and the
very atmosphere seemed to gllsten will
frost. Several weeks after, some traveller!
succeeded in forcing their way upward.
from Bartlett. They arrived at the hill a
nightfaIl and prepared as usual to encamp
, Gathering some dry branches, they kin
died a fire, to protect themselves in ;
measure from the inclemency Of thC
weather. As the light strcamed up from
1 the burning wood, and illuminated tn,
5 wntry landscape around, an unearlhiy
figure stood before them beneath the ben
, ding branches of large tree. 1t wa
r wrapped in robe of ice, rigid and mo
= tionless, and reclining It's head as if asIeeI
} against the trunk of tree. 1t was til
' Ilielcss form of Nancy! Oycrtaken b,
the storm, she had stopped at this pIac
for rest and shelter, and while endeavor
ing to protect herself from the fury of tn
tempest by the trunk Of the tree, had fall
, en- asleep, and persisted from the iutens
e cold; her last thoughts directed, probably
S to the aithless lover who had abandon
r ed her, and for whom she had thus lai
: down her life.