The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-01-05

air anu Inc ecnOeS IN the cave, uOtil II
seemed to him as if he had always live,
in the old woman's hut.
But, a long, long t,ne after, it chancet
that the COW rambled from her pasture
and John was sen. TO find her.
He wandered far, into a deep, thicl
wood; and there by the side of a runnin!
brook, in the midst Of white shining bircl
stems, that stood thick arond, like slen
der columns Of silver, the old COW was
lying on the grass, with her feet folded
under her, peacefully chewing her cud
The full clear moon shonc on the brook
and as the waters went ripping along
over the stones, it seemed as if the moor
were broken into pieces. and every little
waveet was scampering oil with a silver
fragment.
The thoughtful lad lookd at the moon,
fast tending to the west he looked at her
image i'll the brook and he listened to
the deep silence Of the woods. The
same sweet voice, that he had heard be-
for, seemed to come from the brook and
the notes they sung were like snatches OF
and old familiar tune. Again he remcm-
bered, but more dimly than before, that
he had once lived in glorious palace, full
Of light and music.
He stood leaning against birch tree,
and looked with earnest, thoughtful love
at pale evening primrose. which grew
by the brink of a rivulet.
By degrees, the flower raised itself, and
assumed the look of tall and graceful
girl, playfuIy dipping her feet in the
water. Then the heart OF the youth was
right joyful lie sprang forward, ex-
claiming, ooh, it is long long years since
we parted. De you remember how tried to
kiss your image in the grea, crystal mirror
in my fathers palace !! and how provok-
ed was that ever, as tried to kiss your
image, kissed myself Z! How glad | am
to see you again Will you lead me to
our home 2
The tall primrose waved her yellow
blossoms in the evening air, and made no
answer. The youth stood amazed.
Where had the maiden vanished
Whence did she come? What meant
these recolIeciions Of far,oT home
In the deep solitude around, it seemed
as if all things tried to tell him if he
could but understand their language.
Slowly and sadly, he returned TO his
hut, driving the COW before him.
The night was beautiful, but solemn
for all was dusky light, and slar-stillness.
The lone traveller gazed at the silent sky
with earnest chances, and still his busy
heart repeated the question, Where is my
home Where is the beautiful maiden ?
|! seemed as if the stars might tell
him, if they would ; but the stars passed
into his heart and found no voice,
For long, long time, he remembered
his scene with strange disiinctness. At
early dawn, at evening twilight, in the
leep woods, and by the sounding shore,
ne thought of those soft, sweet voices,
and the beautiful maiden. His heart de-
sired TO hear and see them again, with
nexprcssibIe longings.
At last, after weary months, he met
hem thus: he rose before the sun, one
bright May morning, and went forth to
gather yiolets for the children, in the field !
before him he saw beautiful child, with |
white garments and golden hair. He
,aIled 10 her, little one, you will take
:old in the damp grass But the child
urncd round laughing, and threw flowers
1t his head. AS he came nearer 10 her, he
perceived that she had thin transparent,
wings of lovely purple ; aud sometimes
she went skimming along the grass, and
she sailed round his head,
ossing flowers in his face, singing,
Follow, follow, follow me
. Follow me 10y rock and tree
Ever toward the rising sun,
Follow, follow, lonely one
Where thy home is thou shalt know
But long the path the journey slow,
Follow, follow, follow inc
. Follow me by rock and tee
Ever toward the rising sun,
Follow, follow, lonely one
Thus she wen. on singing and dancing,
md sailing in the air. Sometimes she
an before him silently But if he quest
oned her, she skinned swiftly away, as
she were skating on ice; and he could
'nly see the shining Of her white gar
nenls among the trees in the distance.
She would waite till he came near, and
hen begin to, sing,
o.. Follow, follow, follow me = ...
In this way she led him to the top Of a
Ugh mountain, and then flew away far
~ into the sky, and so out of sight. The
'ou,h gazed upward ill he could no long
r see the waving Of her garments, or the
lttering Of her wings. oh, would iha,