Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-10-15

4
among the chords, as she sung plain
tive melody, in a low and touchinglv
sweet voice.
| Her only listener was child, about
six years Of age, habited as a peasant,
though her delicate form and sweet in>
tellectual face, might well belle her
humble garb. The song of the Gipsey
woman seemed to touch strange chord
in her heart, for her bright lips were
parted with the intenseness of feeling,
land the light Of some aew enthusiasm
was in the large, languishing eyes.
which were cast upon the ground, as a
pearly tear broke from the long lashes
which shaded them. The woman, too,
seemed agitated; but she still continued
her low, sad melody, till she saw that
the feelings of the child were wrought
to the highest pitch of excitement, when
suddenly ceasing, she said, in tones Of
winning softness: q.
"Come with me, sweet one, and |
will always sing to you. and this, too,
shall oe yours; all your own;" and she
pointed to the lutte which she held.
The child looked wonderingly upon
the speaker, who was smiling sweetly,
though in her restless eye the deepest
anxiety was depicted, and then turned
| her gaze wistfuIly upon the lutte, whose
notes had so enchanted her.
'Isodene! Isodene! has not well nigh
forgotten thy high duties7' and half a
dozen smiling maidens approached and
placed in the hands of The child the
coronet of flowers which she was to
bind on the brow Of the May Queen.
The child turned away reluctantly
and joined the gay group, which in a
moment more were dancing merrily
upon the bright green sward.
'Isodene!' repeated the woman slow.
ly and musingly, yes, yes, it must be
so." ..e
Placing her hand upon her brow,
she remained for a few moments in deep
thought; then arising, she approached a
group of peasantry who were watch.
| ing the progress OF the, dance, and said,
Can any one. tell me who is yon
dark eyed little lass whom they call
Isodene?'
Aye, that we cam responded one Of
their number. She is the child of our
neighbor Leinfn, and his dame Marga-
ry. A sweeter, kinder little angel nev>
er lived; and right proud they are of
her, though there are many that do not
stop TO say that she is no kirth nor kin
| of theirs. And we'll they might, for
those dainty limbs and fairy motions
become not lowly blood like ours.'
The Gipsey woman appeared salts
fed, and turning away, resumed her
seat upon the smooth, rich turf. gazing
listlessly upon the blithsome group Of
jewellers who thronged around the May.
pole. ail-r ,t.--.. T..
| With the first dawn oflight, the Clip
sey horde were on their way, leaving
the village green still and alone, which
the day before teemed with glad and
noisy throng. But the strange woman
with the lutte fingered behind. Noon
came, and she was still in the village,
wandering around, though she never
lost sight OF, the low rooted cottage
where dwelt Isodene. When at tlength
old Leinfn and his wife left with their
little stock of thread and Vegetables,
which they daily disposed Of farther up
the village, the Gipsey woman ap-
preached the cottage, which was left
in the care of little Isodene, and beck
oning her to her, said.
Come, pretty one, and sit beneath
this tree, whilst l sing again to you.
The child approached the singing
woman, and smiled as she obeyed,
whilst the Glpsey, touching the lutte,
first sang a wild, broken Gipsey song.
| When she had finished, she placed her
arm around the child and drawing her
towards her, asked, ~. Cd. rs ass
'Are you fond of music, sweet oneF,
I !.Oh, very, very answered she, en-
Enthusiastically Il wish you would sing
again the song that you sung yester-
Eday, it seems TO me as ifl had heard 1t
before, long time ago, in a dream or
sometime--' ef
Are your parents kind to you, contin-
ued the woman. ' Ell '-4 .'''
'Oh yes! but sometimes they are very
harsh, and say that am not their daugh-
Fer. afterwards thew are pleasant again,
and bid me not repeat what they said
whilst they were angry. told you be-
causeI love YOU ,.,.ss'..
| We'll dear, if, you love me, are you
lnotWilling to go with me? You shall
lhave fine clothes and see, fine countries,
land ] will always be very kind TO you,
ta1d teach you TO play upon the Lutte.
Twill you not gol .,o,, o,.,.5,
! q love, you very much, and love
the pretty lute, but ] cannot leave my
parents