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

! Sey woman touched Tie lule, anu low
and witchingly sweet prelude rose up
on the quiet air. Then the voice OF
the player mingled with the exquisite
strains. and swelled into fuller tone
of harmony, as the broken words Of
childish melody, with which mothers
are wont to quiet their children, rose
upon the air. AS she sang, the Clip
sey's eye fell upon the little lsodene
who had slid from her embrace, and
now lay crouched at her feet, with quiv-
ering Pip and fearful eye, her whole
soul wrapped in the music spell which
chained her senses.
STOPPING down, she smoothed the
ringlets from the fair brow of the child,
as she whispered, .s,
will you go with me?'
4 cannot leave my parents;' was the
answer. ..... ....... ,..
A tear stood in the Gipsey's eye,
and her hand and voice trembled, as
she sang a mournful strain, as of a moth-
er grieving for her lost child. 1t SEEM
ed to operate with magic effect upon
the heart of little Isodene, who arose
and placing her hand in that Of the
woman, looked up confdingly as she
said, ,,:r n.... .'.
4 will go with you and you shall be
my mother
Haste, then, sweet one, before your
parents return; and remember you
must not be called lsodene, but Zaila,
the Gipsey's daughter .,.. Ia.
'And may | not call you mother, and
may not this pretty lutte be mine,' said
the child eagerly. 'Yes, yes, every
thing you wish. But we must haste
from here before your parents return
was the reply. ..
1t was not without many tears, how
ever, that little Isodene, now Zaila, left
|forever the home of her childhood: but
she was too young to grieve long, and
was soon laughing and chatting merri-
Iy, as she ran by the side of her new
found friend. Never having been far
from the cottage of her parents, every
thing she beheld was full Of interest.
and it was with Childish delight and
eagerness, that she chased the gay but
terflies or plucked the flowers which
frightened her path. Occupied with
every thing around, she felt not the
fatigue of her long walk, till twilight
appeared, and her conductrcss Still
journeyed on. AS the darkness in
creased, she crept closer to the side Of
the Gipsey, and clasping her hand tight.
er, said,
Dear mother, | am very tired and
lonely. | wish we could be there now;
don't your '..
BE where, childp
TO our new home in the green
woods, where every thing is pretty
We'll, sweet one, we soon shall be-
replied the Gipsey, but finding that
sleep was overEowering the wearied.
child, she took her in her arms, where
she so on fell into a gentle slumber.
We will not attempt to picture the
grief of old Leinfn and his wife, when
search for their child proved unavaiIing;
nor how the memory of the sweet and
gentle little Isodene fingered in the
hearts of the honest villagers, but fol-
low her new fortunes as those Of Zaila
the Gipsey.
When Zaila awoke, she found her.
self lying upon a pallet spread on the
ground, over which was erected a
tent to shield her from the night dew.
The tears came into her eyes at the
thought of the pleasant home she had
forsaken, but the remembrance ofthe
lutte and kind face of her Gipsey moth
er, soon banished them, and creeping
to the opening Of the tent, where she
heard voices, looked out. Mute with
wonder, she gazed upon the curious
and mixed up scene before her. The
whole band Of Gipseys which she had
seen upon the green the day before,
were collected there in the dim forest.
Large fires were casting their flicker.
ing light around; and whilst some of
the women were busy, preparing for
feast the many delicacies which they
had stolen from the country rounda-
bount; the res: Of the party were drink
ing, singing, dancing, and indulging in
every species Of boisterous mirth. The
child shrunk back, for their rude rev.
elry and wild, uncouth looks frightened
her, and called in low, half fearful
tone, for her mother. sa...
In a. moment the watchful Gipsey
was by her side, soothing her With
kind words and having first brought to
her plate Of dainty food, she folded
her arms about her, and lay down to
Sleep wv .5,s u, .+n4
When Zaila next woke, the sun was
shining in cheerily at the tent door.
Her mother had risen and was busy,
preparing suit Of Gipsey apparel for
her little charge. When she had at