The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1845-02-13
From the Ladies National Magazine.
THE BeRDFEER'S CHILD;
Or, Washington mt Eighteen.
by MARY v. sPEs GER

by MARY v. sPEscER.
II was calm, sunny day, in The year
1850; the sceEe. piece Of forest land on
the Northern Neck Of Virginia, contigu-s
Gus TO noble stream Of wafer. lmple-
menis OF surveying were lying about. aud
several men, idly reclining under The frees,
betokened by their dress and appearance
tina. they composed party engaged in
laying on, The wild lands oil The then from
tier Of the old Dominion. These per.
sons had apparently just finished their
noon-tide meal, for the relics Of the ban
quei were &c altered around.
Aparl from sha gsuaP wsssssa yov"s
man. evidently superior TO bis compsn-
ions, though there vas nothing obtrusive
10 his air, which, on the contrary, was
distinguished by afsbiliiy. A certain
dignity Of aspect, however, accompanied
him. Added TO This, he was Of TIL and
compact frame, and moved it'll The elas-
TIC tread Of one accustomed TO constant ex-
erci.e in the open air. Ills counienance
could not have been said 10 be handsome.
bu, il wore look Of decision and manli-
ness, not usually found in one so young
for apparently he was litlle over eigh-
teen Yeas of age. His bat had b. en- cast
off, as il for comfort, and he bad paused,
with one foot advanced. in a natural and
graceful attitude. at the moment that we
have introduced him to our reader.
Suddenly there was shrek, then
another. and then several iu rapid success
sion. The voice was tina, Of woman,
and seemed TO proceed from the Other
side Of dense thicket. At the first scream
the youth turned his head IN the direc.
lion whence the sound proceeded, bn'
when it was repeated, he pushed aside
the underground which separated hin
, from il. and quirkenirg his footsteps a
the cries succeeded each other with alarm
ing rspidity, he soon dashed into an opei
space or &" clearing" as the borderer
even then called il, on the banks Of tn
stream. in the cenue Of which rude 10!
cabin stood, whose well.pole poised owe
one end, and smoke curled from the chin
. ney, gave signs Of hsbita,ion. As III
e Young man, with lace flushed by hast
broke from the undergrvW tn, be law hi
/. companions crow ded together on the bsnl
, Of The river. while in their mids. wo
a man, from whom prncesded the shrleks
v WIS visible, held back by two fthe mos
e athletic of The men. but still struggling VIC
i lently for freedom.
Y |. was the work Of an instant TO max
e his way through the crowd and contror
the female. The moment her eyes ie
n on him she exclaimed.
= Oh! eir-ynu will do something ia
J. me. Make them release me-lor th
v love of God! My boy-my poor boy
e drowning aud they will MOI lie, me CO.
l. "It would be madness-she will jun
" into ,he river" said one Of those VIII
f held her. as The frantic mother s'ro'
y again to break from his grasp. 9Th
i, rapids would dash her TO pieces 10 ID
IF NUE."
VI The youth had scarcely waited Il
!, these words. Ills eye took at sing
glance, the meaning Of the sad grouI
le lie recollecied the child Of The woman,
$, bold little fellow of four years old, who's
i handsome blue eyes and flaxen rlngle
D. made him iavori,e with strangers, al
as filled the mothers heart with pride whe
W ever she gazed on HIM. tie had be-
e. accustomed 10 play. a, will. in the h''
of enclosure before The cabin; but, this NOR
b, ing. the gale having been accidentally Il