Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-02-15
THE BORDERER'S CHILD /;
WASHINGTON AT EIGHTEEN.
ny MARY V. sPENcER.

~ was oSu'hi, sunny uuy III tne ytui lfcO-
the scene piece of forest land on the Northern
Neck OF Virginia, contiguous to a noble stream
OF water. Implements of surveying were y-
ing about and several men, idly reclining under
the trees, be,okened by their dress and appear
ance that they composed o party engaged ir lay
ing out the wild lands of the then frontier of the
old Dominion. These persons had apparently
just finished their noon-tide meal, for the relics
of the banquet were scattered around.
Apart from the group walked a young man,
evidently superior to his companions though
there was nothing obtrusive in his air, which, on
the contrary, was distinguished by affabili'y. A
certain dignity of aspect, however, accompa-
MED him. Added to this he was of tall and
compact, frame and moved with the elastic tread
of one accustomed to constant exercise in the
open air. His counfenance could not have been
said TO be handsome but it wore a look of deci.
sion and manliness, not usually found in one so
young for apparently he was little over eigh-
teen years of age. His ha, had been cast of,
as if for comfort, and he had paused, with one
foot advanced. in natural and graceful attitude
at the moment that we have introduced him to
our reader.
Suddenly there was shrek, then another,
and then several in rapid succession. The
voice was that of woman, and seemed to pro.
coed from the other side OF dense thicke'. At
the first scream the youth turned his head in the
direction whence the sound proceeded, but
when it was repeated he pushed aside the un-
dergrowth which separated him from it, and
quickening his footsteps as the cries succeeded
each other with alarming rapidity. he soon ASH
ed into an open space or clearing as the Dor.
derers even then called it. on the banks OF the
stream, in the centre of which rude log cabin
stood, whose well.pole poised over one end. and
smoke curling from the chimney, gave signs Of
hahitaion. AS the young man, with face
flushed by haste, broke from the underground,
he saw his companions crowded together on the
bank of the river, while in their midst woman
from whom proceeded the shricks, was visible
held back by two Of the most athletic of the
men, but still struggling violently for freedom.
1t was the work OF an instant to make his way
through the crowd and confront the female
The moment her eyes fell on him she cxcan'
ed -
'Oh sir-you will do something for me
Make them release me-for the love of God
My boy-my poor boy is drowning and they
will not let me 60
1T would be madness-she will Jump into the
| 49, ho vol bor H..
frantic mother strove again to break from hi
grasp. The rapids would dash her TO pieces il
n minute
The youth had scarcely waited for thcs'
words. His eye took in, at a single glance, ,h'
meaning of the sad group. lie recollccted th'
child of the woman, bold little fellow of fou
years old, whose handsome blue eyes and fax
en- ringlets made him favorite with stranger
and filed the mothers heart with pride when
ever she gazed on him. lie had been sccus
toned TO play at will, in the little enclosure De-
fore the cabin but this morning, the gat'
having been accidentally left open, he had sto
: lon out when his mothers back was turned
reached the edge of the bank, and was in th
ACT OF lOOkino over, Wn'n MS pdTett > tS Z CdhI
sig,h Of him. The shrek which she utterc'
precptated the catastrophe she feared, for tn
child, frightened at the cry. losthis balance. am
fell headong into the stream, which here wen
ioaming aud roaring along amid iununerab
rocks, constituting the most dangerous rapid
known in that SECTION of the country, Scream
now followed scream in rapid succession as III
agonized parent rushed to the bank. Size NJ
rived there simultaneously with the part
whom we left reclining in the shade, and wh
were scattered about within few steps of tn
i accident. Fortunate 'Nas it that they were 5
: near, else the mother would have plunged Il
It alter her chld and both been lost Several
n 'ie ,nen Immediately approached the brink an
were on the paint of springing in after III
Df child, when the sight of the sharp rocks crow,
ia ing the channel, the rush and whiri of The WI
r ,ers, and the want Of any knowledge where
r look for the boy deferred them, and they gay
D. up the enterprise.
ID Not SO the youth we have introduced. II
a. first work was TO throw off his coat his ne.
D. to spring to the edge of the bank Here
" stood, for second, running his ey ru pidly ov,
ir the scene below, and taking in, with glanc
e. the different currents and the most dangerous
In the rocks, in order TO shape his course by the
when in the stream. He had scarcely form'