Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
From tho Ladies' National Mag zine for February
THE BORDERER'S CHILD-OR WASH
INGTON AT EIGHTEEN.

1t calm, sunny day. in the year 1850; the
scene, a piece of forest land on the Northern Neck
ofNirginia, contiguous to n noble stream of water
Implements Of surveying were lying about, and
several men, idly reclining under the trees, bctoken
ed by their dress and appearance TINT they compo-
sed party engaged in laying out the wild lands
OF the then frontier of the old Dominion. These
persons had apparently just finished their noontide
meal for the relics of the banquet were scattered
around.
Apart from the group walked young man, evil
IDENTIFY superior to his companions, though there
nothing obtrusive in his air, which, on the con-
trary, was distinguished by aaAbility. A certain
dignity of aspect, however, accompanied HIM. Ad-
ded to this, he of tall and compact frame,
and moved with the elastic tread of one accustom-
ed to constant exercise in the open air. Ills coun-
tenance could not have been said to be handsome,
but it wore look of decision and manliness, not
usually found in one so young-tor apparently he
was little eighteen years of age. His hat had
been cast off, as if for comfort and lie 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 proceed from the
other side of dense thicket. Al the first scream
the youth turned his head in the direction whence
the sound proceeded, but when it was repeated, he
pushed aside the underground which separated him
from it, and Quckenlng his footsteps as the cries
succeeded each other with alarming rapidly, be
soon dashed into an open space or "clearlng" as
the borderers even then called it, on the banks of
the stream, in the centre of which rude log cabin
stood, whose we'll pole poised one end, and
smoke curled from the chimney, gave signs of hab-
itation. 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 a woman, from whom
1a1 10 chr nlc yvo hpb hapk bU
two of the most athletic of the men, but still srug-
Cling 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 exclaimed
'Oh, sir, you will do something for Inc. Make
them release me-for the love of God My boy
my poor boy is drowning, and they will not let me
gop
'ltwould be madness--she will jump into the
river said one of those who held her. as the frantic
mother strove again to break from his grasp The
rapids would dash her to pieces in moment
The youth had scarcely waited for these words.
His eye took in, At single glance, the meaning Of
the sad group. He recollected the child Of the
woman bold little fellow Of four years old, whose
handsome blue eyes and faXen ringets made him
a favorte with strangers and filled the mothers
heart with pride whenever she gaZed on him. He
had been accustomed TO play at will, in the little
enclosure before the cabin; but, this morning, the
gate having been accdent0lly lett open he lau Sto
len out when his mothcrs back turned, reached
the edge.of the bank and was in the act Of look
ing over when his parents eye caught sight of him
The shrek which she uttered precpitated the ca.
tastrophe she feared for the child frightened at the
cry, lost his balance, and fell headlong into the
stream, which here went toamlng and roaring along
innumerable rocks, constituting the most danger
Gus rapids known in that section Of the country
Scream now followed scream in rapid succession
as the agonized parent rushed to the bank. She
arrived there simultaneously with the party whom
, we left reclining in the shade and who were scat
tered about within few steps OF the scene of the
accident Fortunate was it that they we're SO near
else the mother would have plunged in after her
child and both been lost Several of the men i'm,
medately approached the brink and were on the
point of sprlnging in after the child, when the
sight of the sharp rocks crowding the channel the
rush and whirl of the waters, and the want of any
knowledge where to look for the boy deferred them
and they gave up the enterprise.
Not so the youth we have introduced. His frs
work was to throw off his coat his next to spring
to the edge of the bank Here he stood, for sec
ond, running his eye rapidly over the scene below
and taking IN, with glance, the different currents
land the most dangerous of tht rocks, in order to
shape his course by them when in the stream lie
had scarcely formed his conclusion, when his gaze
rested on White object in the water that be knew