Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-02-06
MISCELL ANGUS.
From The Ladies' sAatioacl .Nngcsins fer Feb.
The Esordea.er's Child;
or, WASHINGTON AT EIGHTEEN.
By MARY v. SPENCER.

By MARY v. SPENCER.
1t was a calm, sunny day, in the
year 1850; the scene, a piece Of forest
land on the Northern Neck Of Virgin
la, contiguous to noble stream of wa
ter. implements Of surveying were
I lying about, and several men, idly re-
! clining under the trees, betokened by
~their dress and appearance that they
composed party engaged in laying
out the wild lands of the then frontier
of the old Dominion. These persons
had apparently just finished their noon
tide meal, forthe relics of the banquet
were scattered around.
Apart from the group walked young
man, evidently superior to his compan-
ions, though there was Lothing obtru-
sive in his air, which on the CONTRARY,
was distinguished by affability. A
certain dignity ofaspect, however, ac-
companied him. Added to this, he
was of tall and compact frame, and
moved viii: the elastic tread Of one ac-
customed to constant exercise in the
air. His countenance could not have
been said to be handsome, but it wore
alook of declsion and manliness, not
usually found in one SO young-for APP
parently he was little over eighteen
years Of age. His hat had been east
off, as if for comfort, and he had paus.
ed, with one foot advanced, in nat
ural and graceful attitude, at the mo-
ment that we have introduced HIM to
our reader.
Suddenly there was Shrek, then
another, and then several in rapid sue
cession. The voice was that of wo-
man, and seemed to proceed from the
other side of a dense thicket. At the
first scream the youth turned his head
in the direction whence the sound pro-
ceetled, but when it was repeated, he
pushed aside the underground which
separa ed it from it, and quickening his
footsteps as The cries succeeded each
other with alarming rapidity, he soon
dashed into an open space or ''clear-
ing,'' AS the borderers even then called
1t, on the banks of the stream, in the
centre of which rude log cabin stood,
whose well-pole poised over one end,
and smoke curled from the chimney,
gave signs of habitation. 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 shrieks, was visible, held back by
two of 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 exclaimed,
"Oh, sir-you win do something fox
me. Make them release me-for the
love of God, My boy--my poor boy
is drowning and they viii not let me
GO" rS svea.
q at would be madness-she will
,ou.,mp into the river" said one of those
Nho held her, as the frantic mother
strcss again TO break from his grasp
"The rapids would dash her to piece
In a minute.
The youth had scarcely waited fol
these words. His eye-took mat sin
gle glance, the meaning Of the sac
group. Herecollected the child tht
woman, bold little fellow of four years
old, whose handsome blue eyes ant
flaxen ringlets made him favorl'e
with strangers and filled the mother:
heart with pride whenever she gazee
on him. He had been accustomed Il
play, at will, in the little enclosure be-
fore the cabin; but, this morning, thu
gate had been accidentally left open
he had stolen when his mothers bacl
was tsrned, reached the edge of tht
bank, and was in the act of looking O
yer, when his parents eye caught sigh
of hun. The Shrek which she uttered
precipitated the catastrophe she fear
ed. for the child frightened at the cry
lost his balance, and fell headlong int
the stream, which here went foamias
and roaring along innumerable rocks
constituting the most dangerous rapid
Known in fnat sectionlof the country
Scream now followed scream In rapit
succession as the agonized .paren
rushed to the river bank. She arrived
there simultaneously with the part.
whom we left reclining in the shade
and who were scattered about within ;