The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-16

| rich aud honored-must now tell like horn pea
! SAINTS. And my father has no wine tn cheer him
when he is faint Hheed rot poverty-bu, it IS
bitter to him
1T is our bit. and we must submit said the
| dame. mpurnfnlly- 1882
| MADAME Petota. the rich lady in the hamlet
wishes young girl, like me. for an attendant;
IN might go, and earn money fur you and my
| kather-'
| Speak not III, Roswitha thou wonlds, find
| the great danes humors harder than labor aud
c"nIdst thou leave'us2 No-no--we will bear
penury, ,ogeher Better days have been. and
! may come again..
So saying the dame wiped her eyes, and re-
| turned towards the cottage. allowed by her
daughter. Roswliha had not told all her thoughts
| She said not huw the old tale she had heard ~,
OH IN chdhmd of treasure buried in the NOM
tain of the Schalksien, had of late dwell, upon
her mind. She told not how carefully she had
studied the flowers that grew thereabouts ill she
knew them all as well as If they had been her
sisters. She told not how she had dreamed twice
koi walking on the mountain, and finding IN.
mysterious flower, and the treasure and how
/ hapry 1t made her parents. Nor how she had
! watched fur the Eve OF ST. JOHN, and PRAYED all
DAY To 81 Agnes, till her heart was strong within
her, and she was resolved to face every danger for
| The sake of those 10 whom she owed life All
/ THIS, and her resolution. Ruswiiha kept Within
! hef own heart. She smiled as she babe her father
good even, and meekly bore his petnIant chdinp
Tor lingering S" late, and assisted her mother in
honsehold work, talking cheeruly the while
until her parents after evening prayer. retired to
| their rest. Her own little chamber was nexi 10
| theirs. She seated herself by the easement
leaning her head on her fair hand and watched
| .he glorious moon going up the sky. till the orb
hnng like crown of silver over the mountain-
Then koswiiFa softly opened the door, and went
he uhfla 1Ia,, -,
walked rapidly, without looking round her, till
she reached the mountain of the Schalkstein
i ne woods here were not dense the moonlight
| stIeamed through the foliage to the ground; and
bending forward as she walked the maiden sought
the strange flower. There were pale raripnIJs
IN abundance, and blue bells, and the golden but
frfcups, and ST. johns wort, and the lowly daisy.
aud Phox. and The wild violet !; but all these
were familiar. In vain she sought nne she had
never seen. Intent the search, she wandered
Tor hours up IN the mouniaiH. At last thu bleach
ed, bare rock of the Schalksein rose full befora
her. white ~ The moonlight. All was still an
death and as the uttef loneliness Of her situation
miles from home, occurred for the first time To-
RoswItha, she felt her heart sink within her-
me spot was banned by spirits--it was the hour
OF their sway! What did she, wanJerinq aIurs,,
In their domain, seeking treasure which ,heyfs
alone had power! Or might not evil men he
lurking. at midnight in these lunely woods D.
How could helpless girl, if she CHANGED upon
robbers, escape or fly2 Then her paren,s-shuuld
they wake and call 10 her--what would be their
alarm when she answered not-and thew found
her chamber solitary? Poor girl! her con race
had departed she only wished To reach home in
| safety. Walking as fast as possible she touk the
nearest way homewards but bewlldered and
| frightened. lost herself in the woods After
wandering abnut some time in uncertaintv she
sat down, utterly exhausted, and weeping bitter
~, at the foot Of tree. Mature soon Welded to-
! fatigue and sorrow, and she fell into profound
siuInheT.
he moon was just descending behind the
mountain Opposite, when dark figure wrapped
| In cloak, entered the wood.. II was the STRANGER
from the hamlet. He too had been WANDERING
around the Schalkstein. in his philosophers
search. Beguied by The beauty of the night and
inc romantic views that presented themselves at
almost every turn, he had roamed further than he
intended. The sight of white object at a lit,,
distance, caused him 10 quicken his pace. Be-
hea'h 'he shelter OF a tree young and bpauiifnh
girl lay sleeping. Her cheek rested on the darl,
moss her oosened hair, in long light cprls. Law
on her fair neck and bosom Tears still hmm, m
the sllken eyeIashes, and now and then-thouph
her suinoer was deep as an infant's-a sigh heav
ed hef breast, as 1t even sleeping she had not for
gotten grief. Never had so exquisite picture nc
youth and grace and lovellness, met The gaze Of
me Stranger. Taking off his MANTLE he laid il
softly over the unconscious maiden, and seated
himself beside her.
Hours passed, and still the stranger watched
the SAUNDERS of the fair girl At length the pray
dawn began to steal over the sky the mountain
tops were crimson with the frst rays of the sun
Roswitha opened her eyes. started up, and shvek-
cd when she saw so near her.
BE not alarmed, fair maiden said I've Il
found thee sleeping, and made bold To guard thv
rest. and to shelter thee with my mantle from
the night air.
Rcswitha iimid)y murmored her thanks.. and
began TO walk quickly homeward The stranger
followed her. they soon passed out Of the wood.
but the sun had arisen when the young girl came
sight Of cottage. Her parents had already
missed her, and were calling her name in tones Of
terror and anguish
am bere-nothor Father arm bore =,
answered RVswitha, breatbess, and running TO
wards them. The dame was wringing her hands
and weeping violently.
Where hast thou been, Roswilhs p asked he
father, almost stssrnly.
The maiden confessed all her foolish dreams.
and her vain search. She had done childisbly-
but II was 10 serve her parents
Nay, chids her not'-inlerposed the stranger.
a.