Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-10-16
Sophia, or the Girl of the Pine Woods
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER l.
"Hallo the housel' said well dressed gentle
man, on horseback, as he approached q log hut in
the centre of large pine forest.
"What do you want, sir" said beautiful girl
about sixteen, as she came othe door with coun-
tenance smiling and sweet as an angel.
"Can you direct me the way to the red mills,
madam, on Fish Creekl"
"Yes, sir; but the road is very intricate, and
much farther to go round than it is to go through
the fields. By letting down the bars yonder, and
keeping the foot path, until you come to a swing
gate, you can shorten the distance two miles. As
i would require you to dismount, permit me, sir,
10 open the bars for YOU" so saying, she laid by
book which she held in her hand, put on a neat
little sun bonnet, and trpped along the weedy
path before the horse and his rider, wrhing her
elegant form, and showing her white stockings as
she kept her clothes above the wet grass, until she
laid her.snowy hands and arms upon the rails
letting rrem gently fall upon one another, she
turned 10 the stranger who was spurrlng his horse
10 pass, when he screamed OUT
"a rattle snake! a snake, Miss, in the grass
spring and save yourselt!"
She sprung with the agility Of frightened
fawn, at the very moment the huge serpent un-
coiled himself and made dart at his fair prey,
who cleared herself from his fangs, and let fall
her sun bonnet upon the snake, as she leaped
from his reach. The gentleman dismounted,
soon dispatched thewiIy foe with his loaded whip,
while Sophia was so much frightened that she
seemed unable TO return to her hut without help.
lie fastened his horse at the bars, and offered his
arm, which she did not refuse, and he led her
back to the cottage, pale and trembling. Coming
10 the door, she let 60 his arm, dropped cour-
tesy, and said,-
81 am much obliged to you, sir, and were not
alone, would ask you to walk in and eat some
of my strawberries"
"Alonel Miss. so much the better; with your
permission, will walk in a moment for you ap'
pear too feeble to be left alone in this dreary
place."
"My father and mother have gone to the vii
lage, about two miles off, and my mother will
soon be back"
sand your father, too, will he notl" said the
stranger as he stepped in at the door, and took his
seat on bench.,
"My father, sir, has been unfortunate, and
know not that he will ever have his liberty again
He was once merchant in New York, where
was brought up, until about fouryears ago-wher
nv father removed into the village about two
miles from this as said before, which suppose
YOU passed in coming here. He has done every
thing in his power to satisfy his creditors-turneC
out his property, not reserving ever his furniture
but there is one creditor who will not be appeas
ed, do all we can, and as his demand amounts tc
more than one fourth of all the rest, he has it il
his power to keep my father confined, they tel
me, forever"
s'Where does this creditor livel"
ain William street, New York."
"What is his namel"
jackson"
"Whatis your fathers name"
Thompson"
The stranger blushed and looked confused.
"Did your father apply to Mr.. Jackson him
self, and make known his situatlonI"
"No, sir, believe not; but he has an attorne
who lives about fifteen miles from here, TO whor
he sent his notes againstmy father, ordering hin
as he said, TO show no lenity; to him my iathe
has applied repeatedly, and left letters in hi
charge, to Mr.. Jackson; but all to no purpose
Mr.. jackson says he can show no mercy-he ha
lost enough by such scoundrels already. Here
SIR, take few Of these strawberrles-we used I
etthem Of the market women 10 New York; bl
here gather them myself, and sometimes al
oblgedto carry them to market too, TO get ie'
cents. in order to keep my poor father from stal
wing" ...... ......-..
Here she turned away her head, put her mel
white apron up 10 her eyes, and he saw her fran
convulsed as if weeping.
"Did you ever have any acquaintance with til
lawyer, madaml" . -...-...
ayes, sir, he has been Frequently, on pu
pose TO distress US with terms insulting and cr
ell" a. .l.. .. .s-s ......
ais he a married mani
"No, sir; and so much the worse. A man wi
has family of his own would not Be SO unfee
lug as be is to the one who has one.' -E
"May Task what his terms areF'
Sophia blushed-hesitated.
eSN1au Mso do mt ha ashamed 10 tell: nc