The Arkansas banner., 1846-05-13
LITTLE ROCK, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY i3, l84G


 was gathering king-cups by the wavside. 1ouhd' on mqulring his name, that he was a son, as his features had so denoted ta me. ana gave him what loose money had about me to buy new dress against next Sunday.
 ne sun had far declined, when, reaching the borders of the fatal forests, l paced on at slow rate, examining every object around, winch, from change, beauty, or old associa- tlohs, solicited my attention From rising bank caught glimpse of Austen Park over the trees IL looked dark. solitary, and lorsaken; different from wha; | had once thought 1t, but the same Between ine and the west some tall ash trees indicated the spot, behind which lay the ouondam property oi Curtis Surrounded by corn fields, luXurlant and extensive, l passed oil be- tween the bordering trees The last rays of sunlight gided their tops, and broke through in long level streams where they were more thinly planted. heard voices in the woods; and, standing still, discovered some children, who, forgetful of Sabbath decency, had been threading the verdant labyrinth in search of brds' nests, or the honey of the wild bees. Their tongues full of joyful buoyancy of childhood, and their light laughter, proclaimed the ease and thoHghtlessness of their hearts l thought of the time when ] ought to have been as one of these.
 As l sauntered on heard the joyous sound far behind me, but they came more and more indistinct, and were soon aliogeth- CT lost. All was silent as I nearcd the stile over which Curtis had come on the fatal evening. Nature was still, serene. shadowy. and reposing. A backbird had built Ter nest somewhere near the spot; and from the summit of tall larch, the tallest in the grove, sung out in clear thrilling woednotes, as il were hymn to the departing daylight.
 Although the scene was so strongly pie tared on my recollection, it was hoi without some difficulty that identified the exact spot on which Curtis receysd his death-wonnd. At length exclaimed te@myseff hurriedIy, ''Behold the treeT' It was tie same against which had rested my lowling -piete. ex- amined it's bark for traces of bood-gouls, in momentary conviction of the vulgar belief that such marks are unellaceable; but my eyes could behold none, nor could imagination distort any visible appearance into the least resemblance of such. Beneath my feet, on the spot which had drunk his blood, the weeds and wild-fowers were springing luxdfiantly, aud sent forth to the air, as my steps pressed them down, an aromatic, pastoral smell.
 Rousseau describes the intensity of his emo- tons, when after an absence of many. many years, he beheld his iavourte pefiw inkIe growing on the spot where he had Jeff it, What thoughts, what feelings must have thrilled through his heart, whenhe exclaimed "VoiIa ia perccnchc"
 He, perhaps, or only such as he, who have felt the power of similar experiences, can bosom at that hour. But at what antpodes were his remembrances and mine. His brought before his soul with all the rapidily and vi vidness of lightning, the innocence and the Elysium of youth; mine, the darkness of that cloud which had for ever overshadowed such prospects, and transformed the garden of fife into a desert.
 As passed down the vale, the blue mantle of twilight hung around the shoulders of the hills, the west was rapidly losing it's crimson honours, and Iiesperus. l" leader of the starry host" shone out brightly from the fine blue sky. Pausing for moment to gaze on it's sparkling beauty, tke days of cid and the lines of Sappho awoke to mind, and reciling the tender fragmen--z
 "Espere pauta p4efeiS,o-
 sauntered leisurelv through the quiet of evening. Alas! there was no living being to welcome my return! had nought on earth to wish for, nothing to eXPeet-there were none to welcome my steps to the evening threshold!