Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-03-04

golden rim of her sylvan temple, and
gazed earnestly down on the lake which
lay Graded in the arch of a rainbow.
And she thought, within herself, what
a very nice thing it would be just to
deck herself in the jewels she was daily
pouring into the bosom Of the lake; and,
canoped by the bright bow, sing to the
multitudes of men who came. down to
drink Of the FURNISHED waters. 1t was
but a thought, and tisssdenr, simple,
little Undine was onher way. AT first
she was intoxicated, for everything was
new, glowing, gladstone; and close by
her side there crept one who whispers
ed sweet things in tones deliciously
soft, but oh, how replete with falsehood!
The sun made bright path for her,
and decked her robe with gold; the
white .blossomed wild shrub showered
its tribute Of purity and perfume a, her
feet; shadows came 10 kiss her dim.
pied mouth; the bird wetted its gay
wings, and then turned 10 fan her face,
scattering pearls at every wave; and
the love.eyed deer, upon the stream,
ben. its arched neck, but forgot to
drink because she was there. Oh, she
was fresh, happy spirit, singing and
laughing there in The wilderness, loving
the cool, deep shadows, and bearing
always on her breath the scent of vic.
lets. A fresh, happy spirit was she;
what pity that she should come out
where she must barter her warm, in.
genious, beautiful faith, her simple
trustfulness, and, it may be, her love
and truth for wisdom which makes the
heart barren. Never was a journey
more delightful than that Of our bright
Tipped little wanderer, until she emerg.
ed from the path down the hill side; but
there she began to meet with countless
annoyances, and she wished herself
back again, nesting in her golden cradle
in the wilderness. Other water-spir.
its were there, older than herself and
world.wise; and, at first, they looked
disdainfully upon this simple child ofthe
hill. But when they observed her
brightness and singular purity, anc
knew that she was preferred to them
selves, they suddenly assumed grea
friendship, and attempted to unite the
waters Of their own brooks with hers
and crossed and re-crossed her little
thread of silver, making so many pro.
voking entanglements, that the hitherto
care>free spirit grew weary, and had
scarcely the courage to pursue her
way. Still she went on, though with
constantly increasing difficulty; till, al
last, she reached the border otthe lake.
But at every foot of ground she pass
ed over, the dlsenchanted little spirit
felt her enthusiasm ebbing. The mead.
ow, which had looked so green and vel.
vety in the distance, was covered with
a coarse stunted grass, half faded. and
the trees were diminutive and unshape-
ly. As for the fowers-the scentless
arum grew there, and the blood,red
cardinals, and the deadly water hem.
lock; aud now and then some cold blue
blossom bent its poisoned chalice for
draught, and the ominous night.shade
nodded among the interlwisted roots Of
the cypress at a little distance. Oh,
how the little spirit sighed, when she
thought OF the fragrant dogwood, the
meek.eyed violet, and the trail, beauti>
full tiarella of her native wood. There
were serpents, too, by the lake side,
nestled in the rank sedges, and croak>
ing frogs, half beauty, half deformity,
and thousand other things, which
made our little Undine look with deep
regret upon the misty curl Of blue which
linked her mountain home with the
clouds. So she wandered, in strange
sadness, about the lake, sometimes
turning from the barrier raised about
it, when she might have passed, and
sometimes jos,led rudely back when
she had just resolved to cross, till at last
a strong, kind hand was extended TO
her-she trembled for moment above
the tide, and then dropped down into
the bosom of the lake. How bewilder.
ed was she there, and how she shiver-
ed and tried 10 smile, and looked all a.
bout her to find some compensation for
the dear things she had left-the awak.
ened little dreamer! The cold water
bath had spoiled heaven for her.
The waters of the lake did not min.
gle together. There lay the turtid a.
long side the clear and pure, the poison
ed food and the stream that had balm
in it-there was every variety in the
great lake, and men might come and
drink of which they chose; and the spir-
it ofthe mountain rivulet grew almost
happy again, when she saw bright lips
bent to her own waters, and brighten.
ing still more as they quaffed. But she
must have been an angel 10 deem this
sufficient compensation for the thou
sand vcxa,ious annoyanccs, which no