Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-07-21

if angry with the rocks it meets, and its
dice is like the voice Of reused warrior
But here it goes slowly and sedately by
the little soak school house," as it is call
ed, and would seem to linger as if loving
the quiet.
1t was nearly midnight, Of Saturday night
that messenger came to Col. --, re.
questing him to 60 tothe cabin of set
tier some three miles down the river, &c
see his daughter, . girl Of fourteen, who
was supposed to be dying. Col.
awokc me and asked me to accompany
him, and consented, taking with me q
small package Of medicines which al
ways carried in the forest. But / learned
soon that there was no need of these, for
her disease was past cure.
Leaving the house, we descended to the
bank Of the river, and stepped into canoe
that lay in an eddy, and seizing pole fiat
tened at one end for paddle, Col.
pushed the slight vessel ont into the cur
rent, and We shot swiftly down. have
described SO many night scenes that for
bear giving you this. You imagine the
scene if you choose, as lay in the bot
tom, and he used now his pole and now
his paddle, to guide the bark in the rap
ids.
"She is strange child" said the Col
onel, "her father is as strange man.
They live together alone in the bank Of
the river. They came here three years
ago, aid no one knows whence or why.
He has money, and is a keen shot. The
child has been wasting away for year
past. l have seen her often, and she
seemed gifted with a marvellous intellect.
She speaks sometimes as if inspired: and
she seems to be the only hope OF her faith
err"
We reached the hut Of the settler in
less than half an hour, and entered it rev.
eren.ly.
The scene was one that cannot easily
be forgotten. There were books and ev-
licences OF luxury and taste, lying on the
rough table in the centre. A Guitar lay
on bench near the small window, and
the bed furniture, on which the dying
girl lay, was as soft as the covering OF
dying queen. l was, ofcourse, startled;
| never heard of these people before; but
knowing it TO be no uncommon thing for
misanthropies to go in the woods to live
and die, ! was content to ask no explana-
tions, more especially as the death hour
was evidently near.
She was fair child, with masses of
long black hair lying over her pillow
Her eye was dark aud piercing, and as it
met mine. she started slightly, but smiled
and looked up. | spoke few words to
her father, and turning to her, asked her
if she knew her condition.
II know that my Redeemer liveth,"
said she in voice as the sweet strain of
of an Eolian. You NAV imagine that the
answer startled me. and with few words
Of like import turned from her. A half
hour passed, and she spoke in that same
deep, richly melodious voice:
Father, l am cold lie down beside
me-" and the old man lay down by his
dying child, and she twined her emaciat-
ted arms around his neck, and murmured
in dreamy voice, "Dear father, dear
father"
"My child" said the old man, "doth
the flood seem deep to thee?"
may, father, for my soul is strong"
"Seest thou the th,ther shore?"
81 see it, father, and its banks are green
with immortal verdue."
"Hearest thou the voices Of its inhabi.
tants?"
Il hear them, father; as the the voices
of angels, falling from aar in the still aid
solemn nighttime; and they call me. Her
voice, too, father--O, heard it them"
"Doth she speak to thee!'
"She speaketh in tones most heavenly
"Doth she smile?"
San angelic smile! But cold, calm
smile. But / am cold cold-cold! Faith
err, there's a mist in the room. You'll
be lonely, lonely, lonely. Is this death,
father?"
ut is death my Mary
"Thank God"
| stepped out in the night, and stood
long and silently looking at the rushing
river. The wife of settler arrived soon
after, and then the Colonel's excellent la
dy and her daughter, and we left the cab
in.
The Sabbath morning broke over the
Eastern hills before we reached the school
house. But never came Sabbath so SOL
EMMY before. The morning service in
the school house, have not room to de-
scribe now, for have taken more time
and space than l had any idea Of.
AS evening approached, slow and sad
procession came through the forest TO the
little school house. There, with simple
rites, the good clergyman performed his
duty, and we went to the grave. 1t was
in the enclosure where two Of Col. IS
children lie,a lovely spot The sun was set
ting as we entered the grove. They were
hardy men and rough, in shooting jackets,
and some with rifles on their shoulders.
But their warm hearts gave beauty to their
unshaven faces, as they stood in yeveren.
silence by the grave. The river murmur-
ed and the birds sung, aud SO We buried
her.
l saw the sun 60 down from the same
spot, and the stare were bright before left
it: for | have always had an idea that
graveyard was the nearest place to heav-