Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-08-06
From the Journal Of Commerce..
A Forest Funeral.

We had one long and weary, and some
what unsuccessful expedition last fall. We
made our calculations to 90 through the
whole hunting district in the course of six
days, and reach the river ten miles below our
cabin, on Saturday, so that we might attend
church Thereon rather hear preaching, in a
log school house, from a clergyman, who
once a month visited the small settlenent.-
We worked hard during the week, and we
were not sorry at dusk on Saturday to sit
down in the comfortable frame house of Col
onel -, who is the owner Of some thou
sands of acres in that immediate vicinity
The school house in which services were to
be held, is beautifully situated in a grove of
oaks, on a point around which the river bends
and runs rapidly with a luiling sound. Did
you ever notice how different the voice Of a
river is in passing different scenes Up in
the gorge above it is wild, and RACES, as if
angry with the rocks it meets, and its voice
is like the voice of a reused warrior. But
here it goes slowly and sedately by the little
" oak school house," as it is called, and
would seem to linger, as if loving the quiet
scene.
1t was nearly midnight Of Saturday night
that a messenger came to Col. --, re.
questlng him to 20 to the cabin of a settler
oO'hO 'iiCV illC uONh tllS IlfbI, anu see MS
daughter, a girl Of fourteen, who was sup
posed to be dying. Col. - awoke me
and asked me to accompany him, and | con-
scented, taking with me the small package of
medicines which | always carry 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 the canoe
that lay in an eddy, and seizing a pole, fiat
tened at one end for a paddle, Col. -
pushed the slight vessel out into the current,
and we shot swiftly down. have described
50 many night scenes that | forbear giving
you this. You may imagine the scene ii
you choose, as | lay in the bottom, and he
used now his pole and now his paddle, to
guide the bark in the rapids.
"She is a strange child" said the Colo
mel, her father is as strange a man. They
live together alone on the bank of The river.
They came here three years ago, and no one
knows whence or why. He has money, and
is a keen shot. The child has been wasting
away for a year past. | have seen her often,
and she seems gifted with a marvellous in
tellect. She speaks sometimes as il inspired /;
and she seems TO be the only hope of her IA
Their"
We reached the hut of the settler in less
than half an hour, and entered it reverently.
The scene was one that cannot easily be
forgotten. There were books and evidences
OF luxury and taste lying on the rude table
IN the ceRtye. A guitar lay on the bench
near the small window, and the bed furni-
ture, on which the dying girl lay, was as
soft as the covering of dying queen. was,
of course, startled, never having heard of
these people before; but, knowing it to be no
uncommon thing for misanthropes to 90 into
the woods TO live and die, ] was content to
ask no explanations, more especially as the
death hour was evidently near.
She was a fair child, with masses of long
black hair lying over her pillow. Her eye
was dark and piercing, and as it met mine,
she started slightly, but smiled and looked
upward. ! spoke a few words to her father,
and turning 10 her asked her if she knew her
condition.
81 know that my Redeemer liveth,' said
she In a voice whose melody was like the
sweetest strain of an Eolian. You NAV i'm
aglne that the answer startled me, and with
a lew words OF like import, | turned from her.
A hall hour passed, and she spoke in that
same deep, richly melodious voice
Father, ! am cold ; lie down beside me"
The old man lay down by his dying child,
and she twlned her emaciated arms around
MS neck, and murmured, in a dreamy voice,
" Dear father. dear father"
"My child" said the old man, I" Doth the
flood seem deep to thee
NAY, father, for my soul is strong"
Seest thou the other shore
al see it, father; and its banks are green
with immortal veGdure."