Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-05-09
SELECT TALE .
(Hon the Colsn,bia" MaseS'"e-i q.
THE FOREST MAIDEN.
nv MRS D, ELLEN GOODMAN.

-
i, was a low-roofed, humble log.house IN
the heart of Western wilderness AT It's
rude doorway stood two beings gazing OUT
upon the wild but magn,ncent scenery-,ne
proud giant trees with tnen .a't orancnes
Iising towatus .ue u.ue sn h
leaves ie"u..s ~ ,.."sS .uo s ,nh;ch NJ H. Sr;rh, I
'o''n'ns ".u..a''i "nousn 49, VI - I Is. ,ta;.
suuoea,ns Pou'oS oso. .ne .a w.. c., IT, ~.
soot-,he WIN nowelS peep'ns ou' 'iou, .ue VI
dark snaoows oil theif huge uunks' anu .ne
scarcely troaoen iootpaIns w'naans over ah', ene
veiset .aIi ifo.h ,ne r:.:. :"
the co.tase. low, sui.i'"S Sd.o, -, .o.: MI
Au"er'ng olu no" "uu ."I" o'oNS '"o s.'"
moss, ana iar away do"n Tue s"aoy IRVINE
was iainty hearu Inc SOIL hiurmur OF rp'
ping stream.
The eyes OF the young MAIDEN at the door,
wandered delightedly over the quiet scene,
and there was light In their blue depths
and dinpling smile about the rosy mouth
which gave an indescribable charm TO her
sweet face. One little hand clasped the
strings Of. the straw bonnet which hung by
her side, and the other was raised to her
white forehead, half shading the laughing
orbs beneath it from the bright sun light,
while the whispering winds lightly touched
her pure neck, lifting the wavy brown tresses
from her shoulders. She was very young,
and very beautiful, and every glance OF her
bright eyes told that her soul was full OF love
and purity. The lady by her side was many
years her senior, and there was the slightest
shade of care upon her smooth brow, and a
subdued and patient look upon her mild face
which told that her life had not been without
its changes and trials. The glance which
she cast upon the young girl was full of fond
ness and maternal affection and when she
looked into the deepening shadows Of the
surrounding forest or up to the azure skies,
the soft light of her dark eyes told Of hope
and contentment, if not of enthusiasm. All
at once the little hand dropped from the
forehead and low ringing laugh came from
the lips of the young girl.
They are coming. mother! See, there is
father holding Anna and little Eddy upon
my black pony, and Oscar in the rear mount
ed upon old Charley. Oh, we shall have
such a nice ride through these old roads and
down by the bank Of that quiet river"
And with a Joyous bound she started for
ward to meet the approaching band, the
merry voices Of the delighted little ones,
mingling with her joyous shouts.
oh, sister Ether cried little Anna
eve have had such grand time Eddy
and Iriding round through the forest, with
iather 10 ieao your gear niue pony 'ano ne IS
SO clever anu Steps SO careIuhy over tne
sward and pretty flowers. Oh, wish we
had not got home this whole hour yet
But the chubby prattler was lifted from
her coveted seat and stood dancing at the
foot OF her mother, while the baby clapped
his tiny hands and sent out his infant carol
! rom .ns arms vi his snl'i"s s" ~"
had tied hef straw cottage over ner curls'
anu sp'aug sfaceiuiiy " We oaoa u nei ia
vorite and now ne paved the rich turt I'M
patiently, and shook his glossy name, as II
quite conscious ot the lovely weight ne bore,
and longing to dart away down the mossy
patch and through the aim SHADES OF Inc
thick grove.
Her brother, a tai, nooie-iookins youth Of
twenty, soon smiiingiy Joined me company,
and alter KISSING her giovea nand 10 Inc aeal
group they galiopeo away Gown me ioot-
pain ana were iost 10 view. AUG. iio,ng
niiie or TWO oenea'h .ne aI1oP'ng oouens o.
me DIG t,ees, theY suoaenly came 10 tht
steep oank OF q river ol conSlaeiaole m SIZE
ana turning 10 lne rlght mao a luli view o.
me open country LOT many miies arounu'-
40 obstruction was ofiered 70 tneir progress,
ana .ney looe sany on over a surface o
4o~ny mos anu yle'ong swa1o. oesprlnkiee
w'ln WIG no~eIs oI every nue aho val'e,y
al 20 .ns iel' anu on Lae 1ppos'.e shofe .n .ne
lores. was @ aeep ; aaa uholosen, ana .ne s'eet
grassy deciivIty which rose from the rivers
pure waters, was now and then broken by a
chain ofmassive rocks extending far out into
the stream, and losing their dark tops amid
shrubbery and spreading boughs. The
cheeks of Ether Dunham glowed, and bright
smiles deepened the dimpies about bel
mouth, while her brothers 'eloquen, darl