Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-04-15
SOPHIA.
OR,
TIE GIRL or TIE PINE WOODS.
cHAPIF Fk I.
OR,

cHAPIFk I.
"a HdALLo the hoJse!' said we'll dressed
gentleman, on horseback, as he approached
a log hut in the centre of large pine for
est ''What do you want. sir said q
beautiful girl about sixteen, as she came
TO the door with a ccuntenance smiling hno
sweet as an angel ''Can you direct me
TO the red mills, madam, on Fish Creek!'
Yes sir; but the road is very intricate, and
: ssuEh further to 60 round than it is to go
through the fields By letting down the
bars yonder, and keeping the foot path, un.
th you come to swing gate, you can
shorten The distance two miles. AS it
would require you to distnnunt, permit me,
sir. to open the bars for you;'' SO saying,
she laid BY book which she held in her
hand, put on nea! little sun.boDnet, and
fripped along the weedy path before the
horse and his rider, writl,ing her elegant
form, and showing her white stockings, as
she kept her clothes above the wet grass,
until she laid her snowy hands aud arms
upon the rails-letting then gently fall one
upon another, she turned to the stranger,
who was squirting his horse TO pass, when
he screamed out, "a ra,tle-snake! snake
Miss, in the grass-spring and save your
self" she sprung with the agility Of
frightened fawn, at the very instant the
: huge serpent uncoiled himself and made
dart al bis fair prey, who cleared himself
from his fangs, and let fall her sun bonnet
upon the snake. as she, leaped from his
rsnch. rhe gentleman dismounted, soon
despatched his willy foe with his loaded
whip, while Sophia was so much fright
ened that she seemed unable to return to
her hut without help. He fastened his
horse at the bars, and offered her his arm,
which she did not refuse, and he led her
back to the cottage pale ond trembling.
Coming 10 the door. she let go his arm,
dropped courtesy and said, am much
obliged to you, sir, md were ! not alone,
II would ask you 10 walk in and cot some
Of my strawberries.
= .Aionel Miss, so much the better; with
your permission, will walk in mo-
meni, for you appear too feeble 10 be left
alone in this dreary place."
I'M y father and mother have gone to the
village about two miles off, and my moth
Or will soon be back.''
'sAnd your father too. will he not?' said
the stranger, as he stepped in at the door,
and took his seat on bench.
My father, sir, has been unfortunate,
and know not that he will ever have his
liberty again. He was once a merchant
In New York, where | was brought up,
Nntil nbout four years ago-when my faith
Or removed into the village about two miles
from this, as said before. which suppose
you passed in comming here-he has done
everything in his power to satisfy bis cred
Hors-turned out all his property, not re-
serving even his furniture; but there is
,ons creditor who will not be appeased, do
all he can, md as his demand amounts 10
more ahan one fourth Of all the rest, he
has II in bis power to keep my father con.
fined, they tell me forever"
ssWhere does this creditor live?"
AIn William-street, New York"
ssWhai is his naIne2"
q, e'Jackson !"
s.Wbai is your fathers name!"
"Thompson."
The stranger blushed and looked con-
fused. ..Did your father apply 10 Mr..
jackson himself, and make known his sit
paiionl"
.s' aNo sir, ! believe not; but he has an at
5 .sorney who lives about fifteen miles from
. here, to whom he sent his notes against my
father. ordering him as he said to show no
: lenity; to him my father has applied re-
speatedly, and left letters in his charge: TO
! Mr.. jackson; but oil to no purpose. Mr..
jackson says he can show no mercy-he
has lost enough by such scoundrels already