Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-20
FSom the Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper
The Way-BlaZers
OF THE ERNES s 8.
A TALE OF THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS.
BY AGA BEALL.
CONCLUDED.

The STERN continued to rage with the
greatest violence and per,inacity for about
six hours, and then subsidized as rap
idly as il came. First one and then an
other bright star glmmered through the
dripping clouds. and directly thousand
brillian, lights flashed out from the azure
armament. The moon shone forth in
undimmed mnjesty, and shed flood of
soft liquid radiance upon the earth, caus-
ing the rain-drops tina, were suspended
from the leaves to glitter like small globes
Of silver. A holy quiet now reigned
over the place whele, bu, moment be.
! fore, the sublime coil of the tempest was
SO darkiy suspended. The transition
was as sudden as il was beautiful.
At first Roland was exceedingly vex.
ed at the delay. He loved Alice Nor
ley with deep and abiding affection,
and now that she was surrounded by
dangers " hich he shuddered 10 contem-
plate, that love increased tenlold in in-
tensity. He would have given worlds,
If in his power, ier the qualification of
form from the dark and terrible destiny
tha. awaited her in common with others
in the settlement. But when the tenn
pest had burst in all it's sublimi,y above
him, he felt that God, in His mysterious
providence, had ordained il, and he bow.
ed his head in humble submission to
HE divine will. But man in his very
nature is weak, tickle and selfish. Ev-
erything is made subseryient 10 his de-
slres, and these desires are the secre,
springs of his actions. Charity, an
ciendy taught as one of the cardinal vir-
tues, and prac,iced as such, is now re-
garded as low and selfish principle
Man bestows aims that he may acquire
a reputation Cor philanthropy, and not
from the honest promptings Of conscien-
tious duty. Every days experience
confirms the truth OF this assertion.
Roland was not exempt from the inn
perfeciions incident TO our fallen nature.
He too was weak and wavering where
feeling was interested. When the storm
had subsidized, he bitterly deplored his
unlucky fortune. Il chafed his proud
spirit TO think that his dear Alice should
be surrounded by ruthless band Of say.
ages, already exulting at the prospect Of
human slaughter. in which they were to
be no unconcerned participants, and he
no. there to avert the bloody tragedy
Blu. when old David Thompson spoke,
however, the aspect Of things changed
materially.
"For twenty years have roamed
these here woods, and have seen many
serrible storms, l can tell you; but this
are the most obs,rcperous storm ever
hcarn tell on. "a war a real hurricane,
and no mistake. Why the trees were
'iist twisted off like pipe-siems. Itroar-
ed like az awful conwulsion Of natnr'."
als was awful, David"
s.It war. Once't / thought as how
our time war come to dead sartainiy;
bnt our heavenly Father, who sees all
things and knows what's best. ordered
i otherwise.
David Thompson had been reared
amid the forests, the rugged mountains
and the rushing torrents, far away be-
yond the boundaries Of civilized life.
where the Divine truths Of the Bible,
- inculca.ed in that sacred volume itself.
hGd never directly penetrated his mind.
Hot be never failed 10 ascribe everything
oderful in nature 10 the agency Of
0o-ths great omnipotept Sovereign
6 he created universe, In his silen,