The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-13
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER H.
"In an open glade, formed partly by nature and
partly by the woodman's axe, in the heart OF the
solemn old forest, that little more than half
century ego, covered the rich swells and luxyri-
ant wales Of what is now Herkimer county, New
York, stood comfortable ookiug log house
GAN around for miles and miles away, stretch
ed that billowy sea of forest-le,yes, and save by
a narrow foot path, that led from the cabin door
across the clearing, and was lost in the forest on
the side towards the nearest settlement, the dwell
ers in that solitary place seemed to be entirely
shut off from communication with the buse&9g
busy world.
"Every thing about the clearing gave evidence
of the thrift and activity of the owner, and rude
and rough as was the exterior of the dwelling
indications were not wanting TO show that the
hand of taste had been busy there also. The
great logs that formed the sides were half covered
by the luxuriant branches Of the wild, creeping
roses while around the window, and over the low
doorway, the gay Towering bean, and the home
like morning-glory mingled their scarlet and pur-
pie blossoms; aud in the carefully weeded bed,
beneath the caves, were a tribe Of holly hocks,
marigolds, four o'clocks bachelors buttons, (you
know like the old-fashioned names girls) pansies
aud pinks, mingled with rue, hyssop, NORWOOD,
sage and fennel-every leaf, every blossom OF
which was as dear as the face of friend to the
heart of her who tended them because so full Of
sweet memories of that home where the seed from
which they sprung had been rpened and gathered
far away amid the rock bound wales of Connecti-
cut Such had been the aspect Of the place
through the long summer hours; but, at the time
Of which we wish to speak, the frosty breath Of
autumn had withered this wealth of greenery,
and the long, brown trailers Of the bean and
morning-glory swung mournfuy in the breeze.
"The glorious days Of the Indian summer, dur
ing which the mighty forest had been as sea of
flame almost too dazzling to behold, were already
gone, and the cold raw, whistling winds of No
vember began to mourn and whine around that
lonely cabin.
at was at the close of one of these leaden-bued
days thst woman appeared in the doorway of
the cottage, and gazed snxiously down the foot
path where it disappeared in the forest As a
gust of wind lifted aside the checked apron which
she had oarelessly thrown over her head, it was
easy to recognise the fine features of Mary Sher-
man. Her cheek was shade or two browner,
perhaps, than when she crossed yon old thresh-
old bride, but her slender, girlish figure had
ripened into the luxuriant development of woman
hood, and there was an abiding light In her dark
eyes, so serene, deep and tender that one felt at
once that some new revelation of life's mysteries
had been vouchsafed to her.
"More than once she appeared in the door,
looking anxiously into the dense forest, and at
each time her brow wore deeper shade OF
anxiety.
Suddenly her practiced eye caught sight Of
a wcll-known form hurrying along the narrow
path, and. with flush of joy on her cheek, and
words of thanksgiving upon her lips, she sprang
forward to meet her husband.
"'You have been frightened, Mary he said,
in reply to her exclamation of delight, as he
threw his arm over her shoulders and gazed fondly
down upon her upturned face.
-"i No, at least not for myself James, but for
YOU she replied 'You are later than usual--later
later than you promised, and you know there have
been rumors Of party of hostile Indians being
seen in the neighborhood'
"9But they were twenty miles off, if, indeed,
any were seen, which ! much doubt. Ned Em-
mons is always seeing Indians behind every bush
and stump. You would make capital frontier
mans wife, Mary, if you could only forget other
folks as readily as you do yourself And now
he continued, pausing and laying his hand upon
her arm rs she was about to raise the wooden
latch to their door Whom do you think have
seen y
"She looked up into his animated face for
moment, and, with her own glowing with sadder
hope, exclaimed,
a'some one from home, is it mott Brother
John has comet
"No;' and the glowing light began to pale
az her husband went on. You will have to
guess again, Mary; but | will not tease you. II
is George Allen; and here, see what he has
+ brought he added, rs he drew from the deep
pocket Of his hunting jacket great, square letter,
directed in the great round characters which she
recognised at once as her fathers hand.
90 A letter oh, how glad ! am she exclaim-
ed. And it will be almost as good as seeing
John to see George Where is he2 Why did
| he not come home with you p
"'He only arrived this noon, and his cousins
would not hear of his coming with me tonight
replied the husband, AZ he opened the door and
| set the butt Of his rifle rather heavily upon the
| floor
"'Hush,' said Mary, softly, springing across the
room, and laying her hand on clumsy cradle, ev-
identity the work Of James's j,ck-knife and saw,
| while she began to murmur over the nesting oc-
cupant some old New England strain. James
Sherman moved stealthily to her side and when,
after few moments, the eyes Of the young pa
rents met, as they lifted them from the face OF
their frstborn child it was very evident under
what form that new revelation Of life's mysteries
had been given them.
GAS the twilight deepened into night, the wild
winds woke in the forest and swept in htful gusts
across the clearing driving before them occasional
showers of sleet and rain, rafting against the
cabin walls, and shaking the wooden fastenings
with violence that threatened their security.
But James Sherman, confident in the strength OF
the good seasoned oak, only smiled as be saw his
wife start at the camor Of the bafiled winds, and
drew his chair nearer to her side, while he con-
tinued to speak Of the contents Of the welcome
letter, which they had read over and over again,
and Of his meeting with their old friend, until
Mary almost forgot to rock the cradle at her side
in the interest which the subject awakened.
"'How good it does seem TO get letter from
home she said IL Is almost like seeing them,
every one. SO Grandmother Fowler Is gone at
Iast-the kind old soul She spun this very yarn
that am knitting and remember, as well as II
ii had happened to-day, what she said when she
gave 1t to me. "There, child F" she said, have
spun double portion for you, for you won't have
any old grandmother to spin for you out In the
woods there and mayhap she may not be here
when you come back"
after . moments silence TO the memory OF her
kind old relative, she went on
"'And Fred Hosdley and Lucy Stone are mar
ried. Well | should think II vas time they
were, IL they ever intended to be- Why, he had
waited on her year or two before we cam
away. And to think that Hannah Meigs has got
baby! That beats all Why they have been
married as much as ten years. But when is
George coming here, James, and how long >.a 70
stay
$50 the happy young wife ran on, aud her hus-