The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-13

in its wildness bore, had budded in her arms two
years before.
Little Ellen Waring was a child Of most un
common beauty. Her eyes had caught their tingt
from the volets that open to the eye OF spring, IN
the edge of the woods-her cheeks were chang
ing ss the soft clouds Of q July noon, half feecy
half roseate, cushioned languidly on the light
blue sky Her baby forehead seemed purely "a
disnt with the smile of her guardian angel hal
Swallowed by curls of mingled chestnut and gold
but smile, all her own, twinkling in her eyes
and dimpling in her cheeks, linked her to earth
and to all hearts so lovingly Every one marked
the child, at first glance, as pearl Of exceeding
price.
Cynics may sheer at it as they will beauty Il
the open sesame to the universal human heart
and there is no beauty so sweetly winnings
like dew-drop purely fresh from Heaven, glow
ing in its glory yet, as the beauty of little
child!
When she was carried TO the city, the home Of
her grand parents her tottering steps were OTTER
arrested in the streets by strangers, who pressed
forward TO exclairs, Involuntary, "syhat bean
tiful chiid!n An sngelw "She's not for earth
long, surelo
This last foreboding seemed to grow into pre-
sentiment in the mind of the grandfather In vair
did the laughing eyes Of little Ellen look into his
hooking all his fears In vain did he see that sh'
was springing up as healthy and hardy as wilC
rose or prairie chicken he pressed back hel
curls always anxiously, and looked intently into
her face, often pressing her in his rough arms ~
though he feared that some unseen hand would
snatch her away even then.
"Little pet take care of her! don't let any
thing come to her, John ~ was his last parting
charge, as he kissed her On both rosy cheeks and
lifted her carefully into the wagon after her
parents.
Never you fear, father; you'll see how she
shall spring up ia the prairie-grass!o
well, well; God knows " replied the grand
father, drawing his left sleeve across his eyes
GOOD bye, and bless you all !"
Two evenings previous TO the one of our stay at
the log tsvers, John Warning weRt cat to his
barn. to secure his cattle for the night and 60
through that indescribable routine ofduties which
the farmer comprises under the convenient name
of "choresn Little Ellen plead to 90 over with
him. She had been building cobcastles before
the hearth till a peony flush bloomed on one hot
little cheek and then, tired of her play she had
been tottling around in the wake of her busy
mammals footsteps clinging restlessy TO her dress.
Stay by papa, Ellie, pet!" said the mother, as
she tied the little blue hood under her chin, and
pinned warm, white blanket over the bare, dim
plins shoulders "Ellie 20 with pspa!n laughed
ers hands. "Come, Ellie" called her papa, reach
ing out his hand he fastened the last button OF
his working frock. She sprang to him, and swung
her little self out of the door by his strong fore
finger The barn was just across the road from
the house. Skipping up the platform, through
the unfolding leaves of the great barn-door, she
clapped her baby hands to the scampering chick.
ems, shouted to the echoes, climbed up to peer
through the rails at the cred calf" and scram
bled down in terror Of the cows nervously shak
ing horns At last she trotted away, quite de
murely, in pursuit of hens nests, tossing ant
tumbling on the w-msde hay, wsrbling like {
merry barn swallow all the while. The father
was in and oh, here and there, occupied with hi,
varying business
The sun went down, and the shadows of thu
long, dimly- Lighted rafters began to deepen anc
blacken. With half sigh Of WEAKNESS, the little
one rolled of the soft hay-mow.
"Come in house, papa; Ellie tired !" she be
sought looking up coaxingly into his face.
"ls Ellis tired Ellie may 20 to mamma, them
He stopped to kis. her cheek, swung back thu
door, opened the gate, and saw her toddle through
it, and turned again to his unfinished work.
Half An hour passed and he walked, whistlins
carelessly, toward the house, the duties and tn,
tolls of the day all over His wife turned hastily
toward him, as he set down the trimming milk
pail upon the well-scoured pine table
"What have you done with Ellie? It's late fol
her to be out,o
"Ellen why, sent her in half an hour ago
he exclaimed, startled.
"You sent her in She has not been here.
have not seen her,n returned the mother--and
Ainging open the door, she called quickly
"Ellenln
The sound rang shrill over the prairie, and
echoed loudly and lingeringy from the blank
walls of the barn but no Ellen's voice gave an
swer. The mother clasped her hands, and a
culver of agony trembled on her compressed lips
@Don't be frightened, Mary-she's strayed bi,
down the path, it's likely pll bring her in q
minute or two.O
John Waring sprang over the steps as he spoke
and rushed out of her sight, around the corner Of
the barn.
"Ellen Ellie, pet Ellie, dear!" he called
and called again, and he listened for an answer
until his ears ached and his brain reeled with
the utter stiffness Then he plunged into the
long, wild prairie grass, trampiug down the pur-
pie and golden flowers like weeds.
"Where is she 2 mhere is she" breathed the
mother, with a suppressed shriek as her husband
burst open the door again, in the gathering night
"Mary,n he uttered, in tone OF agony, she
is not to be found Give me the bride, quick
| must 20 for help before it grows too late. Oh
God there is no moon tonight! Mary, dear
Mary!n he added, catching one look Of her an
guish-frozen face, eve shall find her yet God
nil keep her-don't lose heart f"
ooh, John she is our only one God could
not take her awayin whispered the mother, hus-
kily quick, sympathizing glance was all her
husbands reply, as he opened the door and rushed
forth.
Mary Waring listened till the last echo of bic
horses hoof beats had died away on the still prai
RE and there was only the beating OF her own
heart to break the strange heavy silence She
still stood in the doorway, needless Of the cold
damp night-breeze that played among her locks
Her hands were claspcd TREMENDOUSLY, in that at
ttude, half of hope, half Of hopelessness, which
sculptors have SO often striven to pe'rify There
seemed scarcely ripple of breath to flow from
her parted lips, and her eyes were intently pierc
ing the darkness, to where lone star, the even
ing star, had arisen red 10 the oloud-mists Of th'
horizon Starting with quick cob from her
rsveric, she called with half despairing cry
ellie! Ellie my child J"
She listened. The echo muttered back her cal
confusedly, and died away into silence
"Ellie, darling come to mamma" she called
more gently, as though fearing to have frightened
her little one by the former wild cry bat all wa
unheeded
She took two wavering steps from the door
then sudden cracking of the fre-log called her
back, and aroused her to second thought
"No, must not 20 out ~ she exclaimed throw
ing herself down upon the hearth could not
track the dear creature where he has failed, and
must even wait Oh, God give me patience and
strength
Thai prayer never was raised in vaini Mary
Warning grew calmer as she sat, with her head
buried in her apron, moveless as statue, save
the convulsive quivering Of her lips and chest.
How many minutes had thus passed. she knew
not but a hand on the latch airing startled her
to her feet in an instant It was the wife Of her
nearest neighbor, who came In, with checked
gray and white blanket-shawl folded around her
head and shoulders.
Dear me, Miss WARM, amt you dreadful
lonesome-likeI Mr. WARM, he came n thunder.