Washington telegraph., 1851-12-10
THE SMUGGLER.

Among the mountains On the frontiers
,-in Germany. is situated lonely
s,l,oe. once inhabited by poor. thoagh
s".s,rious s people; now since it has been
'o,rn into the corner Of kingdom. a
s a.t Of smuggIers and thieves. with all
.;, vices, have there taken up their
node fostered by the lucrative though
generous profession that is there pursued.
=, ,ba, village. with all the pride of ban-
a,,,; boas,ing of their achievements. they
Lated to me circumstance. the thought
s which makes him shudder.
Come aiong." said father one even-
inn 10 his daughter, girl of thirteen.
m6o had just returned from the pastor of
,he village. who was giving her instruc-
IONS preparatory to confirmation, ''put
:, vour thick coat; we have something
- se, tonight. Bid your mother good
hy and beg her to lay her hand upon
,ou, head; for we cannot tell whether
n. Almighty will bring us safe through,
,he business or not" They set out.
The wind blew intensely cold over the
hills and howIed among the trees; while
Inv clouds, heavily laden with snow.
sailed slowly over the gray heads Of the
naked rocks. They proceeded in silence
along all unfrequented mountain path,
clambered like chamois yawning abyss.
where foaming torrent was struggling
against the overpowering force Of winter.
Law held of my belt" whispered the
father. as though apprehensive lest the
very air should overhear him. "and hold
las!; lis not the most pleasant walking
here" The girl trenbled with cold aud
fear, and silently followed her rough con-
duc,or. Stop" he cried all at once, "do
YOU hear nothing? Was not those meu's
voices"
mo, fa,her-ii is the wind blowing
through the pines"
Stand still. then and listen-those
must be footsteps. l hear them quite
plain"
mo. father, it is the ice that is burst
ing in the abyss, and the water dashing
against the rocks.
The old nan, wrapped i'll gray sur
tout, clapped his ear to the rock to listen.
and presently cried, come OH. The
path was more ditflcull, aud the rocks
more abrupt.
'Should any misfortune befal me to-
night, my dear girl. said he. tell your
mother she must not give up the business;
have made a profitable concern OF it.
aud should not die content if l believed
i, would drop with my lite. You are
now old enough TO lend a hand; and
when you have once taken the sacrament,
you will be able. should think. to carry
Oh the thing we'll enough"
He then directed her TO conceal herself
in small cavern in the rock. You
may eat your supper there" he observed.
"ior we are now upon the frOutier; and
up youder you would only be i'll my way.
| will whistle when l come back. When
you hear that sign. look about you and
bestr YOURSELF.
With these words he continued his as
cent and the halt frozen girl crept sob
bing into the snowy retreat, to say
paler uoster. At dizzy depth below
her the torrent roared mouotonously; and
before her, the wind whirled the snow III
furious eddies from the rocks. She was
alone in :his dreary spot.
After while the appointed signal was
gwen, and she heard footsteps. Her
father came with pack, which he drag
ged after him.
Here" said he, "pull it in; its but
light. and you will have no difficulty
lis worth a good round sum. though"
The pack was deposited i'll the cavern.
and the slnngyler Went back again. The
glr. meanwhile. crOuched; behind the
pack. aud rubbed her frozen limbs to
warm aud keep herself awake. Some
lime again elapsed; again whistle was
gwen as before. ami The father returned
with another load. He bade her take up
The irst, aud made her 20 Oh before him.
"tather. hear dogs barklng-don
you!'
No. no. child-it is only the wheeling
If my old lungs"
There, agalu! fancy / hear something
behind US.
'Go along. and hold your tongue. )"
There is something moving behind
Is, father down yonder-dom you see?"
Good God!-the sharp. shooters. We
Ire lost, il we cannot reach the ravIne.
a dog came up aud threatened to seize
he man, when clinging without other
rope OF safety, TO the rock, he hurled his
,ack at the animal, which tumbled,
lowing. together with mass OF snow,
lown the precipice. "Give it me. he
NED. taking the lighter load from The
'lrl. graspiny her hand hrmly. aud drag
,Ing her with accelerated steps down the
ocky path. Fright feplived her Of the
lse oi her limbs, aud he dragged her
'long like dead thing. Destruction
,aSsed closer and closer upon their heels.
Voices repeatedly cried. "haIs.'' No
lnswer was returned, and the report of a
'lece was reverberated a hundred fold by
he echoes of the mountains. The ball
struck no roct- on,l ,l,nnno,i thar f...,r