Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-01-08
MISCELLANY. i
THE BOY AND THE PANTHER
a WILD WESTERN SCENE"

( Oh how The mother loves the child she nursed."
1t was fge morning in August; when
little Samdel Eaton was about seven years
I'D that he was making dam in the brook
Ifhat ran before his fathers door He was
An only aud beautiful child, his mother al
most idolized him. There he was with his
trousers tucked up above his knees, working
like beaver, his motherseye cleaning out
from beneath his sunburnt hair, and with
some of bis fathers strength tugging at y
large stone 10 the bed of the stream Sam
nv, you'd better come in, hadn't ye ?" said
Hannah. in tone of half mother and half
mate
"Noo-o, Tguess not yet" said Samuel
An Eeprn came floating down the water
The boy took it up-looked at it--w was pleas
ed, and 'reekoned' in his mind there were
more up the gully and when bis mothers
back was turned, off he started for the acorns
The gorge of the mountain, into which he
was about to enter, had been formed 1.-THE
work of centuries, by the attrition of the
stream he had just been playing in-and
walking on level that bordered each side
of the water, he boldly entered the rayine.
An almost perpendicular wall or bank as
cended on each side, to the height Of hun
dred feet. composed of crags and rocks fret
ted by decay and storm into fantastic shape
and position A few scattered bushes and
trees sought nburishment from the earth that
had fallen from the level above, and except
ing their assistance and the unseen surface
of the rock, this natural part seemed mac
cessible. but to bird and beast About an
eighth OF mile from the entrance, a cataract
closed the gorge, throwing up its white veil
of mist in seeming guardianship of the spirit
waters TIE verdant boughs hanging over
the baud, cast deep gloom upon the bed
below, while SO lofty was the distance, they
seemed to grow out Of the sky, blue patches
Of which were TO be seen peeping between
them
Hannah Eaton soon missed her boy, bit
MS he had often wandered to the fields where
his father was a. work she conc uded he must
be there, and checked coming fears with the
hope that he would return at the hour Of
dinner. When he came, Joseph, nor any Of
| his men, knew where he was. Then the ag.
itated mother exclaimed, Hes lost he's
lost | and my poor boy will starye in the
woods I Gathering courage, she hastily
sumiponed the family around her, and de-
soatchcd them all but her husband to search
\ in different directions in the teighborlng
| forest To him she said, scour every field
YOU ean your own, and if you can't find him,
join ne.in the gorge
site wouldn't 60 to. the gorge, Hannah"
"Ee would 20 anywhere She knew not
WHY bat presentiment that the boy had
followed the course Of the stream, dwelt
stronger on her mind
n Il -. Harrab u eos1 Al "a I,,a
baud. as he rejoined her at the mouth Of the
gorge
An eagle flew past the mother as she en-
tered tie rarine She thought to herself,
tie dreadful birds are tearing my child to
pieces and, frantic shehastened on, making
hthe aaIls Of the cavern echo back with the
seresms for her offspring. Hdf only answer
vas The eternal thunder Of the cataract, as
\ il ii moeker5 Of woe, and finging its cold
spray npou her hot and throbbing temples
aFoal that / am. how can he hear me o. She
Il strained her-eyes along the dizzy height that
4 peered through the mist till she could ne
Il ioneersee, and her eyes filed with tears.
II Who but mother can tell the feelings Of
4 mothers heart Fear comes thick aud
fast upon the Keeling brain Of Hannah
III aOk. nv boy-my brave boy will die and
wriugsng her hands in agony, she sank to heI
H husbands feet
II The pain Of hope deferred, had strained
II her heartstrings to The severest tensions, and
seemed. as if the rude hand Of despair hae
II broken them all
TIE tsrTifed husband threw water upoI
her psle face, and strove By ali the arts b
knew to win her back to life At last sh'
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