The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-18
THE WEEKLY DISPATCH
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
3HE BOY AND THE PANTHER
A WILD WESTERN SCENE.

WILD WESTERN SCENE.
II was fine morning in August, when little
Samuel Eaton, about seven years old, was
raking dam in the brook that ran before his
ishers door. He was an only and beautiful
did, and his mother almost idolized him.
There he was, with his trowsers tucked up
slove his knees, working like a beaver, his
upther's eye cleaning out from beneath his
s,nburnt hair, aud with some of his fathers
stength, tugging at large stone in the bed of
tE stream.
Samuel you had better come in, hadn't
y.u % said Hannah, in tone of half mother
sd half mate.
FNo, | guess not" said Samuel.
An acorn came floating down the stream
The boy took il up, looked at it, was pleased,
AID reckoned" in his mind that there were more
Ub The gully" and when his mothers back
vas turned, off he started for the acorns.
The gorge of the mountain, into which he
vas about TO enter, had been formed 1.-THE work
d dcenturies) by the attrition of the stream he
lid been playing in; and, walking on level
tnt bordered each side of the water. he boldly
eltered the ravine. An almost perpendicular
sall or bank ascended on each side to the
hight of hundred feet, composed of rocks
AID crags, fretted by decay and storm into fan
tftc shapes and positions. A few scattered
thshes and trees sought nourishment from the
earth that bad fallen from the level above, and
excepting their assistance, and the unseen sur
ace OF the rock, this natural part seemed in
accessible but TO bird and beast. About the
eighth Of a mile from the entrance q cataract
closed the gorge, throwing up its white veil OF
mist in seeming guardianship of the spirit wa
ters. The verdant boughs hanging over the
bank cast a deep gloom upon the bed below.
while so lofty was the distance, they seemed
to grow up to the sky. Blue patches of wa
Ter were to be seen peeping between them.
Hannah soon missed her boy, but as he had
often wandered 10 the fields where his father
and checked coming fears with the hope that
he would return at the hour of dinner. When
IL came, neither Josiah nor any of his men
knew where he was. Then the agitated mo-
Iher exclaimed /:
He's lost he's lost! and my poor boy
will starve in the woods"
Gathering courage, che hastily summoned
the family around her, and dispatched them all
but her husband, to search in different direc-
lions in the neighboring forest. To her hus-
band she said:
"Scour every field you call your own, and
fyou can't find him, join me in the gorge"
He wouldn't GO in the gorge, Hannah
He would go anywhere"
She knew not why, but presentiment that
ner boy had followed the course of the stream
iwelt heavily upon her mind.
can't find him, Hannah" said the hus-
band, as he joined her at the mouth of the
gorge.
An eagle flew past the mother as she enter
ed the ravine. She thought to herself, the
dreadful birds are tearing my child to pieces !:
and frantic, she hastened on, making the walls
| Of the ravne echo back with her screams for
aer of-spring.
The only answer was the eternal thunder of
he cataract, as il in mockery of her woe, as it
threw It's cold spray upon her hot and throb-
Eoing temples.
She strained her eyes along the dizzy height,
hat peered through the mist, till she could no
longer see, and her eyes filled with tears.
Who but a mother can tell the feelings of a
mothers heart? Fear came thick anG fast upon
the reeling brain of Hannah.
"Oh, my boy-my brave boy will die! and
bringing her hands in agony, she sunk at hel
husbands feet.
The pain of "hope deferred" had strained
per heart strings to the utmost tension, and
keemed as if the rude hand of despair had bro
ken them all.
The terrified husband threw water upon hel
Z )ae face, and strove by all the arts he knew tt
=sSin her back to life. At last she opened hel
anguid eyes, stared wildly around, and rose
Trembling TO her feet. As she stood like heart
roken Niobe, "all tears" fragment OF rock
ame tumbling down the opposite bank: Sh'
BOXED up. She was herselfagain; for haltnp th'
hscent stood her own dear 10y.
i Bat even while the glad cry was issuing
rom her lips, it turned into note OF horror
81 "Oh, mefcy-mercy."
81 The crag on which the boy stood projected
rom the rock in such way as TO hang abou
welye feet over the bank. Right below one o
ne edges of this crag, partly concealed afnonE
ome bushes, crouched a panther. ne Doll
youth was aware of the proximity OF ms pa
en;s, and the presence of his dangerous enein,
It about the same time.
He had rolled down the stone in exultatlon, Il
onyince his parents of the high station h
Hd attained, and he now stood with an0ihe
Ia his hand drawing it back, and looking u
hen as If TO ask whether he should throw il a
he terrible animal before him. Till then thu
|noher seemed immoyable in her suspense
ut conscious of the danger of her son, ii b.
rritAted the beast, she rushed some distanc,
ip TIE rock, and motioned with her hand tina
be saoud not throw. Yet, with the fearless
liui Of childhood and a temper lille used II
eonfoi, he fearle ssly threw The fragment witt
j ii. mig at the ferocious animal. Ii sirucI
poe pf his feet. He gave sudden growi, lash
lbs tail with fury, and seemed about 4
|prsg.
'Get your rifle, Josiah J"
The poor man stirred not. Ills glazed ey
vas tixed with look Of death upon the pan
her, and he appeared paraiyzed with fear
lis wife leaped from the stand, and piaein
Eer hands upon her husbands shoulder, look
d 10 his face and said,
Are yon q man, Josiah Eaton! Do yo
bve your childi''