Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-01-08

opened her languid eyes, stared wildly
around and rose trembling 10 her feet AZ
she stood like heart broken Eiohs. all
tears fregmens Of rock came tumbliur
down the opposite banx She looked up-
She vas herself sgsin, for half up tie ascent
stood her own dear boy
But even while the glad cry Vas issuing
from her lips, ii turnedlnto nsts Of horror
~" oh, mercy-niersy
The crag on which the beg stood prejoet-
ed from the solid rock in such way as to
hang about twelve feet over the bank Right
below one Of the edges Of this crag, partly
concealed among some bushes crouched a
panther
The bold youth was aware Of the proximi,
~ of his parents, and the presence of his
dangerous enemy, ct about the same time
He had rolled down the stone in exultation,
70 convince his parents OF the high station
he had attained and be nov stood with an
other in bis hand drawing il back and look.
ing at them, as il to SIX vhethershe should
throw it at the terrible animal before him =
Till then, tho mother seemed immovable in
her suspense, but conscious Of tho danger Of
her son, if he Initiated the beast, she rushed
some distance up the reck and motioned with
her head and Inland that'he should not throw
Yet, With the fearless mind of childhood and,
temper little used to control, he fcarlessly
threw the fragment with all his might at tho
ferocious savage 1t struck one of bis feet
He gave ! uddsn growl dashed his tail with
fury, and seemed about to spring
Get your rife, Josiah TIE poor man
stirred not His glazed eye was fixed with
look of death upon the panther, and he
appeared psralyzed with fear. His wife
leaped from her stand, and placing her hands
upon her husbands shoulders, looked in his
face and cried, Are you man, Josiah Ea-
ton ( Do you love your child y He started
as if from sleep, and ran with furious haste
from the ravine
Again the mother looked towards her
son: He had fallen upon his knees, and
was whispering the little prayers she had
taught himss not in cowardly fear, but
thought came across his mind that he must
die. The distracted mother could keep still
no longer. She rushed up steep ascent
with the energy of despair, reckless of dan
ger, thinking only of her son. The rocks
crumbled and slipped beneath her feet, vet
she fell not On, on she struggled in her
agony
The ferocious creature paused moment
when no heard the wretched mothers APP
preach. True to his nature, he sprang at the
boy He barely touched the crag, and fell
backward as Hannah assembled the opposite
side
tAh 7 said she. laughing deliriously.' the
panther must try it again before he parts us,
my boy I; but we won't part, and sinking on
her knees before him, she fendly folded him
to her breast, bathing his young forehead
| with her tears NJ
UnalterableIin his ferocity, and the man.
ner ofgratifying it, tile panther again sprang
from his situation This time he was more
successful His foresfoot struck the edge Of
the crag. He will kill us, mother, he viii
kill US ] and the boy pestled close to his mo
ther's bosom The animal struggled 4
bring his body to the crag-his savage fea
lures but a step from the mother face =
Go away, GO sway, shrieked the mother
hoarse with horror, you shan't, have ny
child Closer-still closer be came-ii
red eyes flashing fury, and the thick painting
of his breath came in her face At this awfu
moment she hears the faint report Of Ar
arms from tho gulph beloS-the panther
foothold fails. his sharp claws looscn>frou
the rocks, and the baA1ed beast rolled dow1
| the presipice, at the feet of Josiah Eaton
The suns last ray cleaned on the littlt
/ group at the mouth of the gorge TheJ
/ were on their knees--the mothers bleeding
! hands over the head of her son, and the voice
/ of prayer goiug to their Guardian for Hi.
mercy in thwaftinglhe Panther's Lean.