Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-17

To him she said, scouri every field you
call your own, and if You can't find him,
Join me inithe gorge ag.e. * .,f -
HE would't gorto the gorge, Hannah
-7fHe would go anywhere She knew
not Why but a presentiment that the boy
had followed the course of the stream,
dwell strong upon her mipdsyIs usJ. .bs
81 can't find hims Hannah said the
husband, as he joined her at the mouth OF
the gorge. p ESQ Tt1o .gIsw hg2 .9ts 81
An eagle flew past the mother as she
entered the rayine. She thought to her.
self, the dreadful birds are tearing my
child to pieces and frantic, she fastened
on, making the walls of the cavern echo
back her screams for her offspring. Her
only answer was the eternal thunder of
the cataract, as if in mockery of woe, and
finging its cold spray upon her hot and
throbbing temples. Fool that am, how
can he hear me Q She strained her eyes
along the dizzy height, that peered through
the mist, till she could no longer see, and
her eyes filed with tears.
Who but mother can tell the feelings
of mothers heart? Fear comes thick
and fast upon the Keeling brain of Han.
nah. ooh, my boy-may brave boy will
de- and wringing her hands in agony,
she sank to her husbands feet.
The pain of hope deferred, had strain
ed her heart strings to the utmost tension,
and seemed as if the rude hand of despair
had broken them all.
The terrified husband threw water up
on her pale face, and stroye by all the
arts he knew to win her back to life. AT
last she opened her languid eyes, stared
wildly around and rose trembling to her
feet. AS she stood like a heart-broken
Niobe, all tears fragment of rock
came tumbling down the opposite bank.
She looked up. She was herself again,
for half up the ascent stood her own dear
boy.
But even while the glad cry was issuing
ror.-'O Oh, mercy-mercy
The crag on which the boy stood pro-
jected from the solid rock in such way
as to hang about twelve feet over the
bank. Right below the edge of this scrag
partly concealed among some bushes,
crouched panther,
The bold youth was aware of the prox-
unity of his parents and the presence OF
his dangerous enemy at about the same
time. He had rolled down the stone in
exultation, to convince his parents of the
high station he had attained, and he now
stood with another in his hand drawing
it back, and looking at them, as if to ask
whether he should throw it at the terrible
animal before him. Till then the mother
seemed immoYeable in her suspense, but
conscious of the danger of her son, if he
irritated the beast, she rushed some dis
lance up the rock and motioned with her
head and hand that he should not throw.
Yet, with the fearless mind of childhood
and a temper little used to control, he
threw the fragment with all his might, at
the ferocious savage. 1t struck one of his
feet. He gave sudden growl, dashed
his tail with fury, and seemed about to
spring. Get your rifle, Josiah p The
poor man stirred not. His glazed eye
was fixed with look of death upon the
panther, and he appeared paralyzed with
fear. His wife lcaped from her stand,
and placing her hands upon her husband
shoulders, looked in his face and cried,
Are you man, Josiah Eaton? Do you
love your child ? He started as if from
sleep, and ran with furious haste from the
rayine.
Again the mother looked towards her
son. He had fallen upon his knees, and
was whispering the little prayers she had
taught him, not in coWardly fear, but a
thought came across his mind that he
must die. The distracted mother could
keep still no loner. She rushed up the
steep ascent with the energy of despair,
reckless of danger, thinking only of her
son. The rocks crumbled and slipped be-
meath her feet, yet she fell not. On, on
she struggled in her agony.
The ferOcious creature paused a moment
when he heard the wretched mother APP
proach. True to his nature, he sprang at
the boy, He barely touched the crag
and fell backwards, as Hannah assembled
the opposite side.
'Ah, said she, laughing deliriously
the panther must try it again before he
parts us, my boy but we won't part.
and sinking on her knees before him, she
fondly folded him to her breast, bathing
his young forehead with her tears.
Unalterable in his ferocity, and the
manner of gratifying it, the panther again
sprang from his situation. This time he
was more successful. His fore foot struck
the edge of the crag. He will kill us,
mother, he will kill us. and the boy nest
led close to his mothers bosom. The
animal struggled to bring his body to the
crag-his savage features but step from
the mothers face. GO away, go away,
shrieked the mother. hoarse with horror,
you shan't have my child ? Closer
still closer he comes-his red eyes flash
ing fury, and the thick paintings of his
! breath came in her face At this awful