Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-05-05
2 [From the Flag of our Union.l
BETA, THE SHEPHERDESS.
By ELLEN STANLEY.

4 =
In the beautiful vale OF Arno
dwelt the lovely shepherdess, Beta.
the fairest maid In all the country
round. Seated upon the grassy
hillock, she watched her feecy flock,
and warbled the sweet melodies Of
the land, or read the fairy tale. or
the wild, startling legend. Her
iaIher and mother were proud OF
her beauty, and there was scarcely
a lad In the place who did not love
The pretty maiden.
1t was now the first day OF May.
and she had been chosen queen. A
crown OF wild flowers was bound
ground her waving curls, and her
blue eyes, bright and liquid as a
summer lake, danced with happiness
as she walked in the floral train to
the village green. Here bower
had been made o! branches and
decorated with flowers, and here,
around the garlanded May pole, they
danced to the sound Of the merry
viol. Beta was SO playful, SO kind.
TO all her companions, while they
acknowledged her more beautiful
than themselves, loved her for her
goodness, and of the young men
who met her at the village festival,
but one treated her coldly; this was
Gail Reenhart, a tall, noble youth,
who had the darkest eyes, the
straightest form and the noblest
look OF all. He never addressed
her, and when she spoke TO him
answered very shortly; but strange
as it may seem, Beta loved none but
him.
While all around her would be
happy, Beta would sigh to herself,
as she thought how he avoided her.
and long TO get away, that she
might freely shed the tears that in
spite OF herself would spring 10 her
eyes. When she went home at
night, instead of stopping TO hear
The praise OF her fond parents, she
went directly TO her little chamber,
and wept over his GOODNESS and in
difference.
But, when she heard few days
afterwards that Carl had enlisted
and gone off in the army, how did
her blooming cheeks grow pale, and
the smiles that were always playing
round her sweet mouth vanish
Her parents were alarmed as she
drooped day by day, and feared that
she would die. But, while all were
anxious for Beta, death came and
took away her father and mother.
and she was left an orphan. Many
a young shepherd now came for
ward, and offered to take her home
as his wife. But she rejected all
offers, and resolved 10 leave the vale
where she had suffered SO much;
she had remained with an old aunt
since her parents death, and TO her
she communicated her desire to de-
part; but she opposed it, for she
wished Beta TO assist her in taking
care Of her sheep. But one night
as she lay in her cot, she thought
how little value was lie to her with<
out Carl, and she resolved, at the
first opportunity, TO disguise herself,
and if he lived, TO serve by his side,
or il he died, TO die with him.
One day her aunt was going 10
market, 10 carry some yarn she had
spun, and Beta thought that now
was her chance, the old lady SET off
with her well>6lIed panniers, charg-
ing her niece to take good care of
everything in her absence, for she
did not expect to return for two
DAYS. Beta waited for evening; she
then went TO a chest and took out
some Of the old clothes that belonged
TO her cousin, who had gone to sea
some years before. and put them on,
and cutting off her curls, she placed
his hat on her head; and that her
aunt might not suspect her disguise,
she collected all her own clothes in
a bundle TO carry with her; thus
equipped she stepped forth.
The pale moon looked ,coldly on
her, and The stars gIittered in the
clear blue sky, but she turned not
back. She sought for the river, for
that in IFS windings would, lead her
20 the seaport where the army lay,
and walked rapidly forward, ami
mated by rev hope. On the way
she stopped at the cottages and
crayed food and shelter, and ALL
were kind. % ihe handsome boy who
craved their charity. The third day
she saw The great town she was
seeking, and bow her pulse futtered
as she, entered its noisy streets; but
she had a brave heart, and pressed
forward. soon she. met a3recruting
officer and enlisted in the army
which was 10 march the next day.
For fesr lof deisciion, sshs had
stained her face and hands with the
brown Juice of the nut, and in that
dark hrnved how. none would recog-