Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-11-02

puAacras, ur tmr >nvwrInu SUBMITS VI tmc natI'r
Serras--lhose faed followers of the demon
gold How did their recollection deaf upon the
waving palms. the orange groves, the hueras
and mcadS of Grenada.
In vain in vain of all those gallant hun.
drcds who had lcapcd in confidence and hope.
from their proud briganimes, upon the glowing
shores Of Florida giltering in polished steel.
and every gallant with silk upon" vino had
trarersed the wild country OF the Appalacha,
who had seen the CLEAN of Spanish arms re-
flcced in The black streams Of Alabama; who
had made the boundlesS plains ring with the uE-
echoed note of the Castian trumpet; who had
spread the ierrors of tile Spanish name, with its
barbarors accomplishments of havoc and slaugh-
ter through wi!ds untrod before. BY feet of civ
ilizcd man. OF all those gallant hundreds, buta
weak and wasted m0lety WAS destined 10 reach
the shore of their far falherhnd, and lhat-not
a' they had fondly dreamed, in the pride, eXuIta-
lion aud The health Of success, but in want,
heavneSs and wO,.
The arrows Of the savage and the vet more
fatal arrows Of the plague, dearly repaid The iu-
iuries they hid already wreakcd upon The wretch,
ed natives dearly rcpaidioo, BY anticipation, us
it were, the wrongs which their children, and
their cllildren's children should in long prospcc-
tive wrcak upon the forest dweers OF the West
There in that lonely hut. lay the prou;lest
spirit, the bravest heart, the mighicst intellect,
the tavoritr comrade Of Pzamo-the joint con-
qurror of Peru! There lay Hernando dc Soto 1;
his fiery energies even more than the hot fever.
wearing away his mortal frame his massive
brow rloggrd with the black sweat Of death ::
his eye that had lashcl more brightly the dead
lier was the periI-dim and hazy his high heart
sick-sck, not for himself, but for his followers
his hope ofconque,t, fame. dominion gone like
the leaves of autumn. There he lay miserable
and pcris!ling by inches, the discovercr of u
world-a world never destined to bless him or
his posleyty with its redundant riches,
Beside his pallet bed were assembled group
of men, the least renowned of whom might have
led royal army TO battle for the crown. But
their frames were gannt and elnaciaied, their
cheeks furrowed with care aud agony both of
the mind and the body, their eyes wet with the
Tears of bitterness The dark cowIcd priest hld
administered The last rites of religion to the dy-
inv warrior and now watched, in breathless 81
lence, the parting Of the spirit An Indian mai
den, Of rare symmetry and loneliness that would
have been deemed exquisite in the brightest
hills of old CASTLE leaned over his pillow, wi
ping the cold dew from the conqucror's brow,
with her long jetty locks, and flaming off the
mvriads OF vorarious insects that thronged the
tainted air. There was not Il sound in the crowd
ed chamber, save the heavy, sob like breathngs
of the dying man, and the occasional whining of
large hound, the noblest of his species. which
sat erect gazing, with almost human intelligence
upon the pallit features of his lord
Suddenly 4 light draft Of air was perceptiblc,
the silkcn veil huttered inward and q heavy
rustng sound was heard from without. As the
huge folds Of tne banner swayed in the rising
breeze sensible GOODNESS pcrvaded the heated
chamber, and reached the angud brow of dc
Soto, who had lain for he last haif hourin seem.
ing lclhargy. Heavily. and with painful ex-
preston he raised himself upon his elbow:
"Moscoso," he suid, Mosroso, art thou near
me! my eyes wax dim, and it vii! snoD be over.
Art thou near, for would speak to thee.'
HNobe De Soto, am beside thGe," he said
81 say on, hear and mark thee.''
"Give me thy hand )" then as he received it.
he raised it slowly on high, and, continued in
clear and unEIterig tones, though evidently with
an effort" True friend and follower. by this
right hand that has SO often fought beside my
own-by this right hand do adjGre thee to ol,-
serve these my last mandates"
Shall swear it," cried the stern warri'
whom he addressed his tone and voice renj'