The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-03-11
From Blackwood's Magazine.
THE TWO SOLDIERS.
AN ApoLoeun.-Bv BARRY CORNWALL.

AN APoLoGyE.-BY BARRY CORNWALL.
To his son, Wilhelm, fresh from col
lege, and proud Of his learning, obtained
from Greek and Roman writer's, the
merchant Singelhart related the following
story -
Two soldiers, who had been taken
prisoners in battle, contrived, after long
slavery, to escape. The elder Of the
Two, whose name was Plato~;zhoti'a a mile
and thoughtful nature. In the younger
Uric, appeared mixture of boldncs'
and vivacity. such as may be seen il
garrison towns, and such as Qadies say,
should belong 10 soldiers.
There was nothing in common between
the two men, save their common danger
This produced partial alliance Of offence
and defence, between them; and OH this
subject they held occasional conferences
But for the most part, they travelled
silently by each others side, or shared
the fruit and berries, and chance ears oI
rice or wild corn which they discovered
on their way.
They had to pass through strange
countries, as yet scarcely guessed at by
geographers. They beheld extensive
prairies which the buffalo haunls, and
tracklcss savannas where the wild horse
and the zebra enjoy 5oundless liberty.
They penetrated savage regions. where
even man preys upon his fellow, and
lands debatable and arid deserts, where
shepherds, armed to the teeth, overlook
their focks, or where rowing bands settle
for time, bur have no permanent home,
At last, after many days. toll, they left a
rich alluvial flat, where they, for some
time, had been travelling, and began 10
ascend bleak and mountainous county
which appeared never to have been sub,
jecled to the hand Of man. The snow
Nhough it was almost summer lay upon
the higher peaks, whilst through the
passes, where their road lay, fierce rain
and bowling winds kept up incessant
Glamour. 1t was nearly night when they
arrived a! spot somewhat sheltered.
Yet even ,here il was wild and gloomy,
without fruits and without flowers; the
black pine-irees, together with ocanty
grasses and few ears Of shrunken corn,
being all that redeemed il from utter
barrenness. Fatigue was stronger than
hunger, and they slept.
In the morning, jus, as the sun began
TO throw a cold light over the eastern
mountains, the travellers awuke.
"Ha! wha, is this?n inquired Uric
1t was too plain. They were each bound
fast to a rugged Tree. "We are in The
tolls, continued the speaker.
eyes," answered P!atow, Sour strength
of mind which we Jiscoursed upon SO
long yesterday has now an opportunity
of showing itself"
"Ah!' replied Uric, "f we're not so
hungry, you would socn see"
AT this moment young girl, six Or
seven years Of age, Of rough but plea.
SAINT aspect, came smiling towards them :;
she bore in hel hands large bowl OF
milk, and under her arm was wrapper
composed Of strips Of bark or tougf
grass, which being opened, displayed
some large pieces Of barley bread.
"Ea,l drink!' p said shej and her orders
were obeyed with alacri,y. She waited
ill they had finished their meal, and
then said, "My father will come aud
judge you presently; but don't be afraid
he is not so terrible as lie looks;' anC
with these words she left them.
Ii was an anxious moment. Platou
summoned up his resolution to bear the
worst with calmness; and Uric was in.
venting some ingenious falsehood &c
excuse himself for in,ruding within their
hosts very uninviting territory, when a
load rough voice was heard at distance,
and presently giant of vast size walked
slurdily towards them, carrying in his
hand young pine, plucked up by the
roots.
"What have You come mere 1orI
quoth he, when he was close TO them.
His voice sounded like thunder. "Speak
you are spies from the plains. What is
| i, you want? Is moi your land fat enough
that you must come here and spy out the
poverty Of my home? Will you steal the
few goats that give food to me and my
children? will you rob me of my little
hoard Of dry corn? This is The second
lime that you have come to pilfer from
mey and now, villains, you shall dio!"
"Ah, sir!" exclaimed Ulric-he could
utter no more.
"We are poor Travellers" said Platow;
"and were passing, by accident, through
your country. Our only wish is 10 reach,
ence more, the land where we were
born" e.. u
ave will give you gold," interrupted
Ulnc; and he rendered some coins for
the giants acceptance, who looked con-
templuously npon them.
"What stuff is here?" quoth he; and
whirled the useless metal over noun
tain summit some hundreds Of feet high.
.'Do you think to bribe ne with dir! like
this? Of what use is /, TO met Will il
,x;vn ,uon fnnA or nIn,L;u~Q .,,u =, taoch