The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-01-25

lady by the name Of Marcy Holloways or
"Hollers" Ito use the pronunciation of
the settement,) who in passing to and
from the spring, could not escape seeing
the basket containing the sweet little gem.
This old lady whom we will term Dame
Hollcrs was of Swiss extraction, and had
in her youth received fair education for
one Of that day. During the life Of her
husband, they owned comfortable little
estate, but pecuniary embarrassment mar
,owed it down to a very small limit Her
husband having died, she with an only
son, selected the valley of the Watauga
for her residence, where the little found
ling had been placed. In going to the
spring the morning after the servant had
left his charge, the good dame discovered
the basket with kind and feeling heart
she carries it to her cottage, and prepares
some warm milk for the little sufferer and
after getting it to sleep, she examined the
the initials she concluded at once, it was
| of different class from those who lived
around her. Believing that she was now
destined 10 raise this child, the idea Of Civ
ing it an appropriate name occurred to
her. After ruminating awhile she says,
an name you 'Almetta,' (Which in the
Italian as near rs | can translate it signi-
ies 4 have nourished;O and since l found
you, little cherub, among the grass and
herbage of the hay-mow, your sirname
shall be Meadows"
"Ah, sweet babe" she would often ex-
claim when the foundling would fret !;
"your eyes shine like dew-drops upon vio-
lets; your little fingers are as tender as
asparagus buds. Do not cry, I'll be your
mother; you shall live with me. Hush
dear, see the lambs! Do be quiet the
wolves, nor hawks cannot get you from
my arms" Endearing terms of this kind
were often heard from the lips of the good
dame during the infancy of the dear little
aMette."
1t grew as rapidly as could possibly be
expected under such circumstances and
throve daily. For seven years she contin-
ued under the immediate care Of her fos-
ter-mothcr, when she was sent to COM
mon school near six miles distant at
place called Valley Crucis, which has since
become a noted seat of instruction, by the
enterprise Of the once celebrated Bishop
Is, a gentleman highly esteemed as
learned divine. He, however, has lately
severed himself from the Episcopacy and
united his earthly destiny with the Church
Of Rome, and left the United States. The
son Of Dame Hollers had married and set
tied near Valley Crucis, and Mettie the
little maid Of Watauga, was sent there to
board while at school. She remained there
for nearly five years. only visiting her
adopted mother during vacation. FIRE.
quently, in term time, the warm hearted
old lady, would call on her and bring Der
fresh cheese, fruits and other like presents,
indeed, she was never longer than three
weeks absent from the sight of the doat-
ing Dame. She grew more and more at
tached to Mettie, as she grew older and as
her company became more interesting.
She was afraid that absence and the ac-
quaintance she formed at school, might
estrange her affections; and that she
might refuse, or at least reluctantly re-
turn at the end Of the school; yet her at.
tentions we're appreciated by the gentle
Mettie, who often declared that if her own
mother were to come, she would not re-
linquish her cottage home on the Wa
tauga. She has now passed her child
hood, and is fast approaching the most in
teresting period of life, her education was
as fair as could be expected in that sec
ton, where literature and science had but
few votaries where Nature, alone, acted
chief part as tutoress. She returns to
her foster.parent, to repay by gratitude
those privations which she had undergone
for her sake, during her infancy and help
lessness.
Gro BE coSTNUED.)