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

chesapeake, where Sir Peter Parker
learned to his sorrow, there was potency
in American lead.
Franks comrades fell one by one, a.
round him, yet undaunted, he held his
post until a truant ball from an English
mans musket, struck him in the breast,
rendering his removal from the field ne.
| ccsSary. He was transferred to the Hos
pital, at Baltimore, where he remained
until able to return home; for during the
stay he made in the nursery of the woun-
ded, the memorable battle of New.Or.
leans decided the contest and peace was
declared to the JOY of many grevng
soul.
Passing over these events, as if by
glance, and rapidly sketching tho;e
scenes, which are preface, only, Of what
we intend to develope in this essay, we re-
turn to the time when Frank left Amelia.
lie knew not how he had quilted her.
a short tine convinced her, if Frank new
er returned, she must leave home or be
disgraced. Her father became alarmed
at her situation, and Threatened tu hanish
her from his presence. Fearing hes, she
might suffer from her fathers Indignation,
she makes a confidant Of her cousin:
plainly stated her case, AMI avoMing her
self free from wanton gale, she persuaded
HIM, unhesitatingly, to assist hcr i'll what
ever course she might require. They,
therefore. prepared themselves and soon
Were on the road to the BIue Rnlgr, in
Wilkes County, n. c., where resided An
elderly aunt of hers, whose heart WAS ten
der and forgiv,ng.
She pitied the forlorn condition Of her
niece, who so lately wore cIIrcrfnI smile,
but who, at present, was the pcrsoniiicatiou
OF anguish and care. She promis!,eI to pro-
tect her until Frank could Le restored, ~ hen
she ayerred all would lsewcll Thiskinjl-
ness partly consoled her. but il was no.
of long duration. News of Franks
death had reached lief in this retreat,
which fell upon her Ike the blow of a
deadly missile. The coming circum-
stance--the birth of an Illegal child, bore
upon her sensibiities with tormenting
weight. 1t drove her nearly to madJsess.
"Oh y often she would secretly exclaim,
"that l had an intimate friend, like Mad
anne Russell Of New York, whose freter-
ing charms, had stilled many an embryo
of love, ere light had shone upon its in
nocent head; yet it is wicked wish" In
this unsettled state Of mind she continued
until the birth of a lovely daughter, mark
ed visihly at the point ofthe neck between
the shoulders, with full grown raspber-
ry, which served in after years as an un-
deniable identity.
Her situation for few days was truly
critical. Yet, slowly recovering, she at
length determined on course, which.
although in the end did not prove as horrid,
was, in appearance, no less heinous than
actual murder.
How could she bear to raise this in
FAINT, however lovely, without father.
She was far from any intimate acquain-
tance, save her bland tempered aunt, and
might possibly have passed as a young
widow, but the probability of discovery
was worse than an open acknowledge
ment She, therefore, in her delirium,
resolved to put it away. She prepared
basket with suitable clothes, and placed
locket, containing lock of her hair,
braided with similar lock f.om Franks
head, around the childs neck. On the
lid we're neatly engraved, 4. g., ;he ni.
tials of her name. It was present from
the child's father, and it, she thought was
the proper person to wear it.
Alter carefully depositing the babe in
its basket, she calls trusty old servant Of
her aunt's, and instructs him in hs mis-.
sion. Knowing he had to obey, and al
so to observe the greatest secrecy, he star
ted in the direction Of Watauga River, and
after travelling distance Of twenty miles
he deposited Lis tender charge, twelve
days old, near a spring path, and leaves
j. with the hope that some kind pro-
tector might find il, and preserve the life
Of the future MAID OF WArAUsA.