Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-08-08
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THE LOST LAMBKIN.

S "NH O "!N"~ COI ~"''"
THE LOST LAllBKIN.
Was there ever swester creature than
dear little golden-baiEed Flora Campbell.
with her light fairy footsteps, and rosy
cheeks, and violet eyes2 How lovely she
looked as she bounded over the green braes
in the morning, or fingered by the lochside
at,:he quiet cleaning Her heart was all
sunshine, andher thoughts pure as the fow-
ers she twined in her shining tresses.
Ills; a beautiful story they tell in Scottish
valleys, of poor idiot {" innocent" as they
call him) who, when a sunbeam fell athwart
his sight, as he sat in church, threw his cloak
across it-and the mantle hung upon the
shining motes.-They tell us that Faith
worked the miracle-for Heaven would not
disappoint the idiots trust.
Sweet Flora Campbell! she might have
thrown her mantle over the sunbeam; ay,
and walked the g'ittering path with delicate
feet, till she reached the bright heavens above
for her young heart was all Faith and
Hope and Charity. She prattled with the
flowers, and the streamlets and the birds !;
and her clear, ringing voice was heard at
day.break, amid the heather, when she shep.
herds led forth their focks. O., sunny and
joyful and happy as the day is long, was
dear little Flora Campbell.
Allowed the gentle child-and why should
they not Did not her tender hands bring
fresh flowers to the sick wife of Robert, the
ploughman! And did not her low voice
tremble softly in.prayer at the bedside of old
Elspie, the blind beggar.woman o, who
would not love the angle.hearted little mai.
5dena
But where is Flora' Twilight is falling
over the mountains, and shuttingin the wales
like a grey curtain. One by one, the bright
stars steal up into the summer sky, and
twinkle amid the feecy evening clouds. The
tinkling sheep.bell sounds nearer and nearer,
as the aocks return to their mountain pas.
lures, and the lowing of the kline in the
farm.yard tells that the labors of the day
are over. But where is golden. haired Flora
Campbell
She was not used to linger so long from
her grand-father's dwelliug-for now the
evening meal was spread, and the cottage
lamps lighted. The aged man clasped his
hands together, and murmured short prayer
while his daughter, the mother of Flora,
looked anxiously out of the window, yearn-
ing for her child's return.
But Flora came not.
III eehado-,.-s-.,-Ie--t-- ri e.--.-- ou.'.s-
the valley. The old peasants sat at their
cottage doors. and the young men and mai
dens gathered upon the village green, some
to walk, and some to talk Of love under the
broad chesnut tree-some to play the pipe
or dance to its merry music, and some to
hurl the quoit, or wrestle in the ring.
But all was hushed when CATER Campbell
came hurriedly from his cottage, inquiring
of The villagers if they had seen his grand
child. Yes indeed had they.
One had beheld her far up in the mountains,
plucking wild flowers, and weaving them
into garland Of heather; another had met
her in the path to Moss Glen, sitting by the
wayside, and plating willow basket for
her grandsire, and third had received some
forest fruit from her hand as he saw her
basket Of flowers, near the, head of the loch.
"Ah, we must seek Flora," cried the
youths immediately ly.-"The dear child-no
harm can surely come to her."
"Ah, me, CATER Campbell" said white.
haired old shepherd, shaking his head, "I
feared something-for the youngest lambkin
of the flock was lost to-day, and it is bad
sign, they say"
"Heaven grant that,my poor lambkiu be
safe !' said CATER Campbell solemnly.
"Amen" murmured the white.haired
peasant.
The villagers now dispersed in various
paths'leading to the mountain, the forest, and
the loch; and soon torches cleaned upon
the heights, and glimmered among the trees,
aud flashed brightly over the water. Up
and down, along the stream and through the
woods, went the young men, calling the
name Of :" Flora, Floraw
But no Flora answered.
CATER Campbell leaned upon his staff and
speke not word. He could not weep, for
heavy weight was on his heart. But the
mother of Flora was loud in her grief.-She
weot. and beat her breast, and called aloud
the name of her child. Tire aged pastor
now approached. He had heard at the
manse, of Flora's disappearance; for every
mouse had been searched within the hour !;
and he now came to comfort the bereaved
ones: "Fear not, daughter" he said
" Flora will return"
s"Ah, she is lost-she is loet to me, cried
the mother.
"He who tenpereth the wind to the shorn
lamb will protect our sweet child," answered
the old pastor-"Fear not~
And as the reverend man spoke, the loud
barking of dog was heard from the depths
of Moss Glen, and lights appeared passing
quickly down the valley.
:. "Trust in heaven!" said the minister
"Les US seek, and we shall find the child. "
: With trembling, yet hurried steps, the pas.
tor and CATER Campbell took their way to
the deep glen.-But the mother of Flora
passed them. and ran wildly down the narrow
path. Louder and louder sounded the bay
of the dog from the thick gloom in which the
vale was shrouded.
They reached, the brink of wide ravine
or chasw, commonly known as the Deer's
Mouth" and passed near group of villa
gers, who, with torches in their hands, were
listening eagerly to catch the bsying of the
hound. Again it came, low and deep,