Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-05
III z DIAN's PAYNRNr,
We Ne Ferset.0
By MRS. CAROLINE A. sOU1R,

"ne Ne Fsrset.n
By MRS. CAROLINE A. sOULE.
1t was late in the month of November.
The day had been cold and gusty, with
occasional dashes of rain, and the even.
ing, which set in early, promised to be
one of gloom and tempest. The wind
went rushing about with that low,
mournful, hollow sound which is known
only in autumn time, lashing the naked
boughs of the old forest trees with its
furious surges, whirling the dead leaves
which lay heaped in the deep ravines
into maelstroom eddies, and driving eve
rything before it with a violence that
made them only too glad to fee. The
clouds which had hung in scattered
masses while the livid sun set its strug.
Cling beams among them, gathered them
selves into single mighty one and
shrouded the heavens as with a pail,
threatening every moment to burst into
drenching foods.
"God pity the homeless tonight ~
exclaimed the young man in an en-
phatic tone, as pushing open the rude
door of his log cabin, he dragged in the
old black log that was to warm the
rough hearth-stone, and irradiate the
brown rafters through the long, cheer
less hours of the autumn storm.
"GOd pity them and help them, too.
for cold and weary time they'll have.
l trust no one wanders tonight in this
wilderness: thong b lest there should be,
III do what [ can to give them beacon
light" and even when he spoke, bs
planted the huge, knotty stick into bed
of crimson Goals, and filled the space be-
tween it and the old iron fire-holders
with a generous armful of light, dry
kindling, which soon burst into q bril-
liant blaze, not only scattering light and
heat across the dim apartment, but she'd
ding q stream Of moon-like rays through
the tiny windows, that went dancing
like q thing of life through the outer
darkness i'll it was lost in the mazes of
the untracked forest.
"There," said the warmhearted woods
man, as he watched the sky-bound sparks
and the continuous glow. Give done
my part toward leading them to home,
if any be abroad and wandering, and I'll
enjoy it, too, myself" and he drew his
seat to the homely board on which
smoked hunters rare steaks from the
wild deer, stew Of birds which he had
shot while standing in the door of his
cabin, and cakes of powdered corn, nice
ly baked and Drowned on Q clean corner
of rough hearth. A relishing meal it
was, too, for the hands of q loving and
gentle wife had cooked it all, and honest
and sturdy toll had awakened that keen
zest for food which the idler never
knew.
GA supper for q king" said he, as he
returned to his cozy place before the
tire. "We shan't starve yet awhile,
Moll-not while there are birds in the
trees and game in the woods, and strength
in these brawny arms. Only keep warm
hope in your heart, little wife, and our
home will yet be bonny spot" And
often he folded his hands on his bosom
and bent his head, and seemed to be
reading bright fancies in the warm fire.
light. And when her light evening
chores were done up, his wife drew her
seat close beside him, and as we were all
wont on such stormy nights, when the
hearth-stones beam, the two warmed
their young memories and strengthened
the pinions of hope. And the evening
sped on awfully and wildly without, but
calm and beautifully within, by the side
of the blazing fire whose streaming ligh.
was the only star that cleaned in that
dim old forest.
"We'll keep the fire up all night, and
as bright as we can, too, said the brave
pioneer, as, ere he lesped into bed, IL
stead of raking the Goals, he threw on q
fresh bundle of splints; it's too awful
a night for me to sleep sound, and may
as well tend it as not. God help any
that roam, if any there be, and guide
them this way. 1t will never be said
that darkened my fire in night like
this"
Once or twice did he rouse himself
from the slumber that in spite of his
awe Of the storm would steal over his
senses, and renew the blaze that was dy-
ing away; but then as the rain ceased
its dashing and fell only on the rough
roof with lullaby tone, and the wind
hushed its howls, and only moaned in a
weary-like way, he suffered himself to
sink in that calm, deep sleep, which
comes only to those who have labored
with hands that were clean and hearts
that were pure.
An hour or two passed away, and still
ne slept, and the blazing brands died in
The ashes, and the old back log, cleft