Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-21
Or iginol Papers.

"A Iale OF the Iexas bOr0er.
Respectfully Dedicated to tie Social Circle.
by MT.
The sun had again completed its circuit, |
aud darkness rested on the face of Nature
Heavens nocturnal beauty ono more ar
rayed herself in her choicest robes and
gazed on the sleeping quiet far below. 1t
was night, and the myriads of starlit worlds
moving in space, sparkled, laughed and
twinkled, as they had for the last five
thousand years.
The c,rk waters Of the Rio Grande
danced in tire moonbeams. The serpen-
tine course OF the lovely stream, might
have been easily traced by the silver hue
here and there impaired to it. Far in the
distance its sparkling surface dashed from
the dense chapparel, while still further on
it disappeared with a sudden plunge into
the bosom of the dark forest
Curling lazily above the slightly waving
tops Of the whispering pines, thin grey
smoke, rapidly assimlating with the hazy
fleece which skinned the arch of heaven,
took its way calmly to the sky. This be-
spake the presence of man,-the proxim-
ity of civilization Peering through the
entanglcd vines, dull rcd flame, partially
concealed By two frames, crouched or mo-
wing around it, might have been seen by
spectator.
Silence brooded around the fire. 1t
seemed as if gloom had settled forever on
the two persons, and bound their lips for
ever with its brazen band. The two hun
ters, such they were, differed somewhat in
appearance the older one was as straight
as an arrow, with large heavy shoulders,
long arms, and longer legs. He was in
height perhaps over six feet. A coarse
shirt of undressed deer skin fringed with
scalps, hung rather gracefully in its posi-
tion, and showed to advantage his huge
person. Buck-skin leggins, torn and tat
tered, encased his lower limbs. Ligh
moccasins which left scarcely trace, as h
prepared the meal over the fire, protected
his feet. A cap of fox-skin somewha
aged and we'll worn, with the tail still
pendant, was cast over the barrel of
long rifle, which leaned against tree
This parsonage might have been fort
years of age, but an active cheerful lif
might have oecasioned his Juvenile looks
An expression Of caution and fearless dar
ing was strangely present on his sunburn
face. he ,oas Mentor and q Hector.
The companion to this rude hunter wa
tall, elegantly, though not robustl
formed man. May be he was twenty-fv
years of age; seated moodily on 10
which he had drawn near the blaze, HI
position did not reveal much of hi
person. He was clad in style superior
that of the hunter. The skirts of b
deer skin hunting shirt were fringed wit
a deep, rich border, and costly leggins m
by top-boots Of buck-skin, bespoke OIL
that cared something for appearance.
richly inlaid dirk peeped from side be
Instead Of long barreled rifle, he carrie
n short large bored weapon of forei'
manufacture, richly mounted with silvt
The young mans head was bowed betwe
his knees, aud for sometime sier
seemed his only companion.
A piece of venison simmered, crack
and sent its savory perfume into the q
The old hunters nostrils dilated W
pleasure as he behcld the smoking vianC
his mouth watered as he thought of I
pleasant future-so soon to be the pie
anter present. In this feeling his moi
which he had kept closed heretofore, APP
rently by mighty effort suddenly Opent
&" | say Norrad, hold up your head, {
smell that ar deer meet If you dc
smack your lips, Ralph johnson can'tsh
rifle !"
Il thought, Ralph, you could not k
quiet much longer Why not for
moments leave me to myself? am 1
erable-how can enjoy -
"Deer meet why Norrad, lad, you q
to enjoy it, let me tell you, when we b
ted the B,lfler and the bar away on
Rocky Ridge. All Norrad the
hunters voice sank into strain of ]
ancholy-" you amt nop what you
then You've been away across the
seas,--and you came back to us chan
man--you shoot the long Virginny bal
you did once a time, but you burn poy
with that coaRUnp,uD of big mout
blunderbluss, which makes more fuss,
scares array more Ingens and buffer,
a"74" All! Norrad you Is change
Yes, Ralph-as yousay, am chan
You know | am not what l hare
Bad luck at home-luck how tickle
erything from babyhood has been ag
me. This last bereavement is-bu
Gods Red man mind how ye go
my path Bitter is my revenge
aye-my arm is strong, and my a
goOd--woe unto those of ye that eros
path!' The young man had arisen
his seat, and while one hand nerv
clutehed his deadly knife, and the
grasped his heavy rife, his eyes shot
The light breeze sporting along the
Of the river swept aside his locks,
gave him wild sublime appearan
There he stood, peering into the
gathering gloom, as if he saw Wis
his eyes almost starting from their sot
and raining around their rapid lightr
He was model for the artist. The
hunter gazed at him with wild prid
kindling eye.
"Spoken like Norrad Woodhau
to speak, he cried" like a man p
His voice recalled the young m
consciousness. He slightly .trembled
gaze was turned-his arm settled b
side-with hasty motion he threw
his rifle and sank again on the log