The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-08-09
THE PEARL OF CAMPAN.

One fine morning IN autumn L was ram
hing through the secluded valley of Campan.
IN tie Pyrenees, accompanied by the excellent
eurae of the district, with whoin,lh The course
Of my peregrinations. L had become acquain-
led. and beneath whose hospitable root had
promised to spend the night The scenery
Vas wild and lovely beyond description: and
having expressed my admiration OF II. +! added
,wish to know something OF the inhabitants
..Thev have hearts Of gold and wills of
ron said nv friend MANY touching
and noble instance of generosity and seit.de-
NAL have been met with amongst them And
for example. look at this man approaching us. -
He was fine looking fellow of five or six
and twenty, with military air. and dressed
inupiform. The lower part of his face was
very handsome and his dark sun burnt
complexion suited well with the long nous
tacbes could not see his eyes, for the visor
Of his cap was drawn so completely as to
shade them from the light. Having exchanged
cordial salutation with the curate, he passed
on. followed by huge white dog. with thick
furs and enormous paws. The animal be-
longed to a breed peculiar to the Pyrenees.
aud remarkable for their sayacity and faithful
ness.
Nov" said my companion, as soon as the
soldier had passed out of hearing. 'W hile we
walk along, | will tell you true story, of
which you have Just seen two of the principal
Characters.
prepared 10 listen with attention, and the
curate commenced.
"Juan Trigoyen was born in the heart OF
these mountains, where the peasant has his
choice Of following one of two occupations
that of a shepherd, or a hunter. Juan chose
the latter. as his father had done before him
and a hazardous pursuit 1t Is. Not merely
has the mounted hunter TO scale all but mac
cessible precipices. and brave the fury OF fam
ished bears and wolves, but he Is con-
santly exposed to be swept away by tor
rent, or buried beneath an avalanche. 10
this latter peril Juans father had fallen We
tim. Crushed beneath mass OF snow he
perished, leaving his no other heritage
than his dog. his gun, and his grand mother
Gertrude. an aged woman. unequal to the task
Of supporting herself Juan, at this time a
fine lad Of eighteen. loved his grand mother
ienderly; she had always supplied To him the
place Of his mother. who had died in giving
him birth, and he now, with courage and
resolution bevond his years, undertook the
sole charge Of their maintenance. lie had
been early trained to the chase, and success
now crowned his efforts. The number OF Iz
ards, eagles and bears. struck down by his
hand testified to the surenesS of his foot and
the certainty of his aim.
Thanks TO the value of these spoils. Ger
trude knew no privation; but she trembed
for the safety Of her beloved child. and often
said to him with tears in her eyes: Stay al
home 10 day. Juan: YOU will perish sometime
or other. like your poor father; and wha
should | do left alone, without any one TO love
in the world?'
Then the lad would answer: Calm your
self, mother: Providence will watch over m,
for your sake
Thus did Juan work hard during the weel
for his own AMI his parents support, and OF
Sunday loved to see them entering my littl
church: Gertrude leaning on the arm of he
handsome boy, and both joining in the pray
ers with the utmost devotion.
Two years passed on. and Juan was return
ing one day from Bagneres. whittier he ha
gone 20 disnoSe of some game. II was win
ter aud the north wind blew piercingly cole
but the young hunter stepped on bri>kl,
whistling lively tune. Suddenly a crv !,
distress struck his ear, he knew not whence
came
On Cesar" he cried. trusting to his doc
sagaei.y: seek it cut boy!
OF sthick pine grove, sad his master followe
the cries became louder. and Juan recogniz,
the voice of female in distress He redou
sd his speed, stil preceded by the dog.
length he reached an open space. and the
WAS Cesar struggling with = wolf, while
The ground lay wonsn, with a huge sh
wolf, in the act of fastening on her neck.
With shout Juan rushed forw ard. and t
heree creature raised her head, and fixed
him two eyeballs glowing with rage aud hu
ger. Without moments hesitation, the
sFepld hunter seized her by the throat Wi
one hand. and thrus;,ng the other into h
mouth, grasped her tongue and dragged it
with an iron vice. Alter fearful struggle,
succeeded in dashing the strangled beast
the ground. This done, Juan looked arou,
% see II his faithful ally had need of ass
,aaee No: has antagonist lay dead, and t
hunter had time 70 attend 10 the woman. w
sy moaonless on the ground, having faint
srom excess Of terror. Her del;verer rails