Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-06-27
A WIFE,S DEVOTION.
BY GEORGE s. RAYMOND.

Inc long ana desperate struggle which
had for many years been carried on be-
tween the Imperial Government of Brazil
and the revolted southern provinces was
drawing to close and l. who for nearly
i've years, had been almost constantly
on the wing, or what amounted to about
the same thing, on horseback, in the pa
triOtlc service, was on my way to JOIN
my little Brazilian wife to whom | had
been united some tve months previously,
and from whose side | had been sum-
mOued within three hours after our mar
riage to lead my command against body
Of Don Pedro Segnado's Lancieros, who
were committing depredations in the
neighborhoOd.
had been severely wounded in the
side and shoulder, and that with the ex
posure of our wild aud uncomfortable
camp, tho entire lack Of proper medical
and surgical skill, and the slow fever
which had for three weeks been consum-
ing me, my iron constitution had given
away at last, | was as near dead as man
could well be and naintaiu his seat in his
saddle.
Ny home, or rather that Of my wife's
was on the banks Of the beautiful Urugu~
ay, on the extreme western limits of the
Brazilian Empire, and my way thithcr,
led across the serIicd peaks and through
the wild passes Of the Southern Brazilian
Andes, a region swarming with every
species Of wild beasts, fierce savages,
murderous banditti, who killed for mere
past-time, and bands Of Imperial troops,
more savage than brutes, Indians, or rob.
berS.
Pleasant. vecy don't you think it was
for au iuvalG scarce able TO keep his
seat in the saddle, and accompanied by
two negro slaves possessing but little
more sense or reasoning than the hor-
ses they guided.
Seven long tedious days went by, and
Z had struggled on thus far without COM
ing in contact with the wild beasts, saw
ages robbers. or Imperial soldiers, to
within fifteen leagues OF my journeys end
when my overtasked energies could bear
me up no longer and dispotchiug the
most intelligent of my servants, to apprlse
my wife and family Of my situation, lay
down under the shelter ofa shelving rock
in one of the most rugged, desoIate
mountain passes l had ever seen, but
with slight hope of surviving till aid
should arrive from my friends on the
Uruguay.
1t was near noon when the negro de-
parted on his ssion, and, as had
promised him his freedom and ten oun~
ces in gold If he reached my wife's home
that night, knew he wonld not lose mo-
ment. and might expect relief before
night the next day. provided lived till
that time, which did not seem verv prob
able, as within two hours was half delir-
ious. The hot blood, driven to the cx>
tremlties by the raging fever. seemed like
leaping liquid currents Of Gre; while nay
very vitals appeared TO scorch and to
crisp with the subtitle heat, and my
whole frame was racked With exquisite
torture.
Twenty times during the afternoon l
had sent the remaining slave to the
stream which wound along the bottom Of
the ravine for water TO slack my burning
christ.
The sun was. perhaps. an hour above
the horizon, when | was suddenly sur
rounded by band Of some twenty fero-
cious-looking brigands, who were trav-
ersing the mountain pass to the west
ward. in pursuit of a train Of mules load
ed with merchandise that had preceded
them but the day previous.
had nothing about me to tempt the
robbers cupidity. AS they were rather
partial to the revolutionary party, whose
uniform l wore, they offered me no vio-
ience. and one of them even brought me
gourd of water. for my slave had fed
at the approach of the brigands. and l
never saw him afterwards.
But all my prayers, entreaties and
promises of reward were UNDECIDED.
could not prevail on them to remain with
me till my friends should arrive. They
we're intent only upon the capture and
Plunder Ofthe mules, and so thev depar>
ted, leaving me there alone, sick and dv-
ing. in that wild, desolate mountain pass.
My scanty supply of water was soon
exhausted. and l was raving with intol-
cradle thirst. In my phrenzy l tore the
bandage from my half closed wounds,
beat my head against ther rocky FRAY
ments that formed my bed and oh,
how prayed for death
There lay all that long and horrid
night. till it was daylight again and
then sank into death~like topper, from
which was aroused by he avy weight
pressing on my chest, and nv frs
glance, as l opened my ewes. fell upor
the we'll remembered features of the mos
deadly enemy had on earth-Col. Mar
Gmus Arc"la, OF the Imperial army O