The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-12-03

from its rays; so he contrived an i'm
promptu shade out of his handkerchief
1t was nearly oon when they reach
ed the city of Wakwaka, which was, 70
| the present the destination of the trav
elers. Es they left the prairie and as
cended a slight eminence which CAV
them a view of the town and surround
ing scenery, Hugh reined in his hors
and gazed for while upon the move
prospect. A long, river-like lake, who's
bright blue waterslay smooth beneath
the cloudless sky, flowed along between
high banks of sin, .ular beauty. Thes'
bluff-like banks stretched back into mar
row emerald hills, between which h'
could catch glimpses of another gloriou,
prairie beyond. At the foot of the EN-
inence upon which he now was, along
the south bank as smooth and fair as &
terrace, lay the fifty houses which com
posed the present city of Wakwaka
About half of them were of canvas
cleaning Whitley in the sunlight; the
rest were of boards put rudely together
and three or four brick bui dings which
did not seem completed. The fact is
this ambitious and nourishing town had
not been in existence six mouths before
its exact age being FIVE months aud one
week The virgin beauty of the lake
sh re was already defaced by dock
from which little steamboat had just
pufed cheerily away, leaving the grour
of men who had gathered at the landing
to look at her few moments, and thet
turn again to their different employ
ments
Mr.. Fielding spurred up his horse and
rode down along the street, taking, as
he passed along with his gun on his
shoulder aud a baby in his arms, the
place of the departed steamer in the in
terest and curiosity of the people.
1t is doubted if any in the motley
crowd who had gathered from various
impulses of self-interest in that new city
could more truly be called adventures
than the couple who now made their
way to the principal and in truth the
only hotel. 1t was Hugh Fielding's
business to seek adventure; aud. as foi
the little girl, she, a.as, by some strange
and mysterious fortune, had been cast
into an unique situation which promised
only singular experiences
z he theatre chrsem mforher first ap
pearaUce in her new part seemed alto
gether appropriate. 1t was a stage upor
which Almost any new drama might b.
performed with unprecedented success
The cloth heuses, the sound Of hammers
the flag futtering from the top of the one
story hotel, the rattle of an omnibus
the distant hills, the lovely lake, tn.
flowers aud berries growing upon the
very street of the city. formed no NOR,
strange jubilee of objects than her lif,
might form of events.
i NC arrlEdl ora newcomer, LnouSI
of constant occurrence, was still mat
ter of inter ce interest to the dwellers il
Wakwaka; and the crowd upon the land
ing proceeded across the way q. gath
cred about the trout of the hotel to wei
come with inquisitive eyes tie approach
of the strangers.
Hugh was hot a man to be embarrass
ed even by the novel charge held so gen
tly in his arm. One glance upon th
group ofshrewd, speculative, yet zoo
faces about him revealed to him the ele
ments upon which the rapidi.y OF ives
tern civ lization depends.
He smiled slightly as he glanced al
the house built of rough boards will
canvass wings like some strange, un
feathered bird settled from a fight, ant
thought of how he had often rested be
meath. the shadow of the Coliseum.
Have our new house done next weel
that brick yonder," said the landlord
WuO blEeduJ ndO hio hOIso ny INC VII
;; die, as he detected the smile.
"Havc you any women in the house?'
asked Hugh.
"Lots of them - was the ready re
sponse.
"Well, take this child in, and have
them provide some bread~and milk fo
her, if you please"
The curiosity expressed in the neigh
boring faces gave place to a look ofadmi
ration as he took his handkerchief froil
the head of the little girl. The extrem'
beauty of her infant countenance delight
ed even the coarsest of the crowd. He
golden hair curled up in short, shinin,
ringlets. which hung like garlaDt
about her head, the crown of her exquis
lie loveliness. She shrark aud clun,
to her protector when the landlord wen
to take her; but, when Hugh asked he
to GO. she obeyed. A woman, who ha'
been looking from a window, was al
ready at the door to take her within
aud minister to her comfort.
Mr.. Fielding, as hc dismcuuted, fount
himself in group of men, most of then
intelligent. many educated, all ready t.
ask after the world they had left, and t.
give all the information desired abou
their new home and its prospects. III
soon related the story Of the ehild's be