American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-03-08
" Devoted General Intelligence Literature Agriculture Mechanics &c

hair, pattcd his brawny checks, looked
aniexpressive appeal, into the fire ol
his wanton eye, which the callous soul
refused to acknowledge in mercy, OF
consider but in relentlessness. Maid.
enly modesty was lost sight of, youth
outraged, and pride subjected to a sac
rifice that better humanity must revolt
at and sicken.f Heaven must have
been mute the while, only turning, a.
side to weep DER the deprayity of a
fallen nature. OF that night, truly
can it be said .rg.la's
"There were groans that ended not,
And siShs that ever Sighed sgoanag8 q
Aid tears ihat'ever wep, and ever fell,
Butn in mercy's sight" 4 yai a9-s
s"But the tale is not yet told. Some
time during the night, when the brutal
passion hadbecn sated. and nature ask
ed for repose, even in the savage, the
dear little child, from too long neglect
and exposure, became alarmimgIy reck
less and gave vent to its suiferinss in
the most fearfully Wild and frantic
screams, so much so that the Indians
became alarmed, lest the little inno-
cents cries should attract the vigilant
ear'of some hardy scout, who might
perchance deal death to them in their
temporary retreat. Such we're the
fears of the 'sayages, for one Of them
rising took the child from the tender
though agonizing embrace Of the mo-
ther, walked deliberately to the edge of
the stream, and held it under the water
till it was strangled to death, when, re-
turning, cast it at her side, repeating
several words inhis native dialect, con-
reying the impression, you soiU keep
quiet noac! @.f #7 62R 2s1 aHT6
"Thc mother gave not uttcrancc to
her feeling as humanity is wont under
ordinary circumstances, but the heav-
ing bosom and audible sigh gave too
striking evidence that her measure of
grief, although full before, was now
pressed down even to running over
But enough of this.
E Stiffness, 90 Of the grove, now
reigned. The moon was wading silent
ly through the ether deep, toward the
West. The mist which thinly hung
throughout the vale, began now to as
cend and thicken in the mid heaven,
and darkness in degree became visible,
till fair Luna was lost as in outernight,
as though refusing to witness, unblush-
ingly, the stygian scene below.
Mercy! mercy ~ broke from the
lips of the little girl, as she extended
her hands and eyes heaycnward--thc
whole soul going forth in the attitude
and expression; and while the merciful
intcrposition of mortal hands were pre-
cludcd, how far God heard and answer
ed the souls almost expiring effort
will be shown hereafter.
1T was now between midnight and
day; the campfire was dimly burning;
the sayages were lying side by side !;
the prisoners in their midst, all having
yielded to the embrace of natures 5
sweet restorer, balmy sleep.
!" And now it was that the All-sceing
visited in his ire the tiends incarnatc,
and in mercy, under tho circumstances,
answered the supplicatiyc appeal of the
yet surviving maiden.
"Of a sudden, vibratiye or trem-
bling sensation seemed to agitate the
hill, a sound preceding, as though the
ledge upon which we stood had been
suddenly severed and the detached mass
precipitcd below. No cry from the
camp succeeded-nor the fire again re-
newed, and nature settled into her
wonted quiet.
"We now began to see in the cast
faint dawnings Of aurora, and instinct
lively withdrew from the point of our
night watch, concealing ourselves in
the laurel at a point commanding the
mouth of White Day, in order to wit
ness the cgress of the craft and It's
crew.
''But long we waited. The sun had
reached the eastern SUBMITS of the hills
up which it climbed and began to cast
his glorious light far o'cr the forest
WIGS ana watery waste OF tile western
expansc. suf
" Patience wcaricd. Why this de-
tention2l will learn, said Levi, moving
with his native cautiousness to within
view of the camp. lie was there my
eye was on him. Without restraint
he bado me to him. But awful aw.
ful what q thrill passed through me
on beholdlng the spot. Not human
form was yisible--not ayestige Of life.
God had spoken in silent yet comprc-
hensivc voice to tho mute hill, and ito
beycd Him, for wo felt it in its effort !.
a scale from the mighty mass o'er head
bad suddenly sundGred and buried be-
meath it alike the guilty and innocent.
Here the corner Of q blanket protruded
here a pole. here n fork and 81