Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-11-14


occasionally tear would steal from beneath
her eyelashes. Her sadness gave her an
additional charm, in my eyes Like me,
she IS unhappy | sail, shut happiness
vii soou slnile upcn her, while with me
dealh only will put an end to NY misery 9
Next followed a ball: and two hundred
young people danced me- rily to the sound
Of the same instrument that We bad heard
IN the church. Seeing a strange shepherd
reclining IN the shade Of an ancient pine.
soaae Of the dancers approached and invi-
ted me 70 join in aleir amusement; but l
deelined, and theJ abandoned me to ny ewn
reflections. The young girl With whose
beauty had been 50 struck was uot among
the gay thrangi she had disappeared ila-
n4edi4tely upon leaving The church.
Alter the rustic bali tue girls, hand in
hand, singing gaily as they went, advan-
ced to the foot Of high hill, whosesumuiit
was covered With lee All at opce they
starte9 and rushed full speed up tie slip-
perry eniiheaee, Tacy secaea like d troop
Of angels aseendingto Heaven. But what
was my terror when they began to descend
IN the same rapid and peeilaus maansr--
Wish great speed they game spfingiae
down the deeliyity, tl4eir hair ullaoun1 aud
floating in the wind, wiile their lovers at
tie base Of the hill, with their arms ex-
tended, received sheEi with innumerable
kisses.
"Happy shephefd,!'' l exclaimed, alop
] envy you Y
Upon arriving at the hoase ! learned that.
my guide had purchased for ne d aask og
dozen g ats, and a little cabin npon ofe
OF the neightoring mountains. Tbs trans
action bad consumed almost al my nsoloy.
and # I Wished % live, must labor ike
NY new coiap4aions, 10 richer than. any Of
them
Mydwelling was neat, and furnished
With everything necessary for comfort; a
beneb, table, aaa lel, lissl- L2r1 ia
be sure, but soft enough for the robust
limbs Of tired shepherd
Sly first few days we're frigbtful. The
insulation in which lived, The coarse fare,
20 which | was uaaceustomed, the violent
exercise in following my goats over steep
rocks and precipioes, all combined to drive
me to despair. Soon had no; strength to
leave uay cabin; a burning fever consun-
ed me, and my senses were lost in delirium.
remained tea days lowering between life
and death. Sometimes believing myself IN
mg own country, sometimes on a desori
Island, pursuing phantoms that A u before
me. Sometimes l seemed to see at my
bedside the young girl whom metat tie
church, but her sweet face was soon oblit-
Grated by others.
Finally, after lethargic sleep, my reason
returned. / Inquired, "Where am ~ \
voice replied, "He IS saved"' / opened
my eyes aud perceived two females, one OF
middle age who had uttered the cxclama-
tioni but the o'I.er, fresh as spring, and
beautiful as a new born flower, guzed at
me in silence. "These are the two angels,
I said, in my own language, sthat have
saved my Iiie." My words they could not
understand, but my seatiment l am sure
they did
Marie and Laura, as they were called in
the valley, were beloved By all the inhabi-
tants of Lauterbrup. They delighted in
good deeds, and often climbed the noun
tains to carry assistance 10 sick co,tagers.
Their dwelling was not far from mine, aud
as soon as they learned of my illness they
hastoned to tend upon me. Thanks to their
care, recovered, and became frequent
visitor at their cottage. Gratitude made it
a duty, and love made it a necessity.
l Iappliod myself diligently to tie study
Of their language. and, With Marie and
Laara for instruc tors, | soon acquired great
proficiency in it, and could converse freely
with the shepherds upon the meuhtainz.-
Obliged, like them, to eafn my own living,
i soon began TO value my bard earned ne
cessaries, and to forget the existence Of
luxuries. After a hard days wosk, thor
oughly enjoyed my evening meal of coarse
bread and goats milk. Ny sleep was peace
ful, aud visions of Laura danced through
my dreams.
/ supposed that Marie and Laura were
natives of Lauterbrun. They wore the cos
fumes and spoke the language of the eoun-
try; but could not but observe q marked
difference between their manners and those
of the siuplc Swiss shepcrdesscs. The lat
ter possessed charming naturalncss, and
at the same time an air of rusticity. Ma
RE and Laura possessed the same natural
ness, but high bred refnemons and cult
vation was mingled with it. They were
calculated 10 adcrn any station, however cx-