Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-12-30

I him, and he inquired, s.Where am l. and how
came l here ?'' Louise replied, that he was
very i'll and must keep perfectly quet-that
her father had found him near the river, and
had borne him to the cabin. While listening
to the rich music of her voice, he gazed upon
her like one cntranced. A new light began to
break on his mind-his mothers prayers and
tears-the whole history of his past life SEEM
ed to rise like dark cloud shutting out the
light of heaven, and shutting his eyes, with
groan he relapsed into insensibility, from
which he did not recover for some hours.
When he did recover his senses, he lay for
some time musing on the past and present, and
wondering what the future had in store for
him. When he thought on the lovely being
who watched over him, and of the gentle moth
er whose counsels he had disregarded, he
groaned in the agony Of his remorse. Louise
bent over him., and whispered words of hope
and consolation to the heart-sick invalid.
When he was strong enough, Nimrod inform
ed him of the state in which he had found him
&nd his subsequent illness. John, like true
penitent, 'smade a clean breast Of it," and con-
fessed ali his crimes to his benefactors, prom
Ising amendment. John appeared new man,
and as he afterward acknowledged, Louise was
| the instrument of that change. He passed
some weeks with the hunter and his daughter,
during which time his gratitude ripened into
love, and he found that Louise had given her
hearts best affections to the erring, but re-
pentant prodigal.
CHAP. Iv.-THE WEDDING AND ITS RESULTS.
When Nimrod was made acquainted with
the state of affairs by the lovers, he at once
consented to their union. John urged that
the wedding should take place Immediately,
as he feared that his friends would oppose his
marriage with one who did not know letter
of the alphabet, and who was only the daugh
ter of poor old hunter. Nmrod and Louise
| at length gave way to his opportunities, and a
minister was brought from the nearest settle
ment, 'sand the twain were made one flesh. .
1t was some time after, that John got his cour-
age raised sufficiently to write TO his Mother,
and tell her all that had befallen him. How
he had fallen to the lowest depth of degrada-
tion-had sought to fee from home and kim
dred-had been abandoned in the forest, to
perish with tho wild beasts-had been taken
up and nursed by the old hunter and his daugh-
ter-how he had awoke to a new life through
Louise's influence, and how he had married
her, Notwithstanding her ignorance. When
his mother read his letter she wept tears of JOY
| for her son, sswho had been dead and was alive
| again-had been lost and was found" With
regard to his marrying Louise she remarked
that any girl was good enough for her son.
+Inr,,, Al,
! home. In Louise she found being of uncom-
mon mental capacities, and one who only
wanted education to make her an ornament to
| the most refined society. To cheerful and
| sprightly disposition she added sweetness of
! temper and gentleness of manner which made
| all who knew her love her. Her motherin- law s
! first care was to procure a competent teacher,
and have her educated, which did not prove a
difficult task ,as she possessed great application,
quick perceptions, a good judgment, and re-
tentiye memory. In very short time she
completed thorough education, so that she
! took a position in the highest circles, where
she became a general fovorite. And now she
induced her husband to go into business, his
father furnishing the capital, and by her supe-
rior skill and management, the business soon
! became profitable one. Her influence over
her husband was unbounded, and though he
had tact for business, yet he remained a sober,
respectable merchant, his wife being chief
| clerk and manager. Years have passed and
| this child of the forest is the mother of large
| family of respectable and intelligent children /;
her husband, too, moves in the highest circles
of responsibility, and attributes all to the in
fiuence of the hunters daughter. She has set
a noble christian example before her family
and has trained her children in the path of vir-
tue and usefulness. Perhaps the reader would
like to know what become of old Nimrod.
Well he lived alternately with his daughter
and in the cabin the hill side till the ssclear
ings'' of the white man surrounded his humb-
le home, and his game was driven farther back.
He then spent his time in the family o { his be-
loved daughter, where he died a few years
since, mourned and regretted by all.
l cannot close this imperfect sketch with
out giving a friends description of this inter-
esting family. About three years ago he Wis.,
tied the town of P and there became ac-
quainted with this family. He says, ssthis ex-
traordinary woman still possessed traits of
great personal beauty, and was lively, and
cheerful. Her intelligence and conversation
al powers were truly wonderful Her family
appeared to partake of her energetic DISPOSE
ton, and were intelligent beyond their years
L could not help feeling, after hearing this
woman's history, that ''truth is stranger than
fiction" And now gentle reader shall lay
down my pen to resume it no more, or do you
look for another communication from your