The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1857-06-18

-Aa' e'"A AoApA W nDHleA AAA.-A
manifested, more particularly toward
the gentIer sex, to whom he ascribed nu-
merous traits Of character not enumera-
ted in any catalogue Of female virtues
oxtant Hospitality nevertheless sur
vived buried hopes and fell despair, and
frequently the Hermit regaled his yisi-
tors with choice wines, aud entertained
them by reoiting in nondescript style,
the result Of his meditations. by many
these were esteemed only vagaties Of a
distempered brain ~ for me, the wild
lyrics had a deeper meaning, and / could
listen hours together to the strange min
strel and not weary. Thu, my zeal and
patience as a hearer commended me to
the distinguished consideration of the
Hermit, and his rapt manner Of repeat
ing legends Of hill and forest, stream
and cavern, inspired mewith voneratiOn
rather than pity
Once-I remember it well-the Her
NIT guided me from his cave across the
stream, and led me to the summit of
Fort Hill. We sat down upon frag-
ments Of the ancient citadel, facing to
the West. The sun had well nigh sped
his last evening ray. The opening be-
tween the lofty poplars revealed patches
of a gorgeous sunset sky. In deep
solitude, the fastening twilight found
the bearded Hermit and I alone. He
began in low, measured tones:
"Young man, you will have need to
be in truth as fearless as you profess
this night. Here, on these scattered
ruins, blood was split, and unrequited
calls for vengeance. Tn ages gone
when these tall trees were not, the bat
tie ragged between the Indian tribes
No savage hordes Of paint-disfgured
men were seen, nor whoops nor horrid
wells we're heard. The warriors of that
time were braves indeed, who reared this
fort, and fought and bled and died fol
liberty. Where each soldier fell there
rose a tree, and at each mid of night &
fresh tempestuous sound of war is heard
"Boy, you shall see and hear this
night, things known to none save me
"The story of those wars is long
The hills, the caves, the stream and roc
ky gorges, all do proclaim it. Wha
mean these ruins? What says this vas
cmbankment? What this vast cnclo
sure? All! preachers are they all mos
eloquent. Oh! hear them, boy.-Thc
warriors come. II see their camp
afre-'
Thus spoke the Hermit of the cave
and made me swear an awful oath, tina
locks the dread visions of that afte
night within my breast, and makes M
trembIe for what I dare reveal.
Meanwhile the twilight softly lit tn
day down stairs, and blended with tn
might. The heavens with myriad host
shono luminous. The full-orbod moo
arose above tho trees, and from her res
plendent brightness showered a mellov
light upon the scene. The fresheninI
breeze stirred the spectral boughs an
scattered the yellow leaves upon the la
of earth Enough! enchantment reign
ed from thence.
Even now, after the lapse of years
memory pictures an aged man, wit
hoary locks, and long white beard lean
ing upon staff, surrounded by the scene
Try I have feebly portrayed Again
hear that deep-t0ned, solemn voice, an
its hollow echoes awaken visions as o.
yore, wherein I fancy trees wave thei
branches familiarly, and every wailin
wind seems an anthem Of the dead.
y Il X Il X
This is the story as twas told to mt
by one Of undoubted veracity. NJ
promise to your readers is fulfilled.
NOAH.