Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-09-16

fear of discovery; and we knew that scarce a
stone would remain unturned in the untiring
search. Our situation on the second day be-
came distressing in the extreme. We had
nothing to eat, and poor Annie had become so
weak for the want of nourishment, that she
could scarcely raise her head from my arms.
Ny unfortunate sister-in-law grew rapidly
worse. She raved deliriously of Philip and
Queen Esther, and alas we could not help
her; we had not even glass of water with
which to moisten her parched lips. ssThou
wilt die here, my poor Rosette,' murmured
Philip, while he imprinted kiss upon her
burning temples 'sthou wilt die, my sweet
one and, shall-oh, no, no! shall not live
life's strange principle will still for while be
within me. Had / but left thee amid the
beautiful valies of the East, with thy young
hearts dear associates, Rosette. Oh have
placed my trembling dove in the heart of q
vulture. Matty, Matty," he continued, in a
low sepulchral tone, 81 am very fearful-she
breathes hard-do, do see if she is not worse.''
She was indeed; her respiration grew short
and difficult, and lost not moment in re-
Ao'ibE thC IuUDiSu iIOui thc cave cutIdHCe,
and getting my expiring friend to the open
air. l thought not of risk-I thought only
Of the horrors of death in our confined prison
house. Oh! how bright and glorious appear
ed once more the prospects of the soft blue
skies, and richly clothed wood lands. The
air of the forest in summer is always cool and
balmy, but it seemed doubly luxuriant then !;
and had on he of har <hor
was, thought could have exclaimed with
Willis then "existence was blessing.'' 1t
was beginning to be sunset, and the deep yell
low rays fell idly upon the grey moss where
We had laid the almost inanimate Rosette.
The stirring air and the warm sunshine seemed
to arouse her dormant faculties, for she part
ly opened her heavy eyes, and moved her lips
with a faint smile. ssOh, Matty 20 she sighed
almost inaudibly, sslet us go, they will murder
us here They have no hearts. Wilmer,
Wilmer, oh it is not my cousin Wilmer; he
has no vampire draining hearts blood. Spec
tire, thou art not Marcus. Away, away-thine,
thin, (she continued, fixing her CLASSY eyes
full upon me,) do You see A pagan inv vokIng
his deities. Wretch, thy Gods name is
Queen Esther! Thy axe is sharp, and there,
thou hast warm blood upon it-large purple
drops, and then wilt stain tho face of my
Philip-death, death'' and she clapped her
hands over her eyes, as if to avoid the dread
ful sight. Ny wretched brother vented the
agony of his soul in tears, and could not
hold doing the same.
ssIs that the wind ?'' asked Philip. L lis
tened; it was low rumbling sound like the
distant voice of the storms spirit; but it grew
nearer, and thought it was a wagon. Could
it be were we near any road? The bare
possibility of escape from our fast accumula-
ting miseries inspired me with new life. My
pale brother was so weak from loss of blood
that he could scarcely stand, so it remained
for me TO ascertain the foundation of our new
life. I started and hurried on in the direction
indicated by the sound. A large wagon now
came in sight, loaded mot with odious savages,
but with dear beautiful white people. The
driver saw me and stopped the horses, for
could not speak, so wildly did my heart flutter
with the expectation. ssWhat ails the child 20
exclaimed kind voice, Julet-it was my
own dear fathers.
Hearing of the fatal termination of the war
of Wyoming, he had left the troops of Strauds-
burg, and hastened to learn the fate of his
family, and now he had found them all except
my brother George, who was slain in battle.
My excellent mother wept tears Of joy over
her lost and found, and little Susan fairly
danced in an ecstacy of bliss. A short journey
brought us to the place where my father COM
me enced settlement. 1t was the very spot,
Juliet, Oh which yourpa now lives. But troubles
still attended us. For four long weeks were
we obliged to watch the sick bed of poor Ro-
settle. At the end of that time the physician
pronounced her convalescent but alas +! alas.
she was no longer the beautiful, the intellectual
Rosette Wilmer of other days. The lustre
OF the bright eye had departed forever. and the
stare of vacant idiocy sat in the place of an ex-
preston which was wont to entrance every be-
holder My brother, my wretched, my distract
ed brother could not bear this blighting of his
souls fondest hopes. He was broken hearted.
A few short months saw the silver cord parted.
and the solemn words, s.pUsr TO DUST. were
spoken over our beloved Philips grave. The
wife of my perished brother has ever since
that time, just as you see her now, an uncon-
scious fragment of that history, which 1 alone
live to relate. Ink.
Sheshequen, Pa.
A LETTER WRITER says that the travelling
retinue of Madame Lagrange, when she was
out west, consisted of q saprano a tenor, |