The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-02-11

ed and invited me to join in their amuse.
ment; but declined, and they abandon
ed me to my own reflections. The young
girl with whose beauty l had been sc
struck was not among the gay threng; she
had disappeared Immediately upon leav.
| ing the church.
After the rustic ball, the girls, hand il
hand, singing gaily as they went, advanced
to the foot ofa high hill, whose summit was
covered with ice. All at once they start
ed and rushed full speed up the slippery
eminence. They seemed like troop Of
angels ascending to heaven. But what
was my terror when they began to descend
1 in the same rapid and perilous manner
With great speed they came springine
down the declivity, their hair unbound
aud floating in the wind, while their low
ers at the base of the hill, with their arms
extended, receiving them with innumera-
bic kisses. 81
/ Happy shepherdsp Iexclaimed, how
/ envy you!'
i Upon arriving at the house, I learned
THAT my guide had purchased for me a
flock of a dozen goats, and little cabin
tnpon one of the neighboriEg mountains.
/ The transaction had consumed almost all
my money, and ifI wished to live, must
labor like my new companions, no richer
than any ofthem s3 7o '''
My dwelling was neat, and furnished
with every thing necessary for comfort
ia bench, a table, ard bed, little hard,
to be sure, but soft enough for the robust
limbs of tired shepherd
! My firstrfew days were frightfuI. The
| isolation in which l lived, the coarse
fare, to which i was unaccustomed, the
violent exercise in following my goats
over steep rocks and precipices, all COM
tbined to drive me to dispair. Soon had
mot strength to leave my cabin: burning
fever consumed me- and my senses were
lost in delirium remained ten days
hoverihg between life and death. Some
times believing myself in my own country,
sometimes seemed to see at my bedside
| the young girl whom met at church, but
her sweet face was soon obliterated by
others.
Finally, after letbargic sleep, my rea-
son returned, inquired. Where am I?'
A voice replied, 'Heis saved' l opened
my eyes and perceived two females, one
of middle age, who had uttered the excla-
nation, butthe other fresh as spring, and
beautiful as q new born flower gazed at
me in silence. These are the two angels,
said, in my own language, that have
saved my life' My words they could not
understand, but my sentiments, an sure
they did, ~ 81
I Marie and Laura, as they were called
in the valley, were beloved by all the in
habitants of Lauterbruun They delight
ed in good deeds, and often climbed the
mountains to carry assistance to sick cot
tagers.s Their dwelling was not far from
mine, and as soon as they learned of my
illness they hastened to tend upon me-
Thanks to their care, 1 recovered, and be-
came a frequent visitor at their cottage. -
Gratitude made it dnty and love made
it necessity. rs t.Ga -g
applied myself diligently to the study
OF. their language, and, with Marie and
Laura, for instructors, L soon acquired
great proficiency in it, and could converse
freely with the shepherds upon the noun
tains. Obliged, like them, to earn my
own liyingJI soon began to value my
hard-earned recessaries and to forget the
existence of luxuries. After a hard days
work, I thoroughly enjoyed my evening
meal of coarse bread and goat IS milk. My
sleep was peaceful, and visions of Laura
danced through my dreams.
4 supposed that Marie and Laura were
natives, of Lauterbrunn. They wore the
costumes and spoke the language of the
country; but could not but observe a
marked difference between their manners
and those of the simple Swiss shepherdess.
The latter possessed charming natural
ness, and at the same time an air of rus
ITCHY; Marie and Laura possessed the
same naturalness, but higE-bred refine
ment ana cultivation with it. They were
calculated to adorn any station, however
exalted. t.4
In the meantime, activity and the pure
air of the mountains, accomplished mira
teles in my behalf. could climb the
steepest rocks and the most slippy paths.
Il pursued the chamois into almost inac-
cessible retreats and leaping frightful
chasm was mere amusement. After be-
ing SO feeble, ! rejoiced in my strength,
and acquired wonderful vitality and en-
fergy. 48l35 ~ be. att IA
One day reached the summit of the
Scheldeg, and contemplated the scene
around me-high rocks, steep precipices,
and apparently bottomless abysses, while
1far, farEbeneath me, lay in miniature, the
smiling valleys of Lauterbrnnn and Erin.
denwold. A few light clouds hovered
down the horizon, and looked like floating
mountains. &zs
| !, ]. waselost in admiration at the gloriou.
Iscene, when suddenly a terrible noise, like
thunder reverberated through the noun
tains. This fearful soundincreased, an6
Ia thousand echoes repeated it. i, safely