The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-07-03
THE MAID or RgCk CREEK,
OR, sERAPHISA AND Rrpor.puus

THE MAID or R0ck CREEK,
OR, sERAPHISA AND RUpoLrHrs
Twas evening ON the banks of beautiful
Mock Greek. The silver beams Of Luna,
which struggled down through the branches
OF the trees, revealed scene Of transcenden-
tai beauty. Upon an ancient stump which
had brased the tcmpcsts Of an hundred win
tiers, sitting in an attitude of graceful re-
pose, was an angeliierous maiden just bloom
cd out :rso sunny womanhocd. She was
radiantly and peerlcsslv beautiful. Webster
hides his inglorious head in the dust in the
vain attempt to furnish words descriptive Of
her loveliness
Graceful a duck, wild ~ hawk, pen
sive as setting hen, with her rich curis OF
tow-colored gold streaming over her should
ers to the ground, like some bright swamp
angel she sat, while the moonbeams rested
like . halo upon her elegant head. Sorrow.
aud the mullen stalks which grew around
her, cast deep shadows over her unri,allcd
countenance, and the night wind. as il kiss
ed her magnificent cheek, bore 10 her do.
lighted olfactories the fragrant breath Of
elder blows. Her knitting work Law idle in
her lap. Her eyes, which shsmed the lrht-
ming bugs, were bepoolized with diamond
tears. She was listening with an air offs
rowful distraction to the passionate plead
ings OF noble youth who knelt nj her feet
Never moonlight fell on q more rlorieus in.
telicctual countenaucc than that upturued
To the maiden's enamored gaze. Never
yielded mother earth to finer form than
that which pressed the dsndclion bank at
Seraphinas feet. Ills features were such A.
Nebucla lnexxzr or Appollo might have en-
Wed.
His dark, piercing eyes were like the wa
tiers Of his own Rock Creek for depth and
clearness, and were brilliant mirrors in
which the truth and veracity Of his god like
soul Were reflected. From his brow Of vast
and poiulerons proportions, the >ympathiz-
lng breeze swept back that long hyacinthinc
! lock, whose hue in the shade was a deep
raven hlackness, but when the light fell up
ON ii IL resemblcd muddy pool when the
sun beams strike il aslant.
His hands were clxspcd ia an attitude Ut
despair. lie spoke, and has tones were
deep and monrnul ~ chant at the funer-
al Of martyred bull-frog nj Rock Creek
lam. 20, fairy queen Of heaven. Pure dove
III the moonshiny sky. Translucent light ii
my benighted eyes. Cherished and beloved
Ut my hearts core! How caast thou doubt
my love} Dost thou doubt that the cabbage
loves the genial rainf Dost thou ,louL, that
the chicken loves the dough disil Then
doubt my love Tor thee. All. love II bur N
feeble word To express the passion that con.
sumes my vitals, be mine, adorable one
else die"
.kudoiphns,' she murmurcd. lit cannot
be. The mandate of my ycng.hsl father
and the decree Of fate must DC obeysd."-
and her voice was n melodions As the t,nLlo
Of fractured cow-bells, Car away down the
scipo road and low and sad as the last moan
II dying pollywoG. talk not Of the obe-
dicnce, thou beautiful and cruel oner' he
yelled, In voice Of specifics agony. 20.
canst thou sit Ia thy cold majesty, like a
frozen sausage, and see NV aching heart 20.
ing to smash before thine eyes, for missak.
en- sense Of duty2"
See said he, Is his voice died away 20
sad wall, like the yowl Of broken back
cd mastii', AMI he dashed from the mullen
leaves dsop cf pcarly dew. See, Night
wccis with me and mourns the cruelty"
The maiden was appalled, At the sight Vi
nis anguish. The crimson tide which dyed
her cheek Ikea red holly hook, cut stick and
lett Il whittier thana cotton pillowcase. She
arose from her seat, dazzling in the resple,-
Dent osaut, n bright tin milk pan when
the midday beams of the glorious sun are
poured full upon II, and captivating in her
-hadowy grace a. a yellow lily, floating Up
GA the iimpid waters Of dry goose pond
She spoke, and the stars Of night stood still.
the wind ceased 10 moan among the leaves,
and the frogs were silent 10 listen. aRu,lol-
Plus, beloved OF my soul, she said inn voice
sweeter than the syrup of New Orleans,
thou knowcst that love thee. NV heart
elings 20 thee a. the bean 10 Its pole. NV
leart knows no music save thy voice, and
my iips no victuals but thy kisses. Without
thee famish, die. But the picket fence
u duty surrounds msA IL is stuck full Of
cruel spikes, and I cannot surmount il. A
last embrace, my heavenly one, and we part
forever IBID me not depart'r Nc roared.
a. he claspcd her To his breast; IL will new.
CT leave thee. Forty-leven savage locomo-
tiyes have not the power 10 tear us from
each Others arms. ! tell thee, mine angel
love, the thought Of leaving thee ren,l. my
soul, maddens me, il makes me rip and rave
like frcnxied shanghai, Ii makes me below,
like distracted bed-bug, Il makes me feel
lad. In my desperation would tear up
creation by the roots would Hog the earth.
| quake. would eat red-hot pokersl would
drink up the ocean, and then cast myself in
to the black and sursing pillows which roll
1T my feetr'
Serapli:la burst into a flood of tears
Their excessive emotion osercame them, and
they swooned away.
Again Il was evening upon Rock Greek
again the cold moon locked down upon
rccne VI excruciating woe. In a dark, dis
NAL damp, gloomy, ghostly ,castle, built Of
the unhewn monarcls Of the forest. upon n
pile Of hay, lev the angelic seraphina, the
victim q her fathers tyranny. Hrr lin-ey-
~ooisey robes were torn and disarrznged.
her ieyel, face soiled and slautty. her sill
/ very cnrls dl.lleycled, her cerulcan eye, as
/ red ss cranberrles and sweled with wecp-
ing but for all this she looked more beau
tful than ever. By her side stood txvon
u calculated buttcrmilk and 4 platter of
tispjack-. NO, nc. sns family nuttered,
pushing 'he I'D away, .'ict them not seek
u protong my misery b, offering me tempt
ing viand.. ] will never eat more--ueyer.n
just then low dolelui sound was borne 4,
her ear. She started ssWas IL though
Rudolphus ~ she cried. ..Ah, no. will NOT
iatter myself with vain hopes. Twas but
the calf blcating 20 lis mother" And sL..
sank down exhausted upon the straw again.
TO court death.
Aga;n was she sound repeated. She
sprang TO her feet, aud pecped oat thron
chink in the log. IL was indeed her lo,.
or looking up with wistfnl eyes 10 her dun
gcon window, while many tears streakei
down hi. cheeks. 20 save me. Rutiolpha,. y
.lc screamed. II would smash down tl.os.
massive pine DOOR, he answered, with ON.
blow Of my stalwart fist, an, snatch thee
from the cruel csptors, but | an afraid tLy
fathers darned oxen will hook me- And
lie sank upon the ground Ia tie inn,
tenee a his rage aud despair, and hiding his
lace IN the burdock leaves he howlcd aloud.
Weep not, my Kudolphus,n said she. Il
will come to the SO saying, the heroic
girl decended to the stable and while the
gnats and mosquitoes Numbered about her
lair head, tearing up with her tiny hands On
oaken plank from the floor, she soon emery.
ed into the COW yard In an instant the
lovers were clasped ip each others arms
The donkey q Rudolphus stood near, and
folding his lovely burden 70 bis breast, the
youth sprang into the saddle and murmur
ing in her ear sweet tales Of love in : for