Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-12-05
The Warrior Maiden.

Sometime just before or about the be-
ginning of the revolutionary war, Sergeant
Jasper, of Marion's Brigade, had the good
fortune to save the life of q young, beautiful
and dark-eyod creole girl, called Sally ST..
Clair. susceptible nature was overcome
with gratitude to hcr prescrver, and this
soon ripQned into passion Of love, of tho
most deep and fervent kind. She lavished
upon him the whole wealth Of her affections,
and the whole depths of passion nurtured
by a Southern sun. When he was called
upon to join the ranks of his country's de-
tenders, the prospect of their separation
almost maddened her. Their parting came
but scarcely was she left alone, ere her
romantic nature prompted the means Of
reunion. Once resolved, no consideration
of danger could dampon her spirit, and
thought of consequence could move her
purpose. She severed her long and jcsty
ringlets, and provided herself and set forth
to follow the fortunes of her lover. .
A smooth. faced, beautiful and delicate
stripping appeared among the hardy, rough
and giant frames who composed the corps
to which Jasper belonged. The contrast
between the stripping and these men, in
their uncouth garbs, their massive faces,
embrowned and disOolored by the sun and
pain, was indeed striking. But none were
more eager for the battle, or SO Indifferent
to fatigue, as the fsir-faced boy. 1t was
found that his energy Of character, resolu-
ton and courage, amply supplied his lack
ofpeysique. None ever suspected that she
was woman. Not even Jasper himself,
although she was often by his side, pene.
trated her disguise. Her fellow soldiers
treated her with kindness and respect, and
often applauded her heroic bravery. The
romance of her situation increased the
fervor of her passion. 1t was her delight
, to reflect that, unknown to him, she was
, by his side to watch over him in the hour
, of danger. She had fed her passion by
gazing upon him in the hour of slumber
lowering near him when stealing through
the swamp and thicket, and being always
q ready to avert danger from his head.
But gradually there stole melancholy
q presentimen. over tie poor girls mind
She had been tortured with hopes deferred :
/ the war was prolonged, and the prospect of
I being restored to him grew more and more
uncertain. But now she felt that her dream
CT happiness could never be realized. She
y, became convicted that death was about to
4 snatch her away from his sidcj but she
= prayed that she might die, ahd he never
know to what length tbs violence of her
passion had led her
i. was the ere before battle. The
camp had susk irto repose. The watch
fires were burning low, and only the slow
tread If sentinels fell upon the profound
: sileAce Of The night air, as they moved
= through the dark shadows Of the forest
Stretched upon the ground, with no other
= couch than blanket, reposed the war like
e form of Jasper. Climbing vines trailed
= themselves into canopy above his head,
through which the stars shone down softly
- The faint flicker from the expiring embers
g of fire fell athwart his countenance, and
lie tingea the cheek of one who bent above
e his couch. 1t was the smoothed faced
% stripping. She bent low down, as if tc
~ listen to his dreams or to breathe into his
L soul pleasant visions of love and happiness
e But tears traced themselves down the fair
d ones check, and fall silently but rapidly
d upon the brow of her lover. A mysteriou,
90 voice has told that the hour of parting ha!
=, come; that tomorrow her destiny is con
ie summated. There is one last, long, ling
up ering look, and then the unhappy nader
le is seen to tear herself away from the spot
IN to weep out her sorrow in privacy
Fierce and terrible is the conflict thai
on the morrow RACES on that spot. Fore.
;, most in that battle is the intrepid Jasper
II, aud ever by his side fights the striplinI
.lt warrior. Often, during the heat and th'
st' smoke CLEANS suddenly upon the eyes o
- Jasper the melancholy face of the maiden
mt In the thickest of the fight, surrounded b.
ith enemies, the lovers fight side by side
MS Sudde ly lance is leveleG at the breast o
~. Jasper but swifter than the lance is Sail
1t; St. Clair. There is wild cry, and at tn
~ teet VI Ouspel slnhS Ile iudlueu, Win VI
NJ te-blood gushing from her white bosom
,he before his breast. He heeds not the di
art or the danger of the conflict; but down b
ne, the side of the dying boy he kneels. Ther
ne for the first time, does he learn that tn
at stripping is his love that often by the cam
ry fire, and in the swamp, she has been b
ny his side =; that the dim visions in his slun
all Der, of an angel face lowering above him
had indeed been true: In the midst of tn
my battle, with her lover by her side, and th
my barb still in her bosom, the heroic Made
rite dies 49,.
Her name, hersSd Nd her noble dey,
ton soon became known through the corp
we There was tearfal group gathered aroun
but her grave there was not of those hard
md warriors one who did not bedew her gra,
with tears Thew buried her near ii