The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-03-10

cottagers. Their dwelling was not fs
from mine, and as soon as they heard {
my illness, they hnstened to attend NJ
on me- Thanks to their care I reco,
cred, and became frequent visitor q
their cottage. Gratitude made it dr
ty, love made it necessity.
I applied myself diligently to tn
study of their language, ard with Mari
and Laura for Instructors, soon &C
quired a great proficiency in it, an
could converse freely with shepherd
upon the mountain. Obliged, lik
them, to earn my living, soon begar
to value my hard earned necess ries
aud to forget the existauce of luxuriee
After hard days work I thorough,
enjoyed my evening meal of coarse breai
and goats milk. My sleep was peaceful
and vision of Laura danced through ny
dreams.
supposed that Marie and Lauri
were natives of Lauterburn. They wor,
the costume and spoke the language o
the country, but could not but observ.
a marked difference between their man
ners and those of the simple Swiss shep
hsrdesses. The latter possessed 6
cha. ming naturalness and at the same
time an air of rusticity. Marie and
Laura possessed the same naturainess
but a high bred refinement and cultiva.
tion were mingled with it. They were
calculated to adorn any station, howev-
er exalted.
In the meantime activity and the pure
air of the mountains accomplished mir.
acles in my behalf. I pursued the
chamois into almost inaccessible retreats,
and leaping down chasm was a mere
amusemst. After being so feeble re-
joiced in my strength, and acquired
wonderful energy and vitality.
One day reached the summit of the
Scheideg, and contemplated the vast
sceue around me, high rocks, steep pre-
cipices, and apparently bottomless abyes
wkile far beneath me lay, in min
iature, the smiling valley of Lauterburn
aud Grindleworld. A few light clouds
haxerozerde- -tha-horizon, and looked
like floating mountains.
was lost in admiration of the glow
ing scene, when suddenly a terrible
noise, like thunder, reverberated through
the mountains. The fearful sound in
creased, and thousand echoes repeated
it. I, safely out of the reach of the av-
alanches, began to descend with great
rapidIty, when 1 heard piercing cry,
and saw upon neighboring eminence a
young woman strething'her arms beseech-
ngly towards me. l few towards her,
and received the unfortunate girl in my
arms. bore her from the dangerous
spot. One moment more and should
nave been too late. It was Laura, and
none other than Laura, whom had res
'ued from death. I felt myself endowed
With new strength, and carried her in
ny arms without perceiving the weight
If my burden. 1 dashed down the
mountain with the agility of a chamois,
never stopping to breathe until reach
ID the dwelling of Marie.
Laura, tempted by the serenity of the
atmosphere, had ventured upon the
mountain, to collect some plants, and
vas surprised by the avalanche in the
midst of her occupation. After this
lay I assumed the entire Charge of
Marie aud Laura. On Sundays and
etc days escorted them to the village,
md joined in the dance with young peo-
lie on the green. These were the hap
,iest moments Of my life, for I asked
# Heaven no greater felicity than that
4 seeing Laura, every day. In the
neantime my exile had nearly expired.
Ny health was nearly re-established,
nd to my expectations of death had
ucceeded all the hopes of friendship
nd love. I thought of my friends at
ome, but could not decide to leave
ountry to which I was indebted for the
reatest of all benefits, health, and how
ould abandon Laura? could more
asily have renowned life.
The principal events Of existence are
of our own will. Our de.
igus are at the mercy of fcircumstar ces,
Ike leaf sport of the wind. I entered
ne evening the cottage of my neighbors,
nd found them both in tears: Maria
eeping in the arms of Laura, and say
,g, oh | my daughter, what will be-
ome of us I? where shall we take refuge ?
were alone I could drag through the
w days remaining to me, but I can
OF see you suffer-"
"Do not despair, my mother" said
aura, am well and can work and
,pport us both until that happy day
,all come which will restore US to our
,untry and rights. Be consoled then,
ID do not be unhappy about welfare.
This scene made so deep an impress
on upon me, that was no longer mas
II of myself, and entreated them to
,quaint nae with their misfortunes, and
should shed my last drop of blood in
Ieir cause. !
Laura burst into tears and exclaimed
soon we must mart forever