Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-06-25
Tbrilling Sketch.
A RACE FOR LIFE.

Forty years ago, my father settled in
one of the counties Of central New York.
All as wilderness-wild, grand, beau
tiful We located fifteen miles from the
furthest pioneer. The woods were around
us-the tall trees and picturesque noun
tains.
We had opened space in the forest,
and cabin of that good old time afford
ed us shelter. 1t looked new and CON-
Portable, and its chimney smoke curled
gracefully up and vanished with the
shadows of the forest The. blackened
heaps smoked and cracked, and deep in
those wild solitudes, the wilderness BIOS
somed and smiled in the presence of q
yellow harvest. A happy home was
theirs. The birds sang at early morn,
and the deep river near the door MUIR
INJURED sweetly at nightfall. There were
gentle whisperings in the trees as they
bowed their heads in the winds, holy
anthem Aoated up from the vast temple
where nature breathes fresh and pure
from the hand of God. The wild flow
ers bloomed even by the very door sill,
and the deer stopped in the forest to gaze
upon the smoke of the chimney top.
Twas beautiful home in the wilder
ness. The spring brought us neighbors.
Twas great day when a neighbor came
in ard purchased land across the river.
He received warm welcome from pion-
eer hearts; and by the ready agency of
pioneer hands, comfortable log cabin
peered out from the dense woodland of
the opposite bank. watched the smoke
from the opposite roof as the sun went
down, and eagerly looked for it the next
morning. But it was not the smoke /
cared so much about. only knew that
it curled upward from the Preside where
dwelt as beautiful creature as ever
bloomed away from the busy world
And so | watched the smoke, and dreamed
as watched the river, until the moon
threw down its beautiful pathway of
shining silver, and listened for the sound
or familiar fUOtsteps.
Across the river was the home of
Carry Mason. Before the haze of a
mellow autumn had dropped its dreary
hue on leaf and stream, had learned
to love her, and to tell her 30, in the
still moonlight of that hidden home
The leaves faded, and the winter winds
swept through the forest, but we cared
little for that. The snow fell thick and
fast, but our cabin homes were bright,
and our hearts we're alive with happiness
and hope. When the Spring opened
and the birds returned, we were to be
married.
A winter evenings party in new
country. Did you ever attend one,
reader? There are large hearts there to
be found. Garry aad had been invi-
ted to attend party; rude Jumper
had been built, and in this we started.
Ten miles were soon passed, and we
found ourselves in as merry and happy q
throng as ever gathered on frontier. =
The huge fire cracked on the wide
hearth, and old fashioned fun and frolic
rang out until late hour. The moon
had gone down when we started for
home, and the snow began TO fall, but
we needed it not, for we talked fast, as
the stout horse sped on in the forest
path.
Carry grasped my arm and whispered,
hist The wind sbrieked over the tops
Of the dark pines, and laughed at her
fears. But she nestled close to my SIDE,
ard talked with iest glee. In spite Of