The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-04-06
8fliQious 8rading.
The Highland Mother.


one morning. in order to reach before eve
ming the residence of kinsman who had
promised to assist her in paving her rent
She carried on her back her only child, boy
two years cd. The journey was long one.
was following the same wild and lonely
path, when first heard the story am going
TO tell you. The mountain track, after leav-
ing the small village BY the sea shore, where
the widow lived, passes through green val
ley. watered by peaceful stream which flows
from neishboring lake; it then winds along
the margin of,he lake, until, near its further
end, it turns into an extensive copse-wood Of
oak and birch.
From this it energies halfway up rugged
mountain side, and entering dark glen,
through which torrent rushes amid masses
Of granite, it at last conducts the traveler,by
q zigzag ascent. - narrow gorge, which IS
hemmed in upon every side by giant precipi-
ces. Overhead is strip Of blue sky, below
is dark and gloomy.
From this mountain pass the widows
dwelling was ten miles of, and no human
habitation was nearer than her own. She
had undertaken long journey indeed. But
the rent was due some weeks before, and the
sub-factor had threatened to dispossess her,
rs the village in which she lived, and which
her family had lived for two genera,ions.was
about to be swept away, in order to enlarge
a sheep farm. Indeed, along the margin Of
the quiet stream which watered the green
valley, and along the shore Of the lake might
even then be traced the ruins of many ham
let, where happy and contented people once
lived, but where no sound is heard except
the Lleat of solitary sheep, or the scream
Of the eagle as he wheels his fight among
the precipices.
The morning gave promise of a lovely day.
But before noon sudden change took place
in the weather. NorthwarI the sky became
black and lowering. Masses Of clouds rest
ed upon the hills. Sudden gusts Of wind
began to whistle among the rocks. and to
rutile with black squalls the surface of the
loch. The wind was succeeded by rain, and
the rain by sleet, and the sleet by heavy
fall of snow. 1t was the month Of May for
that storm is still remembered as the "great
May storm" The widest day of winter
never beheld fakes Of snow falling heavier
and faster. or whirling with more fury thro'
the mountain pass, filling every hollow. viii
tening every rock.
Weary, and wet, and cold, the widow
reached that pass with her child. She knew
that mile beyond it there was mountain
shielding which could give shelter; but the
moment she attempted to face the storm of
snow which was rushing through the gorge,
all hope failed Of proceeding in that direc-
ton. The return home was equally impossi-
bic. She must find shelter The wild cats
or fox's den would be welcome.
After wandering for some time among the
fragments Of rock which skirted the base of
the overhansing rrecipices, she found more
sheltered nook. Crouchins beneath pro-
jectins rock, she pressed her child to her
trembling bosom.
The storm continued to rage. The snow
was accumulating overhead. Hour after hour
passed. 1t became bitterly cold. The eve
ming approached. The widows heart was
sick with fear and anxiety. Her child, her
only child, was all she thought of. She wrap
ped HIM in her shawl. But the poor thing
had been seantily clad, and the shawl was
thin and worn. The widow was poor, and
her clothing could hardly defend herself from
the piercing cold of such night as this
But whatever was to become of herself, her
child must be preserved. The snow, in
whirling eddies, entered the recess. which az
forded at the best but miserable shelter
The night came on. The wre,ched mother
stripped off almost all her own clothing, and
wrapped it round her child, whom, at last
in despair she put into deep crevice of the
rock
And now she resolves at all hazards to
brave the storm, and return home in order
to get assistance for her babe or perish in
the attempt. Clasping her infant to her heart
and covering its face with tears and kisses.
she laid him down 10 sleep, and rushed into
the snowy drift.
The night Of storm was succeeded BY a
peaceful. morning. The sun shone from the
clear blue sky, and wrea,hs Of mist hung a.
long the mountain top, while thousand va
ter-falls poured down their sides. Dark fs-
ures, made visible at distance on the white
ground, might be seen with long poles exam
lining every hollow near the mountain path.
They are people from the village, who are
searching for the widow and her son. They
have reached the pass. cry is heard BY
one of the shepherds, as he sees bit Of a
tartan cloak among the snow. They have
found the widow-dead; her arms stretched
forth as if imploring for assistance. Before
noon they discovered the child by his cries
He was safe in the crevice of the rock. The
story of that woman's affection for her child
was soon read in language which all under
stood. Her almost naked body revealed he,
love.
Many tear was shed, many an exclama
ton expressive of admiration and afFertior