Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-23
The Highland Mother.

promised to assist her in paying her rent
She carried on her back her only child, ,
boy two years old. The journey was a
long one. q was following the same wild
and lonely path, when l FIRST heard tho
story | am going to tell yOu) The noun
tain track, after leaving the small village
/ by the seashOre, where the widow lived
passes through a green valley, waterei BY
peaceful stream which flows from neigh
boring lake; it then winds along the mar
gin of the solitary lake, until, near its fur.
tber end, it suddenly turns into an cxten.
sivc copse- -aood of oak and birch From
this it omerges half way up rugged noun,
tain side, and entering dark glen, through
which a torrent rushcs amid masses Of
granite, it at last conducts the traveller, by
q zigzlg ascent, to narrow gorge which
is hcmmcd in upon every side by giant
precipices. Overhead is a strip of blue
sky, and all below is dark aud gloomy.
From this mountain pass, the widow s
dwelling was ten miles off, and no human
habi;ation was nearer than her own. She
had undertaken Z long journey, indeed.
But the rent was due some weeks before,
and the sub-cactor had threatened to dis
possess her, as the village in which she
lived, and which her family had lived for
two generations, was about to be swept
away, in order to enlarge sheep farm.
Indeed, along the margin of the quiet
stream which watcred the green valley,
aud along the shore Of the lake, might
even then be traced the ruins of many
hamlet, where happy and coateuied pco-
pie once lived, but whore no sound is heard
except the bleat Of 4 solitary sheep, or the
scream of an eagle as he wheels his fight
among the dizzy Frccipices.
The morning gave promise of lovely
day. But, before noon, sudden change
took place in the weather. Nor,hward,
the sky became black and lowering.
Masses of clouds rested upon the hills.
Sudden gusts of wind began to whistle
among the rocks, and to ruifis with black
squalls the surfscc Of the loeb. The wind
was succeeded by rain, and the rain by
sleet, and the sleet by a heavy fall of snow.
|. was the month of May, Cha; storm is
still remembered as the "great May
storm;'') the widest day Of winter new
er beheli fakes Of snow falling heavier
and faster, or whir.ing with more fgry
through the mountain pass, filling every
hollow and whitening every rock. Wea-
ry, and wet, aud cold, TIE widow reached
that pass with her child. She knew, that,
a mile beyond it, there was a mountain
shielding which could give shelter; BIZ,
the moment she attempted to face the
storm Of snow which was rushing through .
The gorge, all hope failed of proceeding in
that direction. The return home was
equally impossible. She must find shell,
Ter. The wild cats or fox's den would be
Welcome.
After wandering for some time among
he huge fragments of rock which skirted
he base of the oyerhangiDg rrccipices,
The at last found a more sheltered nook.
jrouching beneath projecting rock, she
PRESSED her child to her trembling bosom.
The storm continued to rage. The
now was accumulating overhead. Hour
fier hour passed. 1t became bitterly
odd. Evening approached. The widows
leart was sick with fear and anxiety. Her
hid, her only child, was all she thought
f. She wrapped him in her shawl. Blu,
he poor thing had been scantily clad, and
he shawl was thin and worn. The widow
,as poor, and her clothing could hardly
eiend herself from the piercing cold Of
uch night as this. But, whatever was
o become of herself, her child must be
reserved The snow, in whir.ing eddies,
ntered the recess, which afforded at the
est but a miserable shelter. The night
ame on. The wretchcd mother stripped
q almost all her own clothing, and wrap
ed it round her child, whom, at last, in
espair she put into deep crevce Of the
ock, among some dried heather and fern. ,
Aud now she resolves at all hazards to 1
rave the storm, and return home in order q
get assistance for her babe, or perish IN L
lie attempt. Claspiug her infant to her !
cart, aud covering its face with tears and =
i.ses, she laid him softly down to sleep, t
ad rushed into the snowy drift.
The night of storm was succeeded BY l
saceful morning The sun shone from
.e clear blue sky, aud wrea,hs of mist !,
lng along the mountain top, while c
Iousand water falls poured down their =
des. Dark figures, made visible at dis G
nee on the white ground, might be seen +,
l,h long poles examining every hollo" =
ar the mountain path. They are peo- "
e from the village, who are searching for
C widow and her son. They have reach 81
=, 49, = bo,rl hy ona of tba =,