Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-04-18

4
ROOF bending beneath the weight of a clam ber-
ing woodbine, peeped forth the solitary cabin
| OF the Young Fawn. A winding footpath
with Its soft carpet of green, led to the door
and down in little shady glen near by came
sparkling and dimplng the pure limpid waters
OF tiny rivulet, creeping like a beam of sill
yer light through the fragrant blossoms which
covered its mossy banks.
tsDear motheri' cried the maiden, as she
bounded through the open door, and threw
her arms about the bending neck of pale, in
teresting looking woman, who had arisen from
her seat at the first sound of her foot-s.dear
mother, am here though sadly wet, and here
are some friends who saved me from drowning;
for carelessly climbed on the tree for a bunch
of grapes, and fell into the dark waters. This
young gentleman generously brought me to
shore, and his sweet sister kissed me back to
life, for believe was insensibe till her
soft breath passed over my cheek, and tho't
her gentle voice, as she called on me to awake,
was the whisper of the kind angels who you
say watch over us.''
And she drew the smiling Esther towards
her trembling mother, looking from the pale,
anxious face of the one into the tender eyes
OF the other till her heart gushed out in graft
tude, and she laughed that soft. musical laugh
again till the shade passed from the white
brow OF her parent, and her usual calmness SIS re-
turned. She bowed gracefully to the manly
sing her arm kindly about the waist of Esther,
drew her to her bosom, and looked with sad
earnest look into her fair face, put back the
brown hair from her cheeks and kissed the
pure forehead. Her voice trembled slightly
as she spoke, but it was low and musical.
"You are welcome, sweet girl, to our hum
bic home, and l feel never can repay you
and your noble brother for the kindness you
have shown us. If the gratitude of full heart
affords you any compensation, it is yours. No.
rails all have to love land fshe were to leave
me lite would be cherries indeed.''
Tears sparkled in her sad, blue eye, and she
looked upon the beautiful child who approach
ed them from the little bedroom, where she
had exchanged her dripping garments for dry
ones in twinkling. A slight blush stole
over her face whenever she chanced to meet
the dark eyes of Oscar Durham. and strange
thrill passed through her frame when his mel
low voice sounded in her ear; but to Esther
she clung with exfravagant fondness, twined
the soft, brown ringlets about her slender fin
gers, and kissed the little white hands. She
told her of the pleasant haunts about her wild
wood home, of her daily sails upon the river,
and her occasional walks to the distant settle-
ment. And in return Esther told her of the
dear, bright home she had lately left, of the
many friends she had hidden adieu. and how
with her dear father and mother, her brother
and little sister, she dwelt in the bosom of the
forest but few miles distant. The wild crea-
ture clapped her hands for Joy and danced a.
bout the little room till the voices of her Wis.,
itors mingled with her own merry laugh, and
smile Of gladness dimpled the pale check of
her pensive mother. She was rejoiced that
companion so gentle and kind had been found
for her idol child; for since her young heart
first throbbed with its gushing tenderness, she
had had none but her mother to love, though
her yearning pure spirit went out toward all
that was bright and glad in nature.
The birds were her friends and she had lis
tened hours together to their merry carols till
her own tones had caught the echo and she
sang as gaily as they. She loved too to lis
ten to the rustling of the forest leaves when
the evening winds whispered among them and
they breathed forth their pensive sounds; and
then strange sadness would creep into her
spirit, and she would gaze with her large, ear
nest eyes up into the starry heavens and won-
der why the sparkling tiny gems could be scat
tered so lavishly !over the blue expanse. 1t
was at such times that the low tones of her
gentle mother had fallen soothingly upon her
heart as she told of the spirit land and of the
angel guardians who hover about the pathway
of mortals to guide them in the way to Heaven.
An hour had passed by. The strangers had
partaken of the simple meal spread by the
hands of their new friends, and the sun was
nearing the distant horizon but still they lin
gered. The wild light of Morals dark eyes
had softened to an expression of calm and tran
quill enjoyment, and her voice was low and
tremulous; but deeper feeling seemed to
pervade the bosom of her gentle mother
Strange, pleasant thoughts had taken posses
sion of her soul; and as she gazed into the
sweet face of Esther Durham and listened to
her voice. the dreams of early childhood SEEM
ed haunting her again, and dim, shadowy,
picture OF happiness and misery fitted before
her. She had said but little, and her eyes
rarely left the fascinating face of her visitor;
sometimes, when her low, mellow laugh min
gled with the glad strains from Nora's full
bosom, she would start to her feet and look a.
bout her, then a rush of tumultuous emotions
almost stilled the heavy beating of her heart,
and she would bury her face in her hands and
try to collect the dim fances which wandered
through her brain, and join the broken chain
of memory.
1t was evening and the sun was quite down,
though his golden light flooded the deep re-
cesses of the surrounding forest, when Oscar
Dunham arose and turned from the soft glance
OF N ora's eyes. He walked to the door, look
ed moment abroad, then returning, said re-
luctantly, stCome, Esther, we must start, for
1t will be very late before we reach home, and
mother will be so anxious. You know she is
always thinking of lurking red men, and fears
that you may yet be taken captive.''
ssYes. BROTHER" replied the fair girl, turn
ing from the entwining arms of her friend !; |
ssbut you know the reason of mothers anxiety
on that ground. She can never forget the
dear little sister they tore from her side long
ago, but am sure we need not fear now, and
do want to stay longer with Nora.''
None noticed the deathly pallor that over
spread the features OF the silent woman; for
the dimness of twilight was in the little room;
but when a stifed sob broke from her bosom
as she grasped Esther's arm and bent wildly |
over her, they all looked up in wonder.
Nora screamed in terror, and clung about
her form but she needed her not. The white
lips at first moved without sound, and the