Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-04-05
The Highland Mother.

child, boy two years old. The Jour
ney was long one. II was following
the same wild and lonely path, when
first heard the story l am going to tell
you.) The mountain track, after leaving
the small village by the seashore, where
the widow lived, passes through green
valley, watered by peaceful stream
which flows from a neighboring lake; it
then winds along the margin OF the soli-
tary lake, until, near its further end, it
suddenly turns into an extensive copse-
wood of oak and birch. From this it
emerges half way up a rugged mountain
side, and entering a dark glen, through
which a torrent rushes amid masses of
granite, it at last conducts the traveller,
by zigzag ascent, to narrow gorge
which is hemmed in upon every side by
giant precipices. Overhead is a strip of
blue sky, and all below is dark and
gloomy.
From this mountain pass, the widows
dwelling was ten miles off, and no hui
man habitations was nearer than her own
She had undertaken n long journey, in
deed. But the rent was due some weeks
before, and tho sub-factor had threatened
to dispossess 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 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 thus ne traced the ruins of
many hamlet, where happy and con-
tented people once lived, but where no
sound is heard except the bleat of sol
itary sheep, or the scream of an eagle as
he wheels his flight among the dizzy
precipices.
The morning gave promise Of q lovely
day. But, before noon, Il sudden change
took place in the weather. Northward,
the sky became black and lowering. Mas
ses of clouds tested upon the hills. Sud-
den 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
W the month Of May, (that storm is
still remembered as the great May
Storm the widest day of winter new
er beheld flakes of snow falling heavier
and faster, or whirling with more fury
through the mountain pass, filling every
hollow and whitening every rock. Wea-
ry, and wet, and cold the widow reached
that pass with her child. She knew,
thar, mile beyond it, there was noun
TO, Oh ;all ,,hinl ,ya11l ,ri,,n hal.
but the moment she attempted to face the
storm of snow which was rushing through
the gorge, all hope failed of proceeding
in that direction. To 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
the hinge fragments of rock which skirt
ed the base of the overhanging preci-
pices, she at last found more sheltered
nook. Crouching beneath projecting
rock, she pressed her child to her trem-
bling bosom. The storm continued to
rage. The snow was accumulating over
head, Hour after hour passed 1t be.
came bitterly cold Evening approached
The widows heart was sick with fear and
anxiety. Her child, her only child was
all she thought of. She wrapped him in
her shawl. But the poor thing had been
scantiy clad, and the shawl was thin and
worn. The widow was poor, and hen
clothing could hardly defend herself from
the piercing cold Of such a night as this
But, whatever was to become of herself,
her child must be preserved. The snow,
in whirling eddies, entered the recess,
which afforded at the best but miserable
shelter. The night came on. The
wretched mother stripped off almost all
her own clothing, and wrapped it round
her child, whom, at last, in despair she
pnt into deep crevicc of the rock, among
some dried heather and fern. 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 softly down to
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 wreaths of mist
hung along the mountain top, while d
thousand water falls poured down THEN
sides. Dark figures. made visible at q
distance on the white ground, might be
seen with long poles examining every
! hollow near the mountain path. They
are people from the village, who arc
searching Tor the widow and her SON.
They have reached the pass, a cry is
heard by one OF the shepherds, as he sees
bit of tartan cloak among the snow
They have found the widow-dead; hol
arms stretched forth as if imploring ior
assistancel Before noon, they discovered
the child by his cries. He was safe in th,
crevice Of the rock The story of thai
woman = affection tor her child was soor
read in language which all understood
Her almost naked body revealed her love
Many tear was shed, many an exclama
ton expressive of admiration aud aflec
tion was uttered, from enthusiastic, sor
rowing Highland hearts, when on tha
evening the aged pastor gathered the vii
layers in the deserted house OF mourning
aud by prayer and fatherly exhortaloi
sought to improve, for their souls good
an event so sorrowful.
More than halfa oentury passed away
The aged and faithful pastor was Ion.
dead. though his memory still lingere,