Shreveport daily news., 1861-04-27
his dreary scene, darted across his

sAAAS ~Ao~aJ eSo..o' NAsoo oSiosS Ais
mind-every blast as it swept in
hollow guests over the heath, seemed
to TEEN with the ghosts of departed
spirits-and the birds, as they win.
ged their way above his head, ap.
peared, with loud and shrill cries, to
warn him of approaching danger
The whistle with which he usually
beguiled his weary pilgrimage died
away into silence, and he grouped
with trembling and uncertain steps,
which sounded too loudly in his ears
The promises of Scripture occurred
to his memory, and he revived his
courage. 81 will be unto thee as a
rock in the desert, and as an hiding
place in the Storm Surely, thought t
he, though alone, am not forsaken f;
and a prayer for assistance lowered
on his lips.
A light now glimmered in the
distance which would lead him, he
conjectured, to the cottage of the old
woman; and towards that he eager
ly bent his way, remembering as he
hastened along, that when he had
visited it the year before, it was in
company with large body of ira
vellers who had beguiled the even
ing with those tales of mystery
which had so lately filled his brain
with images of terror. He recolIec-
ted, too, how anxiously the old wo-
man and her sons had endeavored to
detain him when the other travellers
We're departing and now, therefore
he confidently anticipated a cordial
and cheering reception. His first
call for admission obtained no visible
marks Of attention, but instantly the
greatest noise and confusion prevailed
within the cottage. They think it
is one Of the supernatural visitants of
whom the old lady talks so much,
though the boy, approaching Win
dow, where the light within showed
him all the inhabitants at their sev-
eral occupations the old woman was
hustily scrubbing the stone floor, and
strewing it thickly over with sand,
while her two sons seemed with equal
haste to be thrusting something large
and heavy into an immense chest,
which they carefully locked. The
boy, in a trolicsomc mood, thought
lessly tapped at the window, when
they all instantly started up with
so strong Y depicted on
their countenances, that he shrunk
back .involuntarily with an underlined !
feeling Of apprehension; but before
he had time to reflect q moment lon
ger, one of the men suddenly darted
,ut at the door, and seizing the boy
'oughIy by the shoulder, dragged him
into the cottage. Il am
lot what you take me for,' said the
10Y, attempting to laugh, .'but only
he poor pedlar who visited you last
vear.' care you 0lomeE' inquired
he old woman, in Il harsh deep tone,
which made his heart thrill with APP
yes" said the boy,
Il am alone hcre; and alas!'' he
.dded, with a burst Of uncomfortable
ceiling, 81 am alone in the wide
world also! Not a person exists who
would assist me in distress, or shed
single tearif | died this very night"
''Then you are welcome - said
ne Of the men with a sneer, while
e cast glance Of peculiar express
ion at the other inhabitants of the
ottage.
1t was with a shiver of apprehen-
ion, rather. than Of cold, that the
10Y drew towards the fire, and the
ooks, which the old woman and her
ons exchanged, made him wish that
e had preferred the shelter Of any
ne of the roofless cottages which 5
'ere scattered near, rather than trust
imself among persons of such du-
ious aspect, Dreadful sumises fit
ed across his brain, aud terrors which (;
e could neither combat or examine,
nperceptibly stole into his mind