The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-09-17

Dear mother cried the wild, sweet maid
en-, as she bounded through the open door, and
threw her arms about the bending neck OF
pale, interesting looking woman, Who had arise'
from her seat at the first sound Of her football
" dear mother, am here though sadly wet, anc
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 gentlemen generously.
brought me to shore, and his sweet sister kissec
me back to life, Tor believe I was insensbl,
till her soft breath passed over my check, aue
thought her gentle voice, a. she called on m
to awake, was tho whisper Of the kind auge,
who you say watch over u.s."
And she drew the smiling Ether townrd her
trembling mother, looking from the pale, anxious
face of the one into the tender eyes of the 9th.
er till her heart gushed out in love aud graft.
tude, and she laughed that soft, musical laugh
again till the shade passed from the white OroU
of her parent, and her usual camness returned
She bowed gracefully to the manly youth and
returned his friendly grasp, and passing her arm
kindly about the waist Of ether, 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 humble
home, and feel can never repay You and your
noble brother for the kindness you have shown
u.s. If the gratitude of full heart affords you
any compensation, it is yours. Nora is all have
to love, and if she we're to leave me life would
be cheerless indeed"
Tears sparked in her sad, blue eye, and che
looked tendcrly upon the beautiful child who ap-
preached them from the little bedroom, where
she had exchanged her dripping garments for
dry ones in a twinkling. slight blush stole
over her face whenever she chanced to meet the
dark eyes of Oscar Dunham, and strange
thrill passed through her frame when his mel
low voice sounded in ber ear but to Ether she
chung with extravagant fondness, twined the
soft, brown ringets about her slender fingers,
aud kissed the little white hands. She told her
of the pleasant haunts about her wildwood home,
of her d,ily sails upon the river, and her occa-
I
return, Ether told her of the dear, bright home
she had lately left of the many friends she had
hidden ndieu, and how, h her dear father aud
mother, her brothers sud little sister, she dwet
in the bosom of the forest but few miles dis
taut The wild creature clapped her hands for
Joy and danced about the little room till the
voices of her visitors mingled with her own
merry laugh, and smile of gladuess dimpled
the pale cheek of har psnaVe mother. sfa
was rejoced that companion SO gentle and
kind had been found for her idol child for
since her young beart first throbbsd with i's
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 owu tones had caught the echo aud she sang
as gsyly as they. She loved too to listen to the
rustlng of the forest leaves when the eveEing
winds whispered among them and they treathed
forth their prnsve sounds; and then strange
sadness would creep into her spirit, aud she
would gaze with her large, earnest eyes up Int
the starry heavens and wonder what the spark
| ling tiny gems could be scattered 80 ltvishingly
! over the blue exptnse. IL was AT sucn times
that the low tones of her gentle mother had
fallen soothingIy upon her heart as sha told "i
the spirit land and of the angel guardians who
hover about the pathway of mortal' to guide
them in the way to Heaven.
An hour had passed by. The strangers had
partaken of the simple meal spread by the hand
of their new friends, and the sun was nearing
the distant horizon but still they fingered. The
wild light of Nora's d ark eyes had softened IL
An expression of calm and Tranquil enjoyment
and her voice was low and treHnloua but 4
deeper feeling seemed to pervade the gentle
bosom of her mother. Strange, pleasant
thoughts had taken possession of her soul; auC
as she g4zed into the sweet face of Ether Dun
ham and listened to her voice, the dreams o
early childhood seemed haunting her again. anC
dim, shadowy picture Of happiness and miser!
fitted before her, She had said but little, an,
her eyes rarely left the .ting face of be
visitor and sometimes when her low, mello a
laugh miogled with the glad strains from Nora
full bosom, she would start to her feet and lool
about her, then a rush of tumultuous emotion
almost snllod the heavy beating of her heart
and she would bury her face in her hands an
, try to collect the dim fancies which wandere
through her brain, aud Join the broken chain O
memory.
1t was evening, and the sun was quite dowr
though his golden light flooded the deep rece'
ses of the surrounding forest, when Oscar Dur
ham arose aud turued from the soft glance {
Nora's eyes. He walked TO the door, looked
, moment abroad, then returning, said reluctantly
Come, Ether, we must start, for it will
very late before we reach home, aud moho
will be so anxious. You know she is alway
. thinking of lurking red men, and fears that G
may vet be taken captive"
Yes brother" replied the fair girl, turniu
from the entwnng arms of her friend b
n you know the reason Of mothers anxiety c
- that ground. She can never forget the de-
Il little sister they tore from her side long ag
. but am sure We need not fear now, and
~ want to stay longer with Nora"
NOhe uOtlCeu tuo uedIuly pdhOI 'uA' o'V
II spread the features of the silent woman for Il
. dmuess of twilight was in the little ROOM h
when a sthed sob broke from her bosom as s.
. grasped Ethers arm and bent wildly over ht
- they all looked up in wonder.
Nora screamed in terror, and clung about h
form, but she needed her not. The white Ii
$. at first moved without a sound, and the ey
o. glanced wildly into the face of the terri6
e. girl; but the unearthy expression passed avs
,e a beautiful smile beamed forth In its stead, a
ID she whispered, a. she bent her head down
v the shoulder of the sweet child aud put h
Il arms about her:
N "Did you say the Indians tore her away
I'd that the young sister of your blessed moth
" was borne from her side a capdve' I ha
G. Oeen dreaming ever since hrst looked no
d. your dear face = ave, for many long year