The weekly Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1865-186?, 1865-12-30
THE COPIAHAN.
Official Journal Of Copiah Co.
OHM F. VANCE. & Co., Proprietors
HAZLEHURST:
saturday, December 80, 1865.
Lost ON tile Mountains.

4
To look upon the White Noun
| tains of New Hampshire, when sum-
lmer's green mantle of verdure is
flung around their peaks, awakens
admiration and awe in the breast of
the gazer; but to appreciate fully
their great and terrible sublimity, to
stand, as it were, face to face with
the God who created them, one needs
Ito behold the lofty Mount Washing
ION, kng-like among the lesser 8i-
|iants, clad in the coat of ice which
winter binds massively around him.
The plumed frs and spreading hem
locks droop like sombre weepers,
their branches heavy with the white
snow, and glittering with the crystal
icicles which the cold breath of the
northern blast has frozen there. The
stern old rocks are frosted with in
Vulnerable pearls, and the surface Of
the ice-chained river shines like a
field of molten silver. For the soul
Fof him who 'looks through Nature
up to Natures God," the sight of
the White Mountains in winter is
both a sermon upon the Creators
goodness and a psalm of praise to
His power.
A great many -Teafs ago, before
the foot of civilization had pierced
the impenetrable forest north of the
White Mountains, and while the red
Indian roamed unmolested the hunt
mg-ground Of his fathers, William
Reade emigrated from Portsmouth
to sparse settlement high up on
what is now known as the Saco Riv-
er. Reade was poor man, but an
ambitious one, and the wonderful
stories which had reached him of the
facilities for hunting and fishing af.
forded by the wild region round
about the mountains had fred his
brain with the desire of participa-
ton. Through thick forests, and
across unbridged rivers, through ma
ny dangers and much privation, he
brought his tenderly-nurtured wife
and his little daughter Leila to a
rude log-cabin in the wilderness. 1t
was very lonely and desolate there
to the mother and her child. The
leighbors were all too far off to be
company, and the monotony of a set
Aer's life was only brok en-, now and
hen, by visits from the different
pevvof IntIans III tiigr vfcfaitg most
~h hlch were upon terms OF friend
Whip with the whites.
Among the Pequawkets was lad
of about fifteen, who had been sto-
len, when q mere child, from a settle
ments ON Massachusetts, Bay. This
boy was called by his captors Wild
Deer, on account of his extraordina-
ry agility, but his English name was
Marcus Wellman. Marcus was un-
commonly strong and daring for one
of his years; his wild life had devel-
oped his form aud painted health up
on his cheek; he was, withal, gener-
GUS, frank, and handsome, and a
great favorite with the tribe which
held him in bondage.
Marcus went often to the hut of
Mr.. Reade, because there was some
thing congenial to the boys innate
sensibilities in the neat and orderly
way in which that humble household
was managed. Moreover, Marcus
loved to listen to the childish pratt
tie of the guileless Leila, and to wit
ness the expression of wonder which
crept into her blue eyes when he
poured out, for her amusement, some
tale of strange prowess and intrepid
daring. The boy brought his girl
friend many presents Of rare feath-
ers, rich skins, and gay wampum,
and she priced these things very
highly.
One day, when the Paquawkets
had been on trading excursion for
many weeks, Marcus Wellman sud-
denly appeared at the house of the
settler, bearing in his arms a little
snow-white lamb, a present for Leila,
which he had bought with the fur of
otters, of a settler far down on the
coast of the big lake. The little girl
was delighted, and promised Marcus
that the lamb, which was to be call
ed Snowflake, should never be killed
Or sold as long as she lived.
Time passed On, and autumn mis-
placed the green feet of summer, and
emptied her golden glories upon the
mountain naples. Then there came
down cold winds from the highland
and by and by the earth was wrap
ped in a covering of snow. Winter
sad and solemn, settled down upon
the home of the hunter, and Leila
with her lamb, no longer wandered
over the fragrant pastures upon the
hill-slope. But, after while, there
came a great rain, warm from tn,
heavy clouds, and the snow meltse
somewhat from the cliffs, and lef
here and there patches Of blightet
herbage and crisp grass.
One day, Snowflake, the pet lamb
managed to elude the vigilance o
his mistriss, and, frisking out of tn,
hut, he made his way to the mead
ows, where he had been wont to g
/. with Leila. Finding no grass there
he climbed up the mountains, an,
nibbled the dried leaves and blade
of grass which the rain had barred.
It was not long before Leila dis
covered the absence of her pet, an
throwing on her hood and crimso
; blanket, she ran out upon the hil
near by to seek him. Snowflake wa
not to be seen, however, and Leils
half frantic, ran up the hill, callin
} Snowflake! Snowiake!" But onl