The weekly Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1865-186?, 1865-12-30

for the loss of her lamb. She flew
| nimbly ON, until, in the hard snow
she saw the tiny marks of her pets
feet, cut deeply into the bare ground
about the great rocks. So, searching
for the lamb, Leila went on until the
sun began to decline in the wintry
sky, and she stood upon a vast ele
vation of land far above the lone
some settlement.
Snowflake! Snowflake! why don't
you find me, Snowfake?" cried the
little girl, YEARLY, and then she sal
down upon the edge Of a great pre-
cipice to rest and wait for the com
ing of her lamb. &.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Reade, thorough.
" alarmed at the non-appearance Of
her child, made the forests to resound
with her vain cries. Marcus Well.
man, returning, near sunset, from a
hunting tour, heard the agonized
voice of the mother, and, knowing
that all was not right, he threw down
his game, and sought, with All speed,
the home Of the settler.
My child! my child! oh, Marcus
bring me back my Leila! cried the
half distracted woman, as she caught
sight of the tall, 1.-THE form of the
young captive. @
A few moments suficed to reveal
the truth to the boys comprehension,
and the heart of the mother leaped
up in hope at his words.
Madam, the Wild Deer comes not
back to the lodge of the Pequawkets
until he brings the White Dove to
the wigwam of her fathers
He made a wild but graceful obe-
isance, and was lost to view in the
wilderness,
The night fell down, cold and pier
cling. There was breath of frost
in the thick air, and afar off, toward
the northern horizon, the brave boy
could just discern the faint belt of
cold, sickly blue, which is a sure har-
binger of coming storm. But,
dauntless and unfearing, Marcus
pressed on. Leila, his child play
mate, was exposed somewhere upon
the mountains; should he fear?
All night long, the lad wandered
upon the cliffs, shouting far and wide
the name of Leila. Morning, gray
and obscured by the snow struggling
slowly from the clouds, dawned upon
him, and found him still unsuccess-
ful. Still, not despairing, by the
grateful light, he flew from crag to
crag, until, at last, he stood upon
the highest peak of Mount Webster.
In frenzied haste he sought around
the limits Of the mountain, and then,
with terrible forebodings in his heart
-hc ID geen6ed iarto the valley. N,hera
was No ALTERNATIVES. The gffI must
have essayed the passage Of the
Notch! Horror almost overcame
the soul of Marcus at the bare posi-
bility; but the waning light warned
him that there was no time for hesi-
tation. For the first time since set
ting forth, he drew from his pocket
a flask of whortleberry wine, which
he kept always filled, and, placing it
to his lips, he took a hearty draught.
The stimulant gave him new life and
courage, and, just as the last ray of
daylight faded away, he found him.
self within mile Of the Gate of the
Notch. He stopped carefully, as he
entered the narrowing passage, and
felt over the surface Of the snow and
ice which covered the ground. A
wild glad cry escaped his lips as he
sprang up. The lamb had assuedly
passed that way, for there were the
marks left by his sharp hoofs in the
snow, and it might be possible, the
boy thought, that Leila and her pet
were together; but how, Marcus dar-
ed not think! He rushed ON few
rods, and called the girls name
There was no reply. Yet further,
until the roar of the waters of the
Silver Cascade fell upon his ear; he
called again. He thought he heard
a faint sound, but the wind echo
voices which live in the mountains
might have deceived him. Again he
shouted, loud and clear, Leila! Yes,
he was not mistaken now; it was the
far-otf bleat of Snowflake which an
swered him.. On and ON he went
until he reached the foot of the cas-
cade; he could go no further, for the
eternal wall of. rock precluded all
idea of advancement in that direc.
ton. He stopped, and called the
name of Snowflake; the lambs an.
swering bleat was almost as his side.
Marcus drew out q tinder-box and a
few sticks Of pitch-wood-articles
which no hunter, red or white, car
ries not about his person-and, in {
moment, by the aid of the light thu
procured, his eye drank in the scene
Upon a narrow shelf of rock, ap
parently lifeless, lay the form of tn
little Leila, her hands crossed upoI
her breast, and tearfrozen upol
either cheek. Close by her sid
crouched the lamb, his head laid up
on her face, as if he knew that o.
the retention of warmth her life de
pended. Marcus took her up in hi
arms, and chafed her cold hands, AM
breathed into her silent lips. Their
was no sign Of life except a. fain
puisation about the heart, and th
; brave boy almost despaired of eve
seeing the light Of those blue eye
again. Suddenly, he bethought hin
self Of the flask Of wine, and, draw
ing it forth, he forced some Of th
stimulant between her lips. Aftt
awhile, she opened her eyes dream