Spirit of the age., 1865-02-04

t1A0 o.li0l . lAtt40 poJ u nfc3 oilHSlliS wiz
ly to her dress.
Mr.. Barker caught up the little fellow,
and led the way, af q hurried pace, through
the thick, tangled bushes that lined the
shore, leaving the dead bodies of the two
KellyS who're they had fallen, and even for
getting in his haste to take with him either
lais rio ~ s.l3royis;ofl. On, Oh be wef1s,
tearing madly through the thicket to the
more open wood and close behind him
pressed @-the poor widowed mother, half
smothering her little infant, to keep its
cries from drawing down swift destruction
upon the whole party.
When some three or four miles had thus
been gained, Mr.. Barker, fearing the In~
dams were already on their trail, thought it
advisable to pass down the bed Of small
creek, even at the sacrifice Of much valua-
bic time. In this way the trail was SO
broken as to give any pursuing party much
trouble and perplexity, and increase the
chances Of escape for. the fugtives by
more than double the time they had lost.
Soon after leaving the creek, however,
and while passing throunh patch Of
swampy ground, within sight of the Ohio,
Mrs Kelly who was few feet in the rear
Of her companion, suddenly uttered sharp
fcry Of pain and on turning to her, Mr..
Barker was greatly surprised to see her
standing still, her eyes fixed glaringly on
the ground before her, and her features
perfectly CHASTITY with horror,
Speak what is it 2 he hurriedly and
apxidusly exclaimed, but in low, cautious
tone. H.
'0h!' cried the poor woman, clasping
her hands over herinfant; I am lost l
| am lost! Oh, save and protect my dear
children, Mr.. Barker, and God will bless
you :! .....
In heavens name, Mrs. Kelly, what dc
you mean 2 demanded the other, stepping
.qnictly to her a;do, but looking ea.e~ly
about him the while, in search of hidden
! foe. .....
eh, Sd help hofiT, n2o~g cried t!so s,7o-.;i.a,1 !
woman, slowly sinking down upon the
ground Z am bitten on the foot by a
copper,head y
|Ah ! cried Barker, turning pale with
Alas too sure groaned the other; 70,
the instant [ felt his fangs, looked dow
and saw him darting away. Oh !swhat vii
become Of my dear little children, when
their poor mother is dead and gone 2
= Oh, mamma, mamma, you mustn't die
oh, dear, dear mamma, you mustn't die !!
cried the little boy, with wil4 burst oi
griet, as he threw his little arms about his
mothers neck, and kissed her fervently
again and again,
ooh, my poor little james what vii
become of you and your dear little sister :?
sobJcd the agonized mother. Your father
dead, your mother dying, and you so help
less in this great wilderness, surrounded by
perils! Oh, God help you! God III heav
en- be merciful te you Ah, Mr.. Barker,
she added, turning to him, as, with tearfu
eyes, he stood mot.onless as statue, look
: ing down upon the heart-rendering scene
you will surely try and save my chill
drenl r..-
Il will try and save you ALL he replied
rousing himself to sudden action. Yor
yourself must not die, and shall no
, through any fault hf mine
'Oh, think not Of me! but fly with my
little ones, ere it be too late, and leave m,
here to perish, as perish | must, sooner o.
: later !
No, no, no, mamma cried little James
! clinging as wildly around that fond moth
er's neck as if he expected to be rudely an,
ruthlessly torn away ); no, no, no, mamma
III not leave you, if everybody els
t does ? --
; The wound is not necessarily mortal
though exceedingly painful and trouble
. some = said Mr. Barker. : I have heard {
) several being bitten, who survived and ar
living yet
: Oh, spend not the precious time
!, building up for me false hope but tax
l I my children and fly, before the pursuin
!, savage are upon US all :, cried the almo
Q distracted mother. I cannot escape, whetl
d er you remain or not. Already 1 am su
n fering great pain, and the poisoned limb
even now swelling so that I cannot us
Z it.
:. Butt cannot believe the wound Wi
t prove fatai, returned the other and th
} idea of deserting you is so repugnant /
e my nature, that | cannot entertain it for
1 moment. Oh, would to heaven that ha
t had the foresight to provide ourselves WI
= food-before quitting the boat I! L mig
J then have ventured to secrete and lea
/ YOU long enough to go for help!
t, And why not do so now = rejoired
suffering mother. If the bite of the re
!, tile does not kill me, shall not starve
IS death under four or FIVE days; and if