Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-28
5eleGteA Uale.
THE RESCU E.
BY MRS. EMELISE S. SMITH.

THE incident about to De related, is
one of many similar ones which oc-
CURED during the early settlement of
America. Those who sought home
in the savage wilds, which then COW
cred the land, welded themselves to
life of peril and hardship. The dan
gers which continually threatened
them called forth all the heroic quail
tiles of their nature, and their lives
were marked by many lofty deed
of daring and devotion. Such deeds
should not sink into oblivion, for they
belong to the history of our country,
and as such, should be recorded and
remembered
We would present a picture to the
imagination Of the reader There is
broad and beautiful stream, with
its deep, still waters, flowing on be-
tween banks covered by luxuriant
foliage and its bright surface dot
ted here and there with fairy little
isles, where graceful shrubs and fra
grant flowers bud and blossom undis-
turbed in wild and lonely loveliness.
Bright-plumed birds, of many varie-
ties, are winging their way over the
quiet water, and the surrounding
scene echoes with their tuneful min
istrelsy. On the borders of the river,
at the edge of forest that stretches
far away over hill and dale, stands
the rude but picturesque dwelling of
backwoodsman with the blue smoke
curling up from its lowly roof, and
its humble walls glancing out from
the green foliage that surrounds
them. There are some indications of
taste and refinement near the wood
mans home, which give a cheerful
appearance to that otherwise wild
and lonely scene. A graceful vine
curtains the lowly window, and many
bright flowers, natives of distant
soil, shed their grateful perfume
around. Near the door hangs a cage,
containing a rare and beautiful bird,
whose song of gladness breaks sweet
ly upon the stiffness of that solitary
place.
On a low seat at the entrance of
the dwelling, is seen young woman,
caressing an infant. She has lost the
blooming loveliness OF youth-her
cheek is pale, and her brow wears
that thoughtful expression which is
imprinted by the touch of care yet
she is still beautiful in form and fea-
ture, and none may look upon her
without admiration. As she bends
over the child in her arms, her eye
fills with that unutterable tenderness
and love which are only seen in the
eye Of a mother, and which make the
face of beautiful woman almost an
gelic. Now and then she turns from
the child, to send an anxious glance
towards the forest, as if she watched
for the approach of some one from
that direction. She is momentarily
expecting her husband. He left his
home at morn the hour appointed
for his return had pessed away the
shadows of the trees are lengthening
IN the rays of the setting sun, and yet
he comes not. The fond wife begins
to tremble for his safety-a fearful
foreboding of evil steals over her
mind, and the dark dread of some ap-
preaching calamity haunts her imag-
ination.
She has reason to fear for that
portion Of country was, at this time,
the theatre of many a tragic scene.
Sometimes the woodman in penetrat-
ing too far into the painless recesses
of the forest, lost his way, and wan
dering for days in the dreary wilder
ness, suffering many miseries. and