Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-02-27


Of her expedition. She had but one thought
-onc hope; and that was to be near her
child-to save it, if it could be saved, or
perish with it, If perish it must Strong in
this determination, she pushed forward,
thoughtless Of fatigue, and fearless Of peril.
As the night advanced, the wind rose and
sighed among tho trees with mournful
and heart-chilling sound. The stars, that
had hitherto shed faint light through the
branches, were now veiled in black clouds,
that seemed to presage storm; and ever
and anon the shrill crpaking Of a night-bird,
or the prolonged howl Of some beast Of
prey, was borne to the ear Of the unhappy
wandcrer, waking fearful thoughts, and
warning her Of her dangers by which she
was surrounded.
Those who have never roamed in forest
at midnight, can scarcely realize how much
that is terrifying is connected with such a
journey. At one time, the howl Of the
hungry wo6 will burst so suddenly and
clearly on the ear that we can scarcely per-
suade ourselves the monster is not close ut
our sidc-at another, the falling Of decay.
ed branch will produce such loud and fear
full sound, that we deem it the fatal plunge
which must doom US to destruction. Now
the wind will come with a ftful and moan
ing cadence, 80 like the human voice, that
we for an instant, believe it the wall Of an
agonizcd being - and again it will sweep
by with rushing sound like troop Of en-
ragged monsters bent on mission Of death.
Sometime an unseen, low-drooping branch
will softly touch the shoulder, congealing
the warm current of life with the idea that
spectral hand has suddenly arrested our
progress; and again black and blasted
tree, with one or two serc bran0 0Pes protud.
ing from its side. will, for an instant still
the pulsatioH Of the heart, as we behold in
it frightful phantom, stretching forth its
arms to grasp our shrinking forms.
All this, and more, ,smust one feel and.
fear in lonely midnight pilgrimage through
the forest and all this the mothet ehaaed
as she pursued her almost hopeless lter-
prize. She had travelled far, very far, for
the darkness of night, and the intricacies Of
the wood had scarcely lcssened the speei
with which she commenced her walk, and
she had been many hours on the way
WEAKNESS was beginning to overcome her
hope was departing from her heart, and
despair chilling all her energies, when she
discovered afar off through the trees, light.
1t was but feeble glimmer, yet oh ! how it
irradiated the path of the wanderer. The
instant she beheld it, hope sprang back to
her heart, and strength invigorated her
frame. That faint and far off ray seemed
the light of returning happiness, and she
watched it as eagerly as the mariner watch
es the star which guides him over oceans
stormy waves. She now hastened onward
with redoubled energy, and though her
steps sometimes faltered, and her heart
sunk within her, as the light disappeared
behind some intervening object, she still
kept her eye steadily in the direction Of the
beacon, and soon gained position where it
shone brightly before her, and she could
approach without loosing sight Of it again.
As she drew near, she gazed upon the scene
which that light revealed, with mingled
feelings of astonishment, hope and fear.
There was large fire built of the dried
branches Of trees, and around it lay the
dusky forms Of FIVE or six Indians, reposing
upon the ground. Their appearance was
savage in the extreme; each with his paint
ed feathers lighted by the fitful glare Of the
fire, and his .tomahawk and scalping knife
cleaning at his side. Near them were i'm
plements Of hunting, and around the fire
lay scattered bones and fragments Of re-
cent rude repast. The whole scene was cal
culated to strike terror into the heart Of the
delicate being who gazed upon it.
But she scarcely saw the rude savages or
their implements of death, for her whole
soul was absorbed in contemplating a por-
ton of the scene which we have not yet de-
scribed, and which riveted her attention
with thrilling and magic power. Bound
to tree, was the form Of her husband and
at his feet on the cold ground, lay her child.
The father's face was pale, and stained with
blood the infant face was covered by its
dress, and its form was motionless as it
chilled by tho cold hand Of death. How
felt the fond wife and mother when that
sight Of horror met her eyes? Repressing
by a mighty effort the shrek Of agony that
rose to her lips and conquering, by the
strength of heroic soul, the almost ire.
sistible desire she felt to rush forward, and
clasp those dear ones to her sching heart,
she stood gazing upon the scene with feel.
ings which cannot be described. She saw
with throb Of sudden joy, that her hus-
band lived, but her heart grew cold again as
she watched the motionless form Of her
child. She longed to fly to its side, and as
certain the truth, for the suspense that
preycd upon her spirits were terrible, but
again her resolutc mind restrained her, and
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