The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-24
THE PEARL OF CAMPAN.

THE PEARL OF CAMPAN.
ONE fine morning in autumn, / was
rambling through the secluded Valley OF
Campan, in the Pyrenees, accompanied by
the excellent curate of the district, with
whom, in the course of my peregrinations,
had become acquainted, and beneath
whose hospitable roof had promised to
spend the night The scenery was wild
and lovely beyond description; and hav-
ing expressed my admiration of it, added
q wish to know something of its inhabit-
ants.
"They have hearts of gold and wills of
iron," said my friend. "Many touching
and noble instance of generosity and self
denial have met with among them. And,
for example, look at this man approaching
us"
He was a fine-looking fellow of five or
six and twenty, with q military air and
dressed in uniform. The lower part of
his face was very handsome, and his dark,
suuburnt complexion suited well with the
long moustache. could not see his eyes,
for the visor of his cap was drawn 80 as
to completely shade them from the light.
Having exchanged a cordial salutation
with the curate, he passed on, followed by
a huge white dog, with thick fur and
enormous paws The animal belonged to
q breed peculiar to the Pyrenees, and re-
markable for their sagacity and faithful
ness.
"Now," said my companion, as soon as
the soldier had passed out Of hearing,
while we walk along, l will tell you q
true story, of which you have seen two OF
the principal characters.
"Juan Trigoyan was born in the heart
of these mountains, where the peasant had
his choice of following one of two occupa-
tions-that of q shepherd or q hunter.
Juan chose the latter, as his father had
done before him, and hazardous pursuit
it is Not merely has the mounta in hunter
to scale all but inaccessible precipices, and
brave the fury of famished bears and
wolves, but he is constantly exposed to be
swept away by 9 torrent or buried beneath
an avalanche To this latter peril Juan's
father had fallen victim. Crushed be-
meath mass Of snow he perished, leaving
his son no other heritage than his dog, his
gun, and his grandmother Gertrude, an
aged woman, unequal to the tack of sup
porting herself. Juan, at this time fine
fad of is, loved his grandmother tenderly;
she had always supplied to him the place
of his mother, who had died in giving him
birth, and he now, with a courage and
resolution beyond his years, undertook
the sole charge of their maintenance. He
had been early trained to the chase, and
success now crowned his efforts. The
number of izards, eagles and bears struck
down by his hand testified to the sureness
OF his foot and the certainty of his aim.
Thanks to the value of these spoils, Ger
trude knew no privation, but the trembled
for the safety of her beloved child, and
often said to him, with tears in her eyes ::
Stay at home to-day, Juan; you will per-
ish some time or other, like your poor
father; and what would / do left alone
without any one to love in the worldY
"Then the lad would answer: Calm
yourself, mother; Providence will watch
over me for your sake
"Thus did Juan work hard during the
week for his own and his parents sup
port, and on Sunday loved to see them
entering my little church, Gertrude lean
ing ON the arm of her handsome boy, and
both joining in the prayers with the ut
most devotion.
"Two years passed on, and Juan was
returning one day from Bsgneres, whittier
he had gone to dispose Of some game. 1t
was winter, and the north wind blew
piercingly cold, but the young hunter
stepped on briskly, whistling lively tune.
Suddenly cry of distress struck his ear,
but he knew not whence it came.
On, Caesar he cried, trusting to his
out h0r
aThe docile creature set off in the di-
rection of q thick pine grove, and his mas
ter followed the cries became louder, and
Juan recognized the voice OF a female In
distress. He redoubled his speed, still
preceded by the dog. At length he
reached an open space, and there was
Cesar struggling with wolf, while on the
ground lay q woman, with a huge she
wolf in the act of fastening on her neck.
With short cry Juan rushed forward,
and ct the sound the fierce creature raised
her head and fixed on him two eyeballs
glowing with rage and hunger. Without
Q moments hesitation, the intrepid hunter
seized her by the throat with one hand,
and thrusting the other into her mouth,
gr.sped her tongue and dragged II out as
with an iron vice. After . fearful strug.
gle he succeeded in dashing the strAngled
beast on the ground. This done, Juan
looked round to see if his faithful ally had
need of assistance. No, his antagonist
also lay dead, and the hunter had time to
attend to the woman, who lay motionless
on the ground, having tainted from excess
of terror. Her deliverer raised her gently
in his arms, put back her rich brown hail
that had fallen on her face, and perceived
that she was a young and very lovely
glrl. Taking handful of the snow which
fay on the ground he rubbed it on hel
temples, and then succeeded in putting
some small bits of ice into her mouth. BY
degrees she revived, her eyelids unclosed
and she drew a deep sigh.
"Where am Is' she murmured.
"Safe with q friend
"It was you, then, who saved meF
"Rsther Providence, who was pleased
to employ my hand
"She thanked him with look far mor'
eloquent than words; and then with con
fding simplicity, as she still felt weak
asked him to let her lean on his arm as to
ss her home. i was going to the town,
abe said, to sell some milk. when thos'
dreadful wolves attacked me, upset m.
pitcher, and but for your timely aid ant
that of your good dog, would surely hav'
devoured me-
"The conversation thus commenced di(
not flag. Juan soon learned that Mar
guerite lived in the hamlet of Campan; tina
she was an orphan, and had NO property
save Q small cottage and some hens. Sh'
managed to support herself with tn
profits of these animals and her spinning
Her perfect candor and her innocen
beauty charmed the honest heart OF Juan
he thought that were he possessed of al
the treasures of the world he would like
to Law them at Marguerite's feet. On en-
tering the village the news of their ad
venture spread quickly, and it was easy t.
see by the consequent excitement hov
much the young girl was beloved by he
neighbors. Both old and young rushe'
forth to meet her. Juan was overwhelme'
with thanks and praised, nor was poo
Cesar by any means forgotten.
"Adieu, Marguerite, said Juan whel
he had accompanied her to her cottag
door. May / sometimes come to Sc
your
"To whom should my door be open
not to my deliverers' said the young CIR
innocently, at the same time extendin
her hand to Juan. He pressed it to hi
lips and hastened away.
"When he reached home he foun
Gertrude very uneasy al his prolonge
absence: oh, my childr she criet
where have you been, and what are thes
stains of blood upon your dressT
Juan smiled Don't be uneasy, mott
er; this blood is not mine, but that of q
enemy killed And he told her all tbs
had occurred, not concealing the feeling
of admiration and love he felt for he
whom he had rescued.