The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-12-27
Young Folks.


uVUhchihts
Moonshine crept down, one clear, un
clouded night, to look about the world
and see what was going on. In her
hand she carried silver lamp, by
whose white rays all objects could he
seen as plainly as at noontide and
wherever she went, the shadows, ,asham-
ed of their blackness, stole guiltily away
and tried to hide themselves. Her path
led through forest and down noun
tain side, where wild beasts roamed for
prey but now tho timid deer browsed
securely among the underbrush and the
hungry bear trudged supperles5 off to
his den, the stealthy panther kept use
less watch from the branches overhead,
the rattesnake slid back into its hole
and left the tree. toads chirpipg cheerily,
the sly fox found the rabbits too wide
awake for him for was not moonshine
abroad, with her silver lamp, proclaim
ing to all harmless creatures, Here is
your enemy, and there Is your
enemy?
On she passed, till she came to a pio.
neer's log-cabin, standing alone in the
wide wilderness. Listening, she heard
the sound of voice singing =
LULLABY, lullaby, baby,
Lullaby by by,
While all the little stars twinkle.
Twinkle up in the sky.
"Lullaby, lullaby, b aby,
Lullaby by by
Thy father has gone journey,
And there's only thou and I,
To rock, rock, to and fro,
And TO watch watch for the slvage foe
To sleep, sleep,
Aud to keep, keep
Watch for the savage foe,
While all the little stars twinkle,
Twinkle up in the sky"
"Ah," said the Moonshine, "the
mother and her babe are alone and un.
guarded in that rude dwelling. Even
as she sings, her voice trembles with
fear. will set my lamp in the window
and pause awhile to keep her COM
pany."
Instantly soft radiance dooded the
room within, and the mother, look.
ing up, beheld the gentle face looking
through the window. 80 Moonshine,"
she cried, with tears of joy, show glad
am that you have come! Stay with
me little, for am lonesome and tell
me, pray, If there be any savages lurk-
ing about"
Not far off band ofred men, their
faces bedaubed with paint, and their
hair decked out with plumes, were gil
ding noiselessly through the dense
woods, thinking to steal upon the cab
in unawares and destroy it and its in
mates. But as soon as they saw the silver
lamp upon the window. sill, they turn
ed away. saying, Moonshine is
there
Mooneshine, seeing that the dread
ed enemy had turned aside, passed on
and left the mother sleeping peacefully.
AS swift she glided through the valley
and over hill, and across river and lake
and village-dotted plain, the rays of
her glittering lamp reached far and
wide through the darkness, making
the trees and gardens and ripping
corn. fields, glad pointing the shortest
route to a weary boatman, revealing to
q belated traveller the robbers who
stealthily pursued, looking in upon
three rosy children who slumbered cos
lily in one couch together-stooping to
kiss their shining curls and happy IA
ces, and to whisper something pleasant
in their ears. Nor did she pause when
she came to the great sea, but glided
on overthe foaming pillows. A white
sailed ship the winds were driving to-
ward an unknown reef. Quickly she
set her silver lamp upon the perilous
rock. Far over the angry waters shone
the beacon light, and the mariners, see.
ing danger ahead, shifted their sails |
and changed the vessels course.
The wanderer reached, at length, a
distant cost, and, holding her lamp
aloft, passed on from town to town.
A student sat, at midnight, wakeful |
among his books. Moonshine glanced |
over his shoulder at the closely. printed |
page, and the light of her silver lamp SO |
put to shame his miserable taper that |
ne extinguisheG it, and began to write
'ome verses in her praise.
At last, Moonshine peered down into
A deep dark dungeon, and saw hapless
human creature bound with chains.-
Pale and wan he was from long years
If imprisonment. For hours she re.
NAMED to speak to him comforting
words.
In the morning, the pioneer came to
his home on the mountain side, and
old how he had been rescued by moon
'hine from highwaymen whe pursued
him as he journeyed. "Ah, bless her ="
'aid the wife; 'for she also watched
,ver us, and guarded us while we
'lept. The three rosy children awak-
ened, smiling, and told each other their
ireams (; they had all dreamed Of fairy
and. The storm tossed ship sailed into
port, and the grateful mariners declared
hat but for Moonshine, they would
have gone to the bottom of the SEAL
The student went about with such a
Deaming countenance that people ques.
TONED. Was he moon-struck A jailer,
descending into deep, dark dungeon,
found the fettered captive lying silent,
with closed eyes and the sad soul that |
had gazed out of those eyes-who had |
set it free? Moonshine 4?
ALHAKEM the sag, whom all people |
for his great wisdom and his |