The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-11-06
TCM SHEPHARD'S WIFE.

The piece of hi-tOry | am about to relate
is one of the many similar incidents that oc-
currel during the early settlement of the
far West. Those who sought home in the
savage wildS which then covered the western
land welded themselves to a life Of peril and
hardship. The dangers which continually
threatened them called forth all the heroic
qualities 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 noble country, and as such they
should be recorded and remembered.
We will present picture to the imagina-
ton Of the reader: There is a broad and
beautiful stream, with its deep, still waters
flowing on between banks covered with lux
uriant foliage. and its bright surface dotted
here and there with fairy little isles, where
graceful shrubs and fragrant flowers bud
and blossom unGsturbed in wild and lonely
loyeliness. Birds Of bright plumage and
great variety are winging their way through
the quiet forest and the surrounding scene
echoes with their tunelul minStrelsy. On
the border Of the river, at tie edge of for
est that stretches far away over hill and
dale, stands the rude bat picturesque hut
of a trappcr, with the blue smoke curling
up from its lowly roof, and its humble walls
glancing out from the green foliage that sur
rounds them. There are some indications
of taste and refinement near the trapper'5
home which gives a cheerful appearance to
that otherwise wild and lonely scene. A
graceful vine curtains the lowly window,
and many bright flowers, native Of the dis
tant soil, shed their grateful peri ;me around.
Near the door hangs a cage containing q
rare and beautiful bird, whose song of glad
ness breaks sweetly upon the stiffness of
that solitary place.
On low seat at the entrance 70 the cabin
is seen a young woman. caresSing an infant,
she has lost the blooming lOyeliness Of early
youth-her cheek i pale, and her brow
wears that thoughtful expression which is
imprinted by the touch of care yet she is
still beautiful in form and feature, and none
may look upon her without admiration. AS
she bends over the child in her arms, her
eyes fill with that unutterabie tenderness and
love which are only seen in the eye Of q
mother, and which make the face of a beau
tirul woman almost angelic. Now and then
She turned from the child, to send an anx-
ious glance toward the forest, as if she
watched for the appearance of some one
from that direction.
She is momentarily expecting her hus-
band. He left his home at noon; the hour
appointed for his return has passed away ;
the shadows of the tree are lengthening in
the rays Of the setting sun; and yet he
comes not. The fond wife begins to trembe
for his safety-a fearful loreboding of evil
steals over her mind, and the dark dread OF
some approaching calamity haunts her i'm
apination. She has reason to fear; Tor that
norton of country was, at that time, the
theatre of MANY tragic scene. Sometimes
the trapper and hunter, in penetrating too
far into the painless recess of the forest, lost
his wav. and wandered for many days in the
drearv wilderness, suffering many miseries,
and perishing at last by the pangs OF hunger.
Sometimes hungry beast OF prey would
cross the path of the wanderer, and doom
him TO a dreadful death. Sometimes the
WHY red man. NUO ytI hCo i'Ou' thpSN
lonely wiIds, entrapped the white hunter,
and from the spirit of revenge, or the thirst
for blood. sacrificed his victim with the most
Uanton and barbarous cruelty.
As the anxious wife thought of these
things. her fears and forebodings became al
most insupportable. flushing the infant to
sleep. she carried it into the dwelling. and
dano,ited it in its cradle bed; she then hast
ened forth again, and wandered along the
natb that led to the forest, anxiously looking
forward the while for her husband. She
walked onward for some time, londly hoping
70 see the object of her search but her hopes
were in vain, sending one more searching
Glance around, and seeing nothing Dat the
Gloomy shadows of the trees, she turned,
with heavy heart, to retrace her steps
homeward.
As she was proceeding homeward, a sud
dom fear for her child, whom she had lett
o1one crossed her mind, and caused her to
-, forward. Drawing nearer 10 the