Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-27
THE FLYING PRINCESS.

THE FLYING PRINCESS.
In O very pleasant book The Seer
Leigh Hunt tells Us some " hat Of "A very
curious book The Adventures OF IeteT
wilkins" published in l.ll. pun o ting To
lie written 10y "K T., and dedicated 10
Elizabeth, countess of Northumberland II
tells of race Of Tying people. and the
name Of the hero was probably suggested 10y
that OF a celebrated ndvocat" Of tho 20,
sibility Of lily ing wilkins. blshopof hester
In the tirst edition OF tn" work there Is an
engraved explanation of the wings, or
rather draPeFy TO. such it was when at
rest II uig hit he called natural wrhh,,i
silk We are to picture to ourselves a
nymph in a vest of the finest texture ami
most deli,ate caruatinn Tn a sudden this
drapery larts in two and tIos ack.
stretched from head to foot hahnd the
figure, lik" an oval fan or umbrella. and
the lady is IN front of 1t preparing TO
sweep ilushingly away from Us and win
now the hu&om air"
The Inst portion Of the book tells u Of
the wreck OF the vessel and that IA = me
way wilkins WAS the sole survivor, and WAS
carried IN boat by a very strong current
through a cavern into a lake H. lands and
lives for some time "A sort OF Robinson tru
soc life Leigh Hunt says that Southey
Stothari. AMI others. all give tribute and
do Justice TO the grace AM dclicaCy Of the
heroine The book Is OF co trse MT SO rare
q one as to be unknown / ut 1t is one of
those "hooks which every Ody talks about
and nobody reads Hence the annexed
chapter will be new to many.
Hunt gives the passages describing the
hero's first knowledge of the dying people,
and the account Of his bride and her le-
hAvior.
As hay awake said our voyagrrI one
night or day, | know not which, l very
plainly heard the sound Of several human
voices, and sometimes very loud. tout,
shough could easily distinguish the artin
ulations | could not understand the least
word that was said nor did the voices seem
10 ME like such as | had anywhere heard
before hut much softer and more mu,icaL
This star tied me, and arose Immediately.
slipping on my clothes, ami taking my gun
In nv hand-which | always kept charged,
being my constant uS cling companion
and my cutlasS | was inclined TO open the
door OF my ante-chambor, but l own was
afraid hesiies, ! considered that | could
discover nothing at any distance, by reason
of the thick and gloomy wood that On
closed me
had a thousand different surmises about
the meaning Of the odd incident. and could
not con, Give how any human creature
could be in my kingdom as | caIled 1t but
myself, as l never yet saw them, or any
trace Of their habitatiOn
These thoughts Kept ne still more within
doors than before and hardly ever stirred
out but for water or firing At length,
bearing no more voices, nor seeing any one
began 10 be more composed in my mind,
and at last grew persuaded it was all a
mere deluSion, and only fancy Of mine,
without any real foundation; so the whole
notion was soon IIown over.
passed the summer-though l had never
yet seen the sun boIy-very much to my
satisfaction, partly in the work | had been
describing for had taken two more seals,
and had a great quantity Of oil from them,
partly In building me a chimney in my
snts-chanbsE, OF mud and earth, burnt on
my own hearth into sort of brick, in max
ing a window at one end Of the above said
chAmber TO let in what little light would
come through the trees when | did not
earthen lamp FOR my oil, and, finally, in
providing and laying in stores, fresh and
salt for had now cured and dried many
more fish. against the winter. 1hess, |
say, wers my summer employments at
bone, intermIxed with many agreeable eN-
cursions But now, the winter coming on,
and the days growing very short, or in
decd there being no day, properly speaking,
but a kind Of twilight, | kept mostly in
my habitstion, though not SO much as
had done the winter before, when had no
HIGHT within doors, and slept, OF at least lay
still q great part Of my time for now my
lamp was never out | also turned two OF
my sealskins into rug TO cover my bel,
and the third into "a cushion, which | al
ways sat upon-and a very soft, warm
cushion il made All this together rendered
my life very easy-nay, even comfortable
But. little while after the darkness or twi-
light came on, | frequently heard the voices
again, sometimes in great numbers This
threw me into new fears, and | became as
uneasy as ever, even 10 the degree Of grow
ing quite melancholy.
At length one night or day. can not say
which, hearing the voices very distin tly,
and pray yIng very earnestly 70 lie either de
uyerei from the uncertainty they had put
me under, or 70 have them removed from
me / took courage, and. arming myself
with gun, listened 70 distinguish whence
the voices proceeded, when felt such a
thump upon the roof of my ante chamber as
shook the whole fabric, and set me all ,er
into a tremor then heard a sort Of shrek
and a ru-tle near the door OF my apartment.
ell which together seemed very terrible But
j, having before determined to see what and
who II was, r solutely opened my door, and
leaped oct / saw nobody, all was quite
silent and nothing that | could perceive,
but my own fears, a moving. | went then
softly TO the corner Of my building, ami
there, looking down, by the glimmer Of my
lamp, which stood In the window, | saw
something in human shape lying at my feet
asked Who's there!7 No one answering
! was induced TO take a nearer view OF the /
object but Judge Of my astOnishment /.
when / discovered the face Of the most /
lovely and beautiful woman eyes ever be- !
beld ! stood for a few moments transflIed I
with sstonishment, and my heart was ready
20 force its way through my sides At
length, somewhat recovering | perceived I
her more minurely. But If 1 was puzzled at
heholding a woman alone In this lonely
place, how much more was | surprised at
her appearance and dress. She had sort /
OF brown chsplet, like lace, round her head, .
under and about which hair was tucked up
and twined and she seemed 10 me TO be 1
clothed in a thin hair -colored silk garment,
which upon trying to raise her, | found TO
be quite warm, and therefore hoped there
was life In the body it contained l then .
took her In my arms, and conveyed her .
through the doorway into my grotto, where /
l laid 10 upon my Ted
When l laid her down thought ler-
ceivei the fountain OF life had some motion