Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 4, April 1850 — John Shaqi
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 4, April 1850Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 4, April 1850
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The heart in his bosom was frozen with cold, but a quickening thrill
passed through it, boy as he was, as he gazed upon those sweetly
composed features. Her hair was dripping, and her long, wet lashes by
upon her cheek as quietly as upon that of a dead child. Her garments
hung heavily around her, and her tiny hands, which were half lost in
their folds, were cold and still, as well as beautiful as gems of
classic sculpture.
As his companions came up bearing the other sufferer, Frank Stanley
hastily snatched off his own saturated coat, and spread it over her
senseless body, ere he again, with recovered strength, raised her in his
arms.
The alarmed villagers by this time came flocking to the spot, among whom
was the governor of the settlement, whose venerable and striking
countenance manifested peculiar anxiety.
“Your niece is safe, Governor H——,” said Frank Stanley, pressing
forward and exposing his fair burden. “She is merely insensible from
fright.”
“Thank God that she is saved!” exclaimed the governor, receiving her in
his arms. “But whose rash act was it,” continued he, looking sternly
around among the boys, “that exposed my Jessy to such peril?”
Something like a flush of indignation passed over the countenance of
young Stanley, as he replied, “It was an accident, sir, which might have
happened in the hands of more experienced persons than ourselves.”
“Thou hast been in danger thyself, Frank, hast thou not?” asked the
governor, his stern mood giving way immediately at the sight of the
youth’s dripping clothes. “And is there no one else more dangerously
injured?” inquired he, casting an anxious, scrutinizing glance among the
collected group.
“Frederick, here, is wet too, but not otherwise the worse for the
accident.”
“Let him and Frank, then, immediately return to their homes, and don dry
garments; and I must look to my little girl here, that she do not suffer
for this.”
So saying, the governor turned and departed, pressing the little
lifeless one more closely in his arms.
His disappearance was the signal for the dispersion of the group, the
young members of which turned toward their homes, much sobered in
spirits from the accident here related.
Following Governor H. to his home, we will leave him a moment and pause
to describe that rustic dwelling. It was situated at some little
distance from the main village, and was of larger size than most of the
cottages there. Like them, however, it bore the same rural name, though
it looked more like an English villa of some pretensions. On each side
of a graceful portico stretched piazzas, covered in summer with roses
and woodbine, while the neat enclosure in front, surrounded by its white
paling, bloomed richly with American plants and shrubbery. At this
season, however, the roses were dead, and the shrubbery lifeless; and
the frozen ground of the well-kept walk rung under the tread of the
stout governor, as he flung open the gate and rapidly approached the
house.
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