The Last of the Foresters: Or, Humors on the Border; A story of the Old Virginia FrontierCooke, John Esten
General
The Last of the Foresters: Or, Humors on the Border; A story of the Old Virginia Frontier
Cooke, John Esten
Frontier and pioneer life -- Fiction; Virginia -- Fiction
We have said very little of this child's character, preferring rather
to let the current of our narrative reflect her pure features from
its surface, as it flowed on through those old border days which were
illustrated and adorned by the soft music of her voice, the kindness
of her smile. Perhaps, however, this is a favorable occasion to lay
before the reader what was written by a poor pen, in after years,
about the child, by one who had loved, and been rendered purer by
her. Some one, no matter who, had said to him one day--"Tell me about
little Redbud, whom you praise so much"--and he had taken his pen and
written--
"How can I? There are some figures that cannot be painted, as there
are some melodies which cannot be uttered by the softest wind which
ever swept the harp of Aeolus. You can scarcely delineate a star, and
the glories of the sunset die away, and live not upon canvas. How
difficult, then, the task you have imposed upon me, _amigo mio_--to
seal up in a wicker flask that moonlight; chain down, by words, that
flitting and almost imperceptible perfume--to tell you anything about
that music which, embodied in a material form, was known as Redbud!
"Observe how I linger on the threshold, and strive to evade what I
have promised to perform. What can I say of the little friend who made
so many of my hours pure sunshine? She was the most graceful creature
I have ever seen, I think, and surely merrier lips and eyes were never
seen--eyes very blue and soft--hair golden, and flowing like sunset on
her shoulders--a mouth which had a charming archness in it--and withal
an innocence and modesty which made one purer. These were the first
traits of the child, she was scarcely more, which struck a stranger.
But she grew in beauty as you conversed with her. She had the most
delightful voice I have ever heard--the kindest and most tender smile;
and one could not long be in her company without feeling that good
fortune had at last thrown him with one of those pure beings which
seem to be sent down to the earth, from time to time, to show us, poor
work-a-day mortals, that there are scales of existence, links as it
were, between the inhabitants of this world and the angels: for the
heavenly goodness, which sent into the circle which I lived in such
a pure ray of the dawn, to verify and illumine the pathway of my
life--thanks--thanks!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account