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48 woh iced MALAESEA,-
. odor of wild-flowers that came with the wird. A rock lay
ron in this rich’ forest-grass, and over it a ‘huge white poplar
its branches likeatent.. =... -: eT
Peon this rock Malaeska enthroned the boy, talking to: him all
the time, as she struck sparks from a flint which she took from her
basket, and began to kindle a fire from the dry sticks which lay around
in abundance. . When William saw the flames rise up high andclear,
illuminating the beautiful space around, and shooting gleams of gold
through the poplar’s branches, he grew brave again, and- coming
- down from his eminence, began to gather brushwood that the fire
might keep bright. . Then Malaeska took a bottle of water and some
bread, with fragments of dricd beef, from her basket, and. the boy
came smiling from his work. He Was no longer depressed by. the
dark, and the sight of food-made him hungry..."
‘How proudly the Indian mother. broke the food and surrendered
it to his eagor appetite, -'The: bright beauty of her ‘face was some:
thing wonderful to look ‘Upon as she watched him by the firclight.
For the first time, since he was a little infant, he really scemed to be-
long to her. ee fe - eee
When he was satisficd. With food, and sho saw that his eyelids be-
gan to droop, Malacska went to some ‘rocks at a little distance, and
tearing up ;the moss in great Sreen fleeces, brought it to the place
she had chosen ,under the poplar-tree, ‘and: heaped & soft couch for
the child. Over this she Spread the ‘tiger-skin with its red’ border,
anb laid the crimson pillows whose fringes: glittered in the firelight
like gems around the couch of a prince. os : loi ovis
. To this picturesque bed: Malaeska took the
self by: his side, began - to sing as she:had. done years ago under the
roof of her wigwam. | The lad was very Weary, and fell asleep while
her plaintive yoice : filled the air and was -answered mournfully back
by a night-bird deep in the blackness of the forest. Pe met
- When certain’ that the lad was asleep, Malaeska lay down on the
hard rock by his side, softly. stealing one arm over him and sighing
- out her troubled joy as she pressed his lips with her timid kisses, °
Thus the poor Indian sunk to'a broken rest, as she had‘ done’all
‘her life, piling up soft. couches for those. she ‘loved, and taking the
cold stone for herself, . It was her woman’s destiny, not the more cer-
tain because of her Savage origin. Civilization does not always re-
verse this mournful picture of womanly self-abnegation, 9 7
|. When ‘the morning came, the boy was aroused by a full chorus of
singing-birds that fairly made the air vibrate with their melody. In
and: out throuch the branches rang their wild minstrelsy, till the
sunshine came laughing through the greenness, giving warmth and
Pleasant light to the music. William, sat up, rubbing his eyes, and
Wondering at the strange noises. Then he remembered where he
was, and called aloud:for Malaeska. She came from behind a clump
of trees, carrying. patridge in her hand, pierced through the heart
With her arrow. “She flung the bird on the rock at William’s feet,
boy, and seating her-