The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-02-13
MISCELLAN Y.
The Graves of the Forest.

IC OtdRCS Vi Tic i OICSts
There neahsr name nor emblem's spread,
To sfaythe passing pilgriDs's tread.
To me neglected grave is a melan-
choly sight; for it speaks not only of
the vanity of pride, but of the treach-
cry of friendship, and the forgetfulness
of humanity An overshadowed will
low, little dropping flower, or even a
cluster of meurnfuE iyys tells soothing
tale, while we, recognize the tear of
affection, and the tender cares of indy
ing love as the organ of their growth.
once paused en- the banks of the
Susquehanua, by the side of small
plain whieh appeared to be crowded
with the monuments of mortality, though
far from any settlement which could
have furnished TO the tomb so many
tenants. The spoil of desperate bat
tie, was there deposited, unhonoured,
save in the simple tale of the villager,
recording their deeds Of hereisn
There is no account Of Augustus and
bis little band Of martyrs on the pages
of history. More than seventeen years
have rolled along since those shores
where they are now buried, echoed to
the peal of their musketry and the
savage shouts of victory. And at this
distance from that period, even the faith
fitness cf memory but obscurely traces
the event
The settlers In the interiour of the
colony of Pennsylvania were rusticks,
living in a manner as unadorned as the
rude forests which surrounded them
But in the little village of Haverhill,, if
the Accomplishments Of art were want
ed to make life splendid, the beauties of
nature we're not sought in vain to make
it sweet. Love had found its way into
the silent hamlet; and the angel cheek
of beauty smiled midst the solitudes of
the forests, and breathing spells of hap
piness around. There was one sweet
girl, the daughter Of NJ. NJ. to whose
nuptials the villagers had been invited,
in the evening of the day preceding
the catastrophe which peopled, in the
end, this little spot with ten,:nts.
She had given herheart to one, who,
though born and bred among the noun
tiins and the woods of the desert, was
as fond and fervent as the warmest /;
but, inso dong, she rejected the address
es of foreigner and stranger
Leroy, when the success Of his rival
was beyond doubt. left the neigh
bourhood precipitately, and, without
occasioning a suspicion of his intention,
passed over the Susguehanna to the
encampment of tribe of Indians
Having received intelligence of the
time when Charlotte NJ was to become
the wife Of Augustus, he prevailed upon
the savages to attack the settlement,
with promises of large booty and no re-
sistance.
Just as the villagers were gathering
10 the cottage of Mr.. M. horrid sound
echoed along the vale, and band of In
dams, led on by Leroy, rushed from an
adjoining wood upon them. The at
tack was too unexpected to allow Of re-
sistance, and general fight and mas
sacre eusued. The father, mother, and
brother persisted their cottage was re-
duccd TO ashes, and the defenceIess
daughter remained prisoner Angus
tus had disappeared amid the tumult,
none knew how.
Elated with the success of his yillany,
Leroy accompanied the heart-broken
Charlotte and her cruel captors long
days march, and they lighted their fires
for the night, at the going down Of the
sun, on the spot now covered with SO
many graves. When the Indians bad
assembled, Leroy addressed them in
language TO this effect.
& Ny friends, you listenedto my PRO
posals II have guided you TO victory
~ have but onercauest to makc--that
captive girl claim for my services -