Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-03-24
Helm us, o God TO weigh
CATHARlNE OF KENAWIIA

The ruthless savage pierced that maiden breast
Where every beauty, every vlrtne dwe--
Where love had ,hron'd himself and perfect grace
Stood fx'd- confirmed tho wonder of the eye.
A number Of years since, before many
of the early settlers Of America had added
the charms Of civilized HE to The wild and
savage beauties Of it's western forests Ed
mund Singleton. Of Pennsylvania, n gen
,lcman of fortune and influence, ilnpcllcd
nv dern feeling of regret for the loss of
an amiabe and aft cti0nn'c wife. deicfm'n
ed upon emgra'lng to The hcau,ifnl though
lonely valley Of Kcnnwha. Accordingly.
accompanied BY his only Child tho infant
Calharino. he retired from world which
had lost every power to please, 10 enjoy in
his lovely soclusion III, luXnry Of grief
Having purchased large tract of land, il
became necessary that he Should have The
assistance Of others to enable him 10 enjoy
its ample products. His household, there
fore, was ,oeraby nnmProuS and in few
wears, in the beautiful language Of Scrip.
ture, the wilderness was made to "boom
and blossom os The rose" The lair Ca'ha
rine grew in grace and lovel;ncss. secluded
from world, the dece's and Establishments
of which she was a. Ignorant Of as the
was all that was innocent nud attractive.
Her father delighted 10 b'hojdlns her cx
banding beauties ma urrg into he pcrlCc-
ton OF feminine lovclnc-s: aud that mel,
lowed feeling Of regret which the recol
lection of her lamcn'1d mother occasional
" created was sensthlv lessened by lie eX
act resemblance which his beautiful daU&h.
ter bore to her departed parenl,--'rme
had passed rapidly away, and the infant
child was now a blooming woman, cXhlb-
ting all the mingllng cbarn. If native love
Illness, united with the maturity Of accom-
plishmon, usually possessed at cightecn.--
The apsc~of 6 years had materially Chan,
ged the aspect Of the surrounding couolry.
and what was once lonely and dcsolate now
presented an increased population, and
gladdened the eye of the passing traveller
with the rich prospect Of cultured fields.
ripenng orchards, and oil the luXuran'
beauties Of Agrlcuhural jnlnsthv. Sing.
Teton was hoppy--pen'y crowned his em'
ling board--naturc was lavish Of her
swects--,he flowers brea,hcd their odour
to his grateful seuse--and the beautiful
stream Of Kcnowha. softly blending its sill.
yer tide with the surrounding hills aud val
lcys, formed scene 50 grand and yet so
simply beautiful, that even the callous iron
and, in the language Of justly admired
poet, have exclaimed,
III there's peace to be found in This world,
The heart lha, is humble might hope for it here
The favori'e diversion of NJ. Single,
ton was the chase; aud at that early peri
cd, it was not unusual for the hunters Of
the west to spend whole days in that man
EIonally, accompany her father thro' the
sports Of the field; and her holness and
dcxteri'y was such as often to excite the
envy Of her less adventurous companions.
Catharino had not, however passed the or
deal Of youth, and maturing feeling, with
out tasting Of cloves delightful pang."--
The graceful and talented son Of neigh,
boring gentleman had taught her artless
soul to feel that though wealth and
worlds admiration might shower its com
forts and paudlts, yet without some genial
heart, some corresponding sympathy,
twere all vain and worthless. Reuben
Fiizroy was the destined. lord of Calha.
rine's person and affections; the parents
Of each were anXiously DESTROYS of their
union, and tie youthful couple were not
nverse to what they warmly felt would be
a source of lasting happiness.
1t was October and in that cool autumn.
nal season IT is most usual for those who
delight in the sports Of The chase 10 indulge
in its sylvan joys. Mr., Singleton had for
med "a party of neighboring gentlemen, and
attendants to unite with him IN a days hunt,
s>pon the opposite banks of the Kenawha,
They accordingly met, aud their number
was snch as to inspire perfect confidence
against any attack which the adjoining In
dams mig hit, either from personal or nation
al animosty', think proper to nuke.
Before their departure, the arrangeI onts
of the day were made. Singleton I'm
manded the drivnlq, and Filzroy the t.
lacking, party; and, TO prevent the incuu