Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-12-01
THE DEAD CLEARING.

the confguratiOn o. IFS shores. IL Is about ten
miles in length, broad, decp, and gut with mouu-
tains, which though not 50 lofty a. many an the
northern parts Of tie State Of New York, are still
picturesque IN form, while they enclose a lhous
| and pastoral valleys and sequestered des among
/ then richly wooded defies.
i In one OF the ioyeiicst of these s,ens near |
| fine spring, well known to the deer stalker there |
nourished few years siDce, weeping willow |
which for ought know, may be still grazing the |
spot The existence of such an exotic IN the
midst Of our primitive fores, would excite the Gu
riosity Of the most casual observer ct nature, |
even if other objects adjacent didnot arrest his
attention, as he emerged from the deep woods
around, 10 the sunny glade where il ete". De
the side Of a steep bank, opposite to the willow,
there were the remains Of an old hre place to be
seen: and blackened umbers, with indication Of
roltb masonry, could be discovered by turning
aside the Wild Raspberry bushes that had oycrgrown
the farther side Of the knoll. These runs hetoken-
ed something more than The remains OF hunting
camp: and the forester who should traverse
an extensive thichet Of young beeches and wld
cherry trees, within tew hundred yards OF this
spot, would be at no loss to determine that be had
lighted upon the deserted home Of some settler OF
and the danger Of pioneer, lie had been ouce
endured, but where the hand Of Improvement had
wrought IN vain. for the forest had already closed
over the little domain that had been briefly res.
cued from It's embrace, aud The place was now
what IN the language Of the country Is called a
"dead clearing"
The story Of this ruined homestead is very
common one IN the private family annals OF the
State of New York, which has always been eX.
posed 10 the perlls OF frontier warfare, and which,
for twenty years, at the close OF The seventeenth
century, and throughout the whole Of that which
followed it, was the battle field Ct the most for
mdabIe Indian conlederacy that ever arrayed it.
self against the Christian powers on The shores OF
this continent. The broken remains Of that con-
tederacy possess large tracts Of valuable land IN
the centre of our most popuous districts; while
their brethren Of the same color, but OF a lcebIet
lineage have been driven westward thousand
miles from our borders. And when his remnant
OF the IroQus shall have dwndled from among us,
their names viii stll live in the majestic lakes
and noble rivers that embam the memory OF then
language. They Will live, too uuhappIiy, in ma
ny a dark legend Of ruthless violence, like that
which have to relate.
Ii was in the same year when SuIlvan's ann,
gave the finishing blow to the military power Of tn,
Six nations, that settler, who had come il
frsm the Newhampshire grants 10 this part Of Ty
ron County, {as the northern aud western regot
he Of New York at that time called sllting-wll
L. his wife, who held infant 10 her bosom, enjoy
I'd ing his evening pipe besides his hearth. lht
blaze of the large maple wood fire spread marin
re ~ upon the Imprinted beams above, and ligbec
nj up the timbers OF the shanty with mellow glow
:. that gave an air Of cheerluness and comtort Il
I'd the rudely- furnished apartment From the gfe
b, hairs and weaher-beaten features OF the settler
in he appeared TO be man considerably on th
IL wrong side Of forty, While the young bright hare'
ak mother by his side had not yet passed the sum
ny season Of early youth. The disparity Of thel
es years, however had evidently not prevented tn
n growth Of the strongest affection between hem
of There was soft and happy look Of content a
! bout the girl, as she surveyed the brown woods
man, nov watching the smoke-wrcahs from bt
he j pesas they culed over his head now taking hi
~ axe upon his lap, and feeling It's edge with sol
he of curessing gesture, as If the namnate lhin
d. could be conscious Of the silent compliment h
les paid to lis tenner, when thinking over the enlarge
le, ment Of the clearing he had wrought by It's aid do
ring the day. Nor did the eye Of the youn
-. mother kndIe less alectlonaIcly when the Drawn
.lv pioneer, carefully deposIting the simple nsirt
he ment which is the PRIDE OF the American wood
,ol man, behind the chimney turned 10 take the han
II Of the infant. which she pressed to her bosom, al
&c shared at The same time with her the caresst
mo which she bestowed on the child
~, That boys rail- credit TO you Bet But
~ think, If be CRIES tonight he has Tor the la
a. week, must make papoose- cradle for hi
~ to morrow, and swing him somewhere outside
,be the shanty, where his squalling can't keep US
bar wake Your face is as white as a. silver bnc
10 from loss Of sleep Al nights"
30 why, John HOY you talk Fam sure lorl
"a never cries, never. mean, worth talking OIL"
ere As the mother spoke she pressed the unhapl
tho little youngsier somewhat too closely 10 her b
IN son. and he awaked glth one those discorda
ea, outbreaks Of infant passion with which the hopei
an, scions Of humanity somtimes test the comforts
i married ll'e
urn "Baby,-why, baby--lhere-there now VII
and will il hayel does it want TO see Brother Ber
eep Hush-hush--he he's coming with something
FER. baby Hush, now, darling!-NIIl II have this.
ow, "Why Bet, my DEAR" sad the father, "do
IN give the brat Ben's powerhorn TO play wIhi
ray thoughhe does like you much a. ne did I
10 first mlssus, his own mother and fesh ana piP
$ OF the lad descent love to have his huntington
.og- dlscomborborated. Gods weather! where {
! on the tormenied chap be siaying!-he ought TO
d to home by This time" With these words he wa
lot I'D 10 the door, and stood for moment CONNIE
ting upon he mildness Of the night, and ~ohd
ng why Ben did not return But the mot
was too much engaged in soothing the iaiant'
rocking him 10 and fro in her arms, to reply
"Now don't gal, continued the kndhear
woodsman, turning from the door, which he
open; "you'll tire youself to death. Let me I.
hm-tbere now-ibere," SAID he, as she rel