Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-11-22
THE CAPTIVE BOY.
STORY OF THE PRAIRIEs


before the power of the aborigines was bro.
ken and subdued, frequently laid waste ana
desolate by the incursions OF the Indians
who, not content with plllsging and destroy
! ing whatever property came IN their way
marked their footsteps with blood ana made
captves of all whom gnttcd vengeance or
caprice induced them to spare.
|, II huppened in one Of these lncurslons that
Young man named Bird, with his wife and
child, an infant about six months old, were
made prisoners. The quantity OF plumber IN
possession of the savages making the assls-
tance Of the unfortunate father and mother
nesessnry, their lives were spared for the
especial purpose of assisting IN carrying IT
off; they were shown their burdens and di-
rected to follow. The mother knowing the
fate which in these circumstances awaited
her infant. should it be discovered, contrved
TO conceal it from her inhuman cuptors; and
having wrapt it up in her burden, close to her
breast, journeyed by the side Of her husband
towards the wilderness; sorrowlng, no donbt
but invoking the nld of Him whose Almighty
arm can succor the most unfortunate, and
deliver in the greatest peril.
After travelling from sunrise until late at
nio!t, through a long summers day the party
arrived at an Indian village, and the captives
being secured the Indians threw themselves
upon the ground, and were soon asleep; but
II may well be supposed that Bird and his
wife, even after 80 much fatigue, felt little
disposition 10 close their eyes. How they
nigh, escape alone occupied their thoughts
they maturcd the plan and put It into exc
cution--but to escape recapture, required
more vigilance and resolution than it required
ingenuity and strength to free themselves
from the chords that bound them.
They however set out, and " lth their help
less babe, which as by miracle, they had
still succeeded IN preserving unnoticed, be-
gan at midnight To retrace their steps-but
before daylight, fatigue, anxiety, and want OF
,nourshmcnt so completely exhausted them,
that they found this dilemma placed before
/ l,hem-the child must be left in the wilder
ness, or they must remain and perish with IT..
The morning was already streaking the east
with gray, and they knew that their flight
must have already been discovcred--they
knew, ,too,the characters they had TO deal with,
and TO escape there was not moment to be
lost. Distracted with opposing resolution,
sense of duty prevailed over parental fond.
nccs-the mother for the last time pressed
her innocent offspring to her breast, bedewed
It's unconsciously smiling cheek with her
tears, and sat it down on the green bank Of a.
little tinkling rl to perlsh-where as she
cast lingering look after she had left it, she
saw it scrambling after the flowers that grew
around.
The father and mother escaped TO the set
tIcments, and Nlr. Bird speedily collected n
large party Of his neighbors, and returned to-
the spot where the child had been left-but
t was gone; and in the lapse OF years, bles-
sed with riches and numerous progeny, the
parents ceased TO weep for their lost boy.
Fifteen summers had smiled upon the
harvests, when in treaty with distant tribe
of Indians, an article Of which bound them to
deliver up any captives that might be in their
possession, boy was put into the charge oi
the commissioners of the whites, with dec
laration that he was white, found in infancy
upon the very spot whore the child Of Bird
had been left. lie was sent to his parents,
who Immediately recognized him by re.
markabe scar on his right hand, which he had
received in his fathers house.
! The measure of his parents Joy was full,
but the boy wandered through the rich pos
sessions without smile. His bow and his
blankets were his only Joy. lie desplsed
alike the dress, the habits and luxuries that
were proffered him; and his mind constantly
brooded over the forest scenes and sports in
which he had passed his boyhood. Vain
were all the attempts to wean him from his
native habits, and as vain the efforts to OBJ
lterate the recollectiens Of his adopted home
from his mind. While persuasion and indul-
gence were alone resorted to, he modestly
resisted; but when force was tried, and he
was compelled to change his blanket for the
garment of civilized life, and bis favorite bow
for book he grew sullen and discontented,
and at last was missing from his fathers
house, and seen, the same evening, arrayed
IN the Indian garb. crossing distant noun
tain, and bending his course towards the set
ting sun.
1t was upwards of twenty years after this
event, that Mr. Bird and his wife, now ad-
vanced somewhat in years, removed to ne W
settlement, where MIR. Bird had purchased a
,ract of land at a great distance from their
former rcsdence-and while more COM
nodious building was erecting, they inhabited
a small hut adjacent to thick wood.
II One dny when the old lady was left alone,
distance of several miles to assist at q rails.
ing. she saw from her door several armed and
painted Indians approaching her. Alarmed,
lcendiDg ladder into the loft ofthe dwelling,
drew it up after her, determined to resist to
the last. They entered, and finding their ef.
forts TO entcc her down were vain, laid down
their rifles to ascend after her. But the first
hand that was put through the trap door was
severed from the arm by single blow from
the intrepid heroine, and an alarm being ta-
ken at that moment that the whites were
coming,the Indians retreated and disappeared
in the woods instantly, while almost at the
same moment Mr.. Bird and his party came in
sight.
But scarcely had the deivercr Of her life
approached, before Mrs. Birds eye caught
sight Of the severed hand, and 10 there APP
i pearcd before her the scared right hand OF
her eldest son.
Such is the story Of the Captive Boy; and
! from it there is too much reason to draw the
! inference, that it is habit tha. endears the
savage TO his wids; that teaches him to love
his own pursuits and TO delight in blood ant
treachery and that between the natural pas
sions. affections and dispositions of men
there is no difference, except such as j
created by education and custom.
II -------------
GRATITUDE