The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-22

gave an air oil cheerluneSS and comfort 10 the
rudely.furnished apartment. From the grey
heirs and weather-beaten features of the set
tier, he appeared TO be man considerably on
the wrong side Of forty, while the young bright
haired mother by his side had not yet passed
the sunny season of early youth. The dspa-
rity of their years, however, had evidently not
prevented the growth Of the strongest affection
between them. There was soft and happy
look of content about the girl, as she surveyed
the brown woodsman, now watching the
smoke-wreaths from his pipe as they curled
over his head, now taking his axe upon his
lap, and feeling its edge with a sort Of cares
sing gesture, as il the inanimate thing could
be conscious Of the silent compliment he paid
to its temper, when thinking over the enlarge
ment of the clearing he had wrought by its aid
during the day. Nor did the eye Of the young
mother kindle less affectonately when the
brawny pioneer, carefully depositing the sim
pie instrument, which is the pride Of the Anne
rican woodsman, behind the chimney, turned
to take the hand Of the infant, which shc
pressed to her bosom, and shared at the same
time with her the caresses which she be-
slowed on the child.
f." That boys raal credit to you, Bet. But
think. if he cries tonight, as he has for the
last week, must make a papoose-crade for
him tomorrow, and swing him somewhere
! outside ofthe shanty, where his squalling can't
keep us awake. Your face is growing as
white as silver birch, from loss Of sleep a.
nights"
"Why, John, how you talk! I'm sure
Yorpy never cries never, l mean, worth
talking Of"
As the mother spoke, she pressed the un-
happy little youngster somewhat too closely
to her bosom, and he awoke with one of those
discordant outbreaks Of infant passion with
which the hopeful scions Of humanity some
times test the comforts of married life.
Baby,-why, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. now
what will it have l-does it want to see Bro
Their Ben Hush-hush-he's coming with
something for baby! Hush, now, darling =
Will il have this Z"
"Why, Bet, my DEAR said the father,
don't give the brat Bens powderhorn to
play with for thof he does like you as much
as he did my first missus, his own mother, and
flesh and blood, the lad doesn't love to have
his hunting-tools discomboborated. Gods
weather where can the tormented chap be
staying HE ought to be home by this time"
With these words he walked to the door, and
stood for a moment commenting upon the
mildness of the night, and wondering why
Ben did not return. But the mother was too
much engaged in soothing the infant, by rock
ing him to and fro in her arms, to reply.
:. Now don't, don't, GAL" continued the
kind-hearted woodsman, turning from the
door, which he left open; syou'l tire yourself
to death. Let me take him-there, now
there said he, as she relinquished the child
to his arms and addressing the last words to
the poor, perverse little thing, he walked up
and down the room with it, vainly trying to
lull its gust ofpassion or peeyishness.
i" Hush you little varmint you " said the
father at last, growing impatient; hush? or
I'll call in the Indians to carry you off,
will.''
The settler was just turning in his walk,
near the opened threshold, as he uttered the
ill-omened words, when a swarthy hand, reach
ing over his shoulder, clutched the child from
his arms, and brained it against the door-post,
in the same moment that the tomahawk Of an
other savage struck him to the floor. A dozen
painted demons sprang over his PROSTATE body
into the centre of the room. The simple
scene of domestic joy, but moment before
SO sheltered and home-like, was changed on
the instant. The mummied nurseling was
flung upon the embers near the feet of its
frantic mother, who slipped and fell in the
blood Of her husband, as she plucked her child
from the Goals, and sprang towards the door.
1t was blow of mercy, though not meant as
such, which dismissed her spirit, as she strug-
gled to rise with her lifeless burthen. The
embers of the fire soon strewed the apartment,
while the savages danced among them with
the mad glee Of the devils own children, until
the smoke and blaze, ascending to the roof
tree, drove them from the scene Of their in
fernal orgies
The next days sun shone upon that mould
ering ruin as brightly as if unconscious Of the
horrors which his light revealed. So COM
plete had been the devastation of the flames,
that little but ashes now remained and the
blue smoke curled up among the empowering
trees as gently as if it rose only from Gotta
gers hospitable fire. The oriole, perched up.
on cedar-top, whsted as usual to his mate,
swinging in his nest upon the pendent branches
of willow which had been planted by the i'll
fated settler near a spring not far from his
door; mho the cat bird from the brier-thiolsot
replied in hooking notes blither and clearer
than those he aimed to initiate. The swallow
only, driven from her nest in the caves, and
whirling in disordered flight around the place,
seemed in sharp cries to sympathse with the
desolation which had come over it.
There was no human murmur, however,
amid the scene. A youth of sixteen sat with
his head buried in his hands upon fallen tree
hard by. So still and motionless lie seemed,
that his form might almost have been thought
to have been carved out of the grey wood,
with which his faded garments assimilated in
color. 1t would not be difficult to surlnise
what passed in the bosom of the young forest
er, as al last, after rising with an effort, he
advanced to the funeral pyrc of his house,