The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-02-20
ORIGINAL TALES.
For the Rhode-lsland Republican.
ABRAHAM's ROCK.
, TALE OF THE TIMES OF PHILIP.
by n. ". c.

The SCENE Of the following Tale is laid
in what might emphatically be called the
Bloody Ground" of New England. The
Rock known BY the name We have chosen
for its title, is situated near TO the village
Of Swanzey, and about five miles from
Mount Hope. 1t rises in grand but solita-
ry sterility amid the surrounding luxuriance
of Nature, like a monument formed by her
own hand, to commemorate some bye gone
lime when she alone was To be found in
this now thickly settled coun'ry.-A monu-
ment which time has past over without the
power Of injuring. Undecaysd it has stood
for ages: undecayed and undecaying it will
stand for ages TO come: IA stern memorial
Of the bloody scenes it has witnessed. On
the north east side it rises TO IA perpendicu-
lar height of near seventy feet. nffording
from its summit one Of the most beautiful
prospects that the eye e'er looked on
Commanding to the sou,hard full view Of
Mount Hope, and the neighboring bays of
Hope and Nnrragansett, with their numer-
Gus and beautiful Isles, rising like gems out
Of the surrounding waters. How lovely
must it have been to those to whom it wns
endsared by every tie which binds man to
the home Of his birth! To those who lived
here in Natures own simplicity, before the
feet of tie white man had pressed their
shores. Perhaps, in the warm summer
days; they reclined beneath the shade of this
very rock, listening to the soothing sound Of
the Watuppu Falls, softened by the distance
into almost iufantine murmurs, and offering
IN thanks 10 the Grea, Spirit for the blcs-
sings that surrounded them. But to begin
our tale.
EDWARD GARDNER was one Of those, who,
prompted by a love Of adventure, had left
the home Of his birth to seek and carve out
fortune in the wilds of America. Injured
to labor, he dreaded not toll. Of a dispos-
ton which always looked at the bright side
of things, aud possessed of undaunted cour-
age, to him the wild forests and their still
wilder tenants possessed no terrors. He
landed in Narragansett Bay with a compa-
ny Of young men, who, like himself, had
left the peaceful shores Of England when
the rage of emigration was at the highest
Not for opinions sake hnd they sought this
land Of lberty-,his Eldorado of the North
they had como to seek for wealth, where
toll was sure to win it. Little did they care,
this bold band for the dangers they must
encounter. The yells of the savage foe
with whom they must grapple struck no
tcrrors 10 their hearts dangers they ex-
pscted to meet, and they were prepared ,s
nee, them uithou, shrinking. Immediate
iy on landing party was despatched to Sc
iect proper spot, on which to settle. On'
of those was Gardner, aud he was no: lont
in making his selection. Seven Of the 9th
spot; but the rest ofthe company detormn
ed on looking further. The spot selec,et
by Gardner nnd his associates was nea
what is now the village Of Swanzey. 4
treaty was soon made with the Indians fo
what land they wanted, and they began a
once to improve their future home. BehoI'
them now, this band Of dauntess emigrants
Behold them in their forest home! Th
comfortable and peaceful cottages OF Eng
land are exchanged for the rudely bull, To-
hut. Instead of the beautiful flower gar
den which is the universal adorner of tn
English cottage, their rude dwellings ar
surrounded only by frowning forests, t
which the eye in vain searches for an enc
Yet they are happy, FOR they know thr
their lsbors will bring them independence.
As soon as land enough had been elesre
10 supply the necessaries Of life for the fir,
year, they commenced and soon finished
rude ye, strong building, SURROUNDED b
high palisades, to which they could fee !
time Of danger. For they knew tina, III
Wild race Who surrounded them owned n
Law bu, their own will. They knew III,
the land which they were cultssting mu,
be held by the s,rong hand and the Dol
heart.