The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-02-20

ing was to be seen here but wild woods
and their still wilder inhabitants now wa
wing fields of grain have usurped the place
of the former, and the cheerful song of the
christian laborer is heard instead of the
wild howls of the latter. Every thing SEEM
ed to prosper with them, aud the hardshps
and pIivations ever attendant on the settling
of new country were fast vanishing. The
log huts were fast disappearing, and more
comfortable and convenient dwelling houses
were arising in their places. The most con-
spicuous among these is Gardner's, both us
to situation and the neatncss and comfort
Of its appearance. A small and tasty flow
er garden lies in front, the careful arrange
ment of which shows that a female hand is
there presiding. After he had passed two
years in America, and ascertained by his
own experience the practicabllity of max
ing a successful settlement, Gardner had
returned to England for one whom he had
long loved-onc who would willingly have
shared the dangers Of his first attempt, if he
had permitted it. But although sanguine
in his hopes of eventual success, he was
sensible that dangers and privalions had
first to be encountered, to which he would
not subject the object of bis affections. But
when success had in manner crowned his
efforts, he had returned and claimed his
bride, whose smiles now enlig igltened his
cabin and more than repaid him for all his
hardships.
As yet no disturbance betwixt our settlers
and the native inhabitants Of the country
had occurred. They had heard that in
other parts Of the country there had been
some fighting between the emigrnn,s and
the IHdians, yet the reports were so vague
and unsatisfactory, owing to the difficulty
of communication betwixt them and the
more remote settlements, that but little a.
larm had been occasioned by them.
A few more years elapsed, and Swnnzey
had not yet felt IN her peaceful dwellings the
horrors of an Indian war. Yet have heI
sons frequently closed in the death grapple
ui,h an Indian foe, for they had never re-
! fused their aid when called on to assist iheil
suffering brethren. The Indians had suff.
cred severely in those encounters, and fol
some months had been quite peacenble, anc
our settlers hnd begun to hope they shoulc
escape the scourge. But, alas, the peace.
ful and happy security in which they hat
lived was soon to end, and they were des'
tined to experience all the horrors of wa
with foe, to whom mercy was a nam,
without meaning: foe who fought onl,
to destroy, and who gloried as much in tn
destruction of the fair and the innocent, q
they did in the death of the warrior in tn
pride of his strength.
The month Of August had ommenced
and Gardner with his wife and little one
were seated in front of their dwelling. Ii
was recounting to them his adventures Will
serving with his brethren in arms again,
their common foes. The tears of his VIII
flowed freely, as she listened to the danger
recounted by her husband, and at time
she wished they were once more in England
Not so with him he loved those dangerou
adventures, for they furnished the excite me {
which was necessary to mind like his
: On this evening she had been more than u
: sually affected by her fears, and Gardne
3 found more than his usual difficulty in a
: vercoming them. lie pointed oct to he
j what his ubors had already accomplished
r lie directed her eye DER the fields whic
| his own hand had redeemed from a state q
Z Nature, md which were now teeming wit
i the ripenug grain ito the young orchard
bending beneath the weight OF its ow
! fruitfulness. He told her TO look Ger tn
e rich pastures where their 1ocks we're ia,
: increasing in numbers, aud from whenc
g the lowing kline were then returning wit
: their daily tribute to those who fed and prC
c ,ected them. "Csst your eyes," he col
e tinued, "o'er the now beautiful scene whic
o God has given to us and ours for an inner
!. tance; DER the culm and placid waters
It yonder bay, whose fruitful waters alor
nigh, supply country with food, and the
d ask yourself is this country to be desert'
), because a few real and many imaginaI
a dangers surround US. And yet. my viii
: all this, that has been won by danger al
n toll, could give up freely to ease your mir
e OF any fears tina, disturb it 4; but the ind
o pendence ih., they promise for my childr'
y, ! cannot give up. Icannot consent to r
II turn with them to thu, laud, which, thou.
d beautiful and beloved, is still 40 home
Ill.