The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-10-06
From the Mercantile journal.

"Tippccanoe, a Legend Of the Border" is the IT,
tie of pleasing tale, by lady, for sale by Ives 81
Dennet in this city. IL illustrates in a striking
manner the peris and sufferings which the
lot of the deienceless inhabitants our frontiers,
during the Indian wars The terrible effect on
the minds of the Inhabitants, which produced
by General ST. Glars defeat, is thus described in
this pamphlet:
"The news Of this defeat spread one univ ersal
panic through the country. Individual safferings
were forgotten in the public danger. We did not
mourn much for the lost, as we lamented for
the vng-for those who, in the m dst Of life, suf-
fered the pangs Or death every hour, in fear of SO
horrible enemy. For some time dreadful tor
por seemed to unnerve every heart, and paraiyze
every hand. Men lost TO their consciousness Of
manhood, aRd women dwinded into babes The
strong became listiess and inactive, while the
hero WINS m cited down to a very coward A kind
Of contagious madness seemed to run from heart TO
heart; aud the people moved about with a kind of
fearful uncertainty, as if under the influence of
some horrible Dire am. But the utmost power Of
language is cold, impotent, and insufficient: 10 give
more than glimpse, of the fearful reality Nigh:
became period of unmtigated horror. Every rust
ling leaf was 10 our exciting fancy stealing
moccasin--every moaning wind savage war cry
and every stirring of the stronger branches OF the
wood, the clash Of tomalawks war clubs. Tho
drumming of the partridge was the confident
tramp of exulting and numerous foe; the
whistle of the qna the signal for attack;
and the hoarse dscordant cries of the owl,
and the night jar, were the shrieks Of victims,
mingled with The horrible yels of their murderers
and when day came, the fearful visions of the
night were only exchanged for conceptIo of re-
alities hardly less fearful. Eloquent speeches may
be made, and finely rounded periods be written
but it is not in the power Of abstract language to
portray the unspeakable agony that overwhelmed
us all; while our fend like enemies, oxuItng in
their late victories, grew more daring-more auda-
cious than ever, and boldly defed restraint op-
position"
In another part of the work, the writer introdu
ces the following sketch, showing the manner of
life in countries, and some OF the tnconoenienc
es to which new settlers must submit:
sAu anecdote now occurs to me, which, as it is
illustrative OF the manner of life in countres,l
will relate. There was small party OF ladies at
Mrs. Clements one day, from the neghboring cab
ins that is to say our visitors were gathered from
a circuit of ten fifteen miles, including Cincln-
natl. The conversation CHANGED 10 turn upon
their first settlement of that wild country, Most
Of these women had come out with their hus bands
when first married, so that, during the absence of
the latter, which sometimes continued tor sew
eral nights, they Were left entirely alone, in the
midst OF a wilderness, with perhaps not human
being within ten miles, or even greater distance,
unless the lurking savage might be prowllng near
sHow did you pass the night in such extreme,
such aw ful loneliness2' said Mrs. Clement to
OF them.
Before dark she replied, Il kindled large fire
of solid logs Of wood, 81 il mght last all night.
Then l lighted a candle and set it on the table. I
next piled up every thing against the door,, and
darkened the window. Having done this got into
bed, and, covering up my face, | never dared to
peep out till felt the morning sun shining through
the clothes; but the fears I had were dreadful.
There was pretty strong wind; and every time
the branches of the old trees cracked, thought l
heard the swapping rifles; and poor pnss, patting
softly about the hearth in pursuit of a swallow was,
to my fancy the stealthy moccasin When think
of VIVA, suffered in that single night, wonder
how could live in such awful fear But habit