The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-11-12
From the Youths Cabinet.
THE CAPTIVE BOY.

THE CAPTIVE BOY.
My child IS too young to 90 10 the Sab
bath School," says mother whom the world
calls prudent. She keeps a public house
and her little 500 delights to SIT where he
can hear the profane, boislerous converse
tions of the barroom. She is pleased to
see him 50 quiet, but he has learnt to love
vice before she has learnt that she s pur-
chasing present ease BY laying up stores OF
misery for herself aud her son.
Parents aud teachers, who need more facts
to convince them Of the importance Of early
impressions, should ponder Ihe following
story:
OUR FRONTIER SETTLEMENTS we're ma
NJ years ago, land waste by the Indians,
Sho robbed The inhabitants, killed some,
and made prisoners Of others. man by
tbe name oil Bird was seized, together with
his wife and child, aud infan; abou, SIX
nonihs oil. The sayages had taken so
much plunder that they spared the wretch.
ed father and mother, aud forced them TO
help 10 carry il otF. The anxious mother
coa.rived 10 conceal her infant from her
cap!ors, aud having wrapped It up 10 her
burden, close to her breast, Iourneyed by
lhe side Of Der husband toward the wilder.
Tess.
After travelling from morn till evening
CO long summers day the Indians threw
themselves on The ground and were soon
asleep; but Bird and his sife, even after
50 much fatigue Eel, little disposed 10 close
their eyes. They con!rlved 10 escape !;
and wih their helpless babe, which they
bad succeeded 10 preserving unnoticed, be-
ga6, at midnight. 10 reiface their @ers.-
Before day, fatigue, anxiety and hunger.
bad 50 completely exhausted them both
that they could carry the child 10 longer !;
and Il they would escape, not a moments
lime was 10 be lost. Love Of life at length
cvsrcaGe the parents iondness. The moth.
ers, for the last time pressed her innocent
offspring TO her breast, believed its cheek
with tears aud set i, down on lhe green
bank Of sone little fores; stream 10 perish
there. As she proceeded she cas-, hur.
rIsd lock Of agouy behind her, and saw her
child scraubling after The gay flowers.
When they returned TO he settlements,
Their neigt5ors went ~iih the father to the
spot where the child sas left, bu, he was
gone. As years rolled 90, God gave them
weakh AMI m4ay other children, so that
they almost forgot their lost boy.
Fifteen years afterwards treaty with
dis:a;.i Tribe Of Indians bound them to de.
LIVER up any capliyes tia, might be 10 their
possession. A boy was given up, *ho, il
was sad, had been luuoI 10 infancy upon
the very spot, where young Bird had been
left. Tie vas sen. TO his p4reats Who ian.
mediaieIy fecosnsej him By remarkable
scar 90 his rgh, hand, ah.ca he had re
ceiged 10 bis fathers house.
The measure ofthe parents 10y was foil
but the boy wandered through the rich
possessions Of hls father athou, smile
HIS bow and blanket we're his only Ioy.-
lie desplsed alike, the dress, the habits,
and The Injuries That were offered him and
his mind constantly brooded over the forest
scenes II which he had passed his boyhood
Vain were all attempts 10 wean him from
bis native habits. While persuasion and
indulgence .ere resorted TO, he acqulesced
bat when force was tried, and be was com.
PEELED 70 change his blanket for the gar.
mems Of civilized l,ie, and his favorlte bow
fer book, he grew snllenly Disconnected,
aud at last vas missing. lie was seen the
same evening", srrayed ~ 40 Indian garb,
crossing distant mountain, and bending
his course towards the setting sun.
Twenty years after lais event. Mr. Bird
and bis wife removed 70 nex settlement.
far from their former residence, where ,hey
inhabited small Log Cabin.
One day as The old lady vas left alone.
the men Of the neighborhood having gone
several miles to /" raising she saw from
her door, several armed and painted Indian.
approaching her. Alarmed, bur resolute,
sbe seized Ratchet ascending a ladder
inio the lnft Of the dwelling. drew II up af
ter her, aud determined TO defend herself
10 the last.
The sayages entered, and finding their
Efforts TO eailce her down were VAIN, laid
down their rifles to ascend after her; but
The 6rst hand that was thrust through the
frapdoor was cut of By the intrepid NO.
mao, and al alarm beng taken a, the mo.
ment, that the whites were coming The Ia
dams Tetreated, and disappeared 10 the