The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-01-12
Il II L w Ed DI N G
BY J. C. WHITTIER.
81 wed thee, in the battles eve,

Amidst the mailed and stawart tlrong;
| And answered 10 III, banner cry,
As il had been lovers song"
| Itwus a clear moonlight night in autumn in 1924
and tho old garrison house of the valiant Captain
Wheelwright, the terror of all the indians with
in tw enty miles Of Wells, brilliantly illumina-
ted for the wedding ofthe veterans daughter, TO
young and gallant ranger, belonging TO tho band of
Captain Hartman. The house was crowded with
guests, principally with military men, for at that
period every man soldier, and every woman,
if she could merit that appellation twas at least
worthy of being soldiers wife.
1t was a grand tme--that wedding There was
an abundance Of maple sugar and pumpkin pies,
and all tho young ladies within thirty miles had
beer invite to partake OF tho festivities of the
casion. The dance went nimbIy down the rude
hail. z every seemed DESTROYS of adding some
thing othe general expressionot merrimen and JOY
Ye, there were watchfuI eyes and anxious hearts
amidst the joyous asse mbIy. AT every sound from
without-the sudden bark Of dog,or the creakng
of tho large old in the autumn wind, thrill
like that Of electricity passed through the throng of
jewellers More than once had the hands OF the
gers nstinctively fastened their rifles, which
leaned ready for execution, in. every corner of The
building. 1t as known to all that the
savages were in motion that implacable hate of
the red men brooding like thunder cloud ov-
err the encroachlng advance of the English The
inhabitants of Wells had not indeed suffered recent
~ from the attacks of their subtle enemy-but
they felt no security from the vengeance of foes,
who were unappeasabe in their resentment, and
whose transient forbearance, like the crouch of the
panther, or the coil of the reused rattle snake,
might be only the preparation for sudden and
deadly blow
But the wedding went on without interruption.
The beautiful Emily Wheelwright stood up with
the young lover be fore the venerated clergyman
She was fine specimen of natural beauty-her
dark hair fell careessly and richly on her neck
her full cheek glowed with tho freshness of health
and the free waist and unconfned form, gave to
her motions elasticity and gracefulness to which
the modern victim is stranger. And the BRIDE
groom IN the strength and vigor of his youth, with
his sunburnt countenance, and manly proportions
presented striking consTasl TO the fashionable ex
quisite Of modern days.
The rites were concluded and Charles Han.
well had irrs, imprinted on the biushng cheek of
the bride the ceremonial kiss when terrific cry
from without rang through every nook of the man
SON. All sprang on their feet the fearful alarm.
The next instant the report of rifles came sharply
their
''To aims = the heather are upon us " shouted
captain heelwrigh ,snaching his musket from the
hooks by which it was suspended.
There was sudden rush towards the door.
The mnonshone full upon the wild scenery around;
there was visible traces of an enemy AT length |
u solitary figure made its appearance at a remote
corner of the building, "Help, for Gods sake! said
q well known voice. 81 wounded. The
bloody redskins are abroad"
The wounded man staggered towards the half
bewildered group. AT that instant a rifle Hash !
cleaned from the nearest thicket.-The aim was
a fatal one, for its unfortunate object, who had
nearly reached his comrades, sprung suddenly and
convulsivey from tile EARTH and fell at their feet
The exulting whoop Of an invisible foe was drown |
ed in the reports of the muske,s of the white men,
which were now directed every bush and thick
OF.
sTo your horses, men - exclaimed Captain
Hartman, the dusky FERNS ofthe enemy became
visible, at a distance, which beyond the GER
tain aim Of his rangers. Charles Hanwell turned |
anxiousiy to his bride-she was deadly pnle-she /
did not Join in the cries and tears around-hut she
sats and white as "A statue. f'Do not be alarmed,
said Charles, eifecuonaely pressing her hand !
The savages will not modest after yigor-
Gus attack from rifles, and there is lit danger
to be apprehended Be quiet. We shall return |
Immediately
The spirit of her father was strongly within the
heart of Emily. ''Go Charles and may God pre-. |
serve you !" said. She party had already noun
ted and the trample of hoofs was ringing without.
Charles sprang to his saddle, and in u moment the
band to which he belonged disappeared in the
shadows of the surrounding woodlands. Captain
Wheelwrigbt undertook TO garrison hrs dwelling
with the remainder of his company.
1t would be impossible to describe the anxiety
with which the wedding guests listened 10 every
sound which came from The direction which the
rangers had taken. The trampling OF their horses
gradually died away then the sound of firearms
was head and ever and anon, the shrliI and ter
rible war cry of the sayages rose ieatuiy on the
wind s.
Tie heavy tread Of horses soon announced the
return Of the adventures. They wheeled into the
enclosure and the next moment Harman confron-
ted the agi,ated assembly. "fhe vi'o heathen,
he mp,fered between his clenrhed teeh and turn
ing to the BRIDE .Your husband is among the miss.
n;uht i