Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-02-18
we are all dead"

we are all dead"
| At that instant, down rushed scores of Indi
ans to the shore, with shout that made the
nils across the river echo it back again. The
numerous creatures rushed down to the wa.
Wls edge' and presented their guns, and
| opened heavy hre upon US. In an instan,
| the young man snatched his rifle, and rising
up his full length, fred at the nearest Indian,
who had shabby head dress. The Indian
tell, and so did the young man at the same
instant. AS he fell tho captain brought the
boat round still nearer. The Indians yelled,
the women screamed, the horses were falling
and plunging, and bullets were flying thick
around us. Yet above all the voice Of Cap
tain Ward rose, cool-"Rogers take nv oar. ;"
look 1t, and he at the same instant seized
piece of plank, and rowed to such good
purpose, that In few minutes we were out in
the river, beyond the reach of their rifles. We
knew they had no canoes, being on hunting
excursion, and that We were safe. But Oh!
what sight the horses were all dead or dy-
ing I, one child badly wounded, the boat half
llled with water, and the young man in his
blood at the bottom ofthe boat. BY this time
the GOODNESS of the captain was all gone. lie
lay down by the side ofhis nephew, whom he
loved as his son and exclaimed, 80 John.
John u Lord have mercy, have mercy!
have brought the dear boy to his DEATH
But the widowed mother! She was pale as
sheet; but she came to her son, raised his
head in her lap, and opened his bosom, where
the blood was still! coming-he was yet alive.
"John," said she in sweet voice, as if
speaking to baby, "Iohn do you know me !''
"Nly MOTHER" said he in a whisper.
Scan you swallow, John =" said she put
ung her hand over, and dipping up some wa.
ter from the river.
He tried. bur could not
My SON do you know that you are dy-
ing!''
Yes, mother, but are you hurt!"
"No, no, but don't think of me. Can you
pray with the heart now, my dear son!"
"God be merciful to me sinner, for the
sake o."
"Jesus Christ" said the mother, for he
was gone. She bent over him few minutes
as II In silent prayer, then kissed his lips,
and tor the first time tears filled her eyes.
I'LL that moment, you would have thought
she had been talking to child just going to
sleep, her voice was so calm and so mild.
She was awidow, and he her only child, and
noble fellow he was. But she was reli-
gious woman. Inever saw religion like that
before or since. We lay of in the river till
dark, and then silently came ashore on this
side, for the might've dared not light a
candle, lest the Indians should see it, We
MIXED our only cow, and fed the children,
and got them asleep. We then brought the
BODY OF the young man up the bank, and
when the moon arose, we dug that grave
which you soc yonder. We had TO be care
iui not 10 make noise, nor even to weep a.
loud.-But after We had opened the grave,
and were ready to put the corpse in it, the
widowed mother spoke:
sis there no one here that can offer a pray-
or as we bury INV own child 10
There was no answer. We could all sob,
but we had never prayed for ourselves. She
then knelt down, and laying her hand on the
bosom of her dear boy, she in su5dued voice,
uttered such prayer as few ever made. She
was calm as the bright waters at our feet.
And when she came to pray for the whole of
us-for the poor Indians who had murdered
her boy-when she gave thanks to God that
he had so long comforted her heart with her
dear son; and when she gave thanks that
God had given her such son to give back to
hint was awful! we could not but sob a
loud! You preachers talk about sublimity;
but If this was not it, do not know what it
is. Well, there we buried him, and there he
sleeps yet. In the morning, / got up at y
light, and cameup here to place the stone at
the head OF the grave. TWAS bloody for his
head had rested upon it. found the mother
was there before me; perhaps she had been
there all night. She was trying to do the
very thing and so, without saying a single
word, l took hold and helped her to put the
stone at the head of the grave. 1t is now
nearly sunk in the ground, but it stands Just
as we placed it. When we had done, the
widow turned and said "Rogers," but tears
came, and l was thanked enough. / have
sat on this log many times, and thought over
the whole scene; and though the mother has
been In the grave many years, yet 1 can see
her even now, just as she looked when she
turned to thank me, and can hear her voice,
just as she spoke to her dying boy.