The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Graham's Magazine.
WAW HILLO A.
A LEGEND OF THE QUoNNECTICUT.
BY d. NJ. ELwO0D.

WHOEVER mas once stood upon the summit
of Mount Holyoke, will never forget the rich
scene spread out before him. For miles as
far as the eye can reach on every side may
be seen Nature in her most imposing FORMS
Wales clad in their rich vesture ofgreen, watered
by the limpid streams, cool, pure, an refreshing;
gently sloping hills, crowned with fields of wa
wing grain, and spotted here and there with the
fieecy herds and yet farther op, rising peak
upon peak, and summit upon summit, the "huge
pillars" which ''prop the heavens" rear their
craggy he ads on high, abiding defiance to storm
and tempest, and scarcely trembling even at
the peals of ''living thunder" which ''leap''
from crag to crag. Occasionly, peering above
the tall trees that surround them, the spires of
numerous churches point out the villages, and
form agreeable pictures on which the delighted
eye may rest. Sweeping the very base of
Holyoke the broad Connecticut rolls its calm
tide along, and winding away into the distance
far to the south, may be traced on clear day,
circling its way through the verdant meadows
almost to its very mouth. Directly across the
river from Holyoke, Mount Tom rises in sullen
majesty, as if disdaining to hold fellowship with
the humble yet beautiful objects around
Northampton-with its snow-whlte dwellings,,
its spires and turrets its hill-the sides of which
are occupied with delightful mansions-and
its top surmounted with lovely grove, forms
panorama, the beauty of which must be seen
to be realized. Between it and the river is a
broad valley, chequered with fields Of various
colors, spotted with trees, and giving rich
promise of the harvest. Nearly at the foot of
the mountain little to the northward, rising
not far above the surface of the river-is small
~ Sc In 10 IN
emerald set in silver. This island we will call
Hockanum, name given TO it years and years
ago. Still further north, on broad peninsula
formed by a bend of the river, stands the town
of Hadley, with the history of which is asso-
ciated many thrilling tradition. One ofthese
it will be our object now to present to the rea-
der.
The town of Hadley was settled in the year
1869, by emigrants from the Colony of Con-
necticut. who removed on account of differ.
ences in religious opinions. The principal man
of these emigrants was Mr.. John Webster,
accompanied by the Rev. John Russell, for.
merly minister of Wethersfeld. Although
Whites and Indians were mingled in close
contact here, it is believed that there was no
disturbance of any kind until after the breaking
out of King Philips war in 1915. A perfectly
amicable disposition was manifested on either
side, and danger and fear OF the aborglnes
were scarcely entertained.
At the southern extremity OF the beautiful
street on which the town is principally built,
close upon the bank of the majestic Connect
cut, or as it was formerly, and perhaps more
properly called, the Quonnecticu,, stood, at the
period of our tale, the residence of the Rev.
John Russell-mentioned above as one of the
first settlers of the town. A few rods lower
down, and on the opposite side of the street,
lived Mr.. Webster, his friend and companion
in emigration. William, the Oldest son of Mr..
Russell, was young man about twenty three
years of age, Of bold and fearless disposition,
with a heart generally open and confdIng;-;.
Yet there was enough of cautiousness IN his
disposition, to render him capable of keeping
secret his designs, and of acting silently yet
effectually. He was finely formed, and re.
markably we'll gifted by nature. There was,
indeed, but one trait that marred the general
harmony of his natural constitution, and that
was at times, slight want of amiability,
haughtiness of spirit that could not brook re-
straint Of opposition. As it was, he the pride
of his fathers family, and the object of admi.
ration to blooming maidens around. But there
was one whom he esteemed far above all 9TH
ers-the daughter of his fathers friend. Eliza
Webster was one Of those beings whom one