The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-26

really beautiful-indeed, rather ordinary look
ing than otherwise-it was impossible for an.
sensible young man to enjoy her society TO
any length of time, without finding himself fas
yielding to the impression which he could no
prevent her from making on his heart. Away!
lively and cheerful. with rich fund of humor
and shrewd and penetrating mind, she deter
mined to enjoy, and to make the most of life
and to render all about her as happy as herself
She was the simple and unaffected, the true
child of nature, and yet natures adorer. Never
was she happier than when rambling along the
course of the river on whose banks she had al.
ways lived, or climbing the craggy heights
which lowered at short distance below.
On the little island of Hockhanum lived an
old man who had formerly been a chief at
Nonotuck, now Northampton. His name was
Shaomet. He subsisted on the fish he drew
from the clear waters, and the deer and other
game which he found in the Businesses of Hol.
yoke. The solace of his declining years was
his daughter, Tahattawa, sprightly lass of
eighteen summers. Her step was light as that
of the young fawn, and her merry laugh rang
out upon the clear air, and danced like music
over the broad bosom Of the river.
With this, girl, Eliza Webster had formed
an intimate attachment. Often had Tahattawa
padded her across in her canoe to the little
island on which was her home. For hours had
they sat under the shade of its green trees, and
laughed and conversed together, instructing
each other the while in many of the little arts
with which each was familiar.
Now, Tahattawa had lover-a young war
rior belonging to the fort which the whites
had allowed the natives to build within few
rods of the most populous street of Nonotuck
Eliza had often met him at the tent of Shaom-
et,and frequently accompanied him and Tahat
tawa in his fishing executions down the river.
The thought of danger TO herself never entered
her mind; she reposed perfect confidence in the
integrity of her friends-even though their
skins were tawny; and the youth appeared TO
be almost as fond of The society of his pale-fa
ced friend as he was of that of Tahattawa her.
self.
One fine morning in the month of May,
1916, deer was seen swimming swiftly down
the Quonnecticut. William Russell snatched
his rifle, and, springing into light canoe, STAR
ted in pursuit. At length, as they neared the
little island of Hockanum, the huntsman had
gained so far on his game that he was Just raj
sing his gun to his shoulder to fire upon him,
when suddenly the deer sprang more than a
foot clear of the water-and the sharp crack of
a rifle came ringing on the ear.
A canoe Immediately shot out from small
cove on the shore of the island, and young
Indian, padding up to the deer, seized him by
the horns and lifted him into the boat. By this
time William had come up. Whether the In
dian had seen him in chase of the deer before
he fired or not, he certainly laid claim to 1t as
his own. The other was no less strenuous in
asserting his own right to the game and, draw
ing up his canoe along side of the Indian, was
about to place it in his own boat. The other
also seized it, and declared he would not sur
render it but with life.
The fiery spirit of young Russell now began
to chafe, and the flash of his eyes told plainly
that he would not tamely brook such wrong.
The blood rose to his face, and his heart beat
quick and violently with anger. He stood for
a moment hesitating what course to pursue
Give up the deer he would not-yet he shud-
dered at what might be the consequences of an
open rupture, at time when Philip was in
arms, and the name of that might chieftain
was inspiring many Of the Indians with cour-
age and striking terror to the hearts Of the
whites.
Wawhilowa--f for it was he, the lover OF
Tahattawa-witha an air which seemed to chal-
Ienge his antagonist to its removal, placed his
foot on the game, and rising to his full height
regarded the other with look of calm defiance.
Not muscle moved, but his teeth were firmly
clenched, and the heavy frown that slowly set
tied on his brow, told Of the storm that was
gathering within his breast.
We know not what might have been the
result of this controversy-for there was equal
resolution and courage, and perhaps strength
on both sides-had it not been for third per-
son. At the instant that William grasped his
rifle, and the other his tomahawk, Shaomet,
the old man of the island, sprang betweenthem
and called on both to desist from their useless
srife. lie had watched the whole proceeding
from the door of the tent, and, fearful Of dis
pute, had launched his canoe and approached
them without their perceiving him, so absorbed
were both the young men in the feelings
of the moment. They seemed at first some
what angry at his interference; but when
Wawhillowa remembered that Shaomet was
the father of his intended bride; and William,
that he had often manifested his friendship tor
Eliza, their resentment towards the old man
instantly began to cool.
Their animosity towards each other. how.
ever, was not at all diminished. They stood
over the game like two young lions and eaen
of them, perhaps exercising about as much
reason. The old man quietly proceeded to
skin the deer, and to cut it into equal PARIS
This was quietly done. He then tired 10 IN.
duce them to accept each part. 1t would
have been, perhaps, difficult matter to decide
which was the rightful owner OF the game-but
each of the two Opponents was resolved to have
it all or none. William threw into the river
the half which Shaomet had placed in his ca
noe, while the young Indian dropped his TOM
ahawk and hastily padded towards the island.
,ru ~ LIZ L, ,;no eocurad tho rama IN ~,