The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-03
VOL. VINO. 50.

sides Shaomet and his daughter, Immediately
left the wigwam, and, taking their canoes,
went silently down the river.
| On the afternoon following the events above
related, the little island of Hockanum looked
as bright and as beautiful as ever. Ii was as
lovely as if it had not witnessed the tragic
scenes of the preceding night. The bright
sun shone gaily upon it the birds warbled
their sweet notes; the soft breeze played among
the bright green leaves; and the whole spot
looked like little paradise "a sad contrast
TO two hearts that were even then in It's bosom.
/ The friends of William Russell had already
assembled TO perform the last sad duties to his
remains. He was to be inferred here. in ac-
cordance with the request of her who. was to
have been his bride.
"Here," said she, ''here on this little island
he was slain, and here let him be buried. Here
will spend many Of my hours; l will plant
flowers around his grave. Here L can come
and weep, away from all eyes but the eye OF
Him who has seen fit to afilict me thus.
The ceremony had just been performed and
they were Just turning away fIom the grave
when all eyes were directed to a canoe which
was slowly moving up the river. 1t had oc-
cupants. One sat motionless In the stern
the other was gently using the paddle. As 1t
approached the island, Tahattawa regarded 1t
with fixed and earnest gaze. As she did SO
her heart beat quick and her eyes darted with
JOY. >,
SIT is-it is he,'' cried she, "Wawhllowa
and awav she bounded to the shore. As the
canoe touched the bank, the Indian, who sat
in the stern, stepped on shore. The next IN
slant his companion pushed of, turned down
the stream, and quickly disappeared from view.
Wawhillowa-for it was hc-adyanced with
few staggering uncertain steps towards the
girl, but before they met, he fell headlong on
the ground. Those ~ho had been standing
around the grave now approached. The girl
sat holding his head, and chatting his temples
with her hands, He had tainted. The blood
was slowly oozing from a wound by rifle
ball in the right breast. 1t appeared to have
blcd considerably, for it had run down even to
his ankle, and the right le. gin was deeply
stained. Tahattawa looked the very image OF
despair. Hope had been kindled in her breast
only to be destroyed, and her poor heart could
hardly contain its grief.
Shaomet ran to the tent, and brought CAL
abash full Of water from the river, and sonlo
being sprinkled on the face of the young war
rior he slowly revived. Turning melancholy
glance on those around them, his eye bright
ened for a moment, and the sternness of his
| features relaxed as his look rested on the face
of his betrohed.
"Tahattawa," said he, in a feeble voice,
''am dying. Bury me-here-on the island
] am going to he-happy--hunting grounds,
See the spirit-of my father calls me.-lia!
1t grows dark -Tahattawar'
| The poor girl bent over him till her face
rested on his bosom. When she again raised
her eyes. the spirit of the Nonotuck chief had
departed, and she looked on the cold, fixed fea-
lures Of the dead.
Another grave was dug close by the side of
the one which had Just been filed. Some of
the friends of the "pale-face objected to the
burial of an Indian so near the body of their
own kindred, but the sisters wished it,and their
feelings were regarded. He was buried, after
the manner of his people-his face towards the
rising sun. His hunting weapons were buried
with him. There they lay-two fierce and
naughty spirits. They would not hold fellow
ship in life, but in death they sleep side by side.
From that hour the hearts Of the two survi.
vors were as one. Theirs had been a sad and
mournful fate. Their destinies were similar.
They lived-lived long-and as happily as two
could live whose first dream Of bliss had been
thus cruelty broken. They lived to atone for
the faults Of those whom they had loved. They
were never separated during their lives, and
nearly at the same time the summons came to
both to 20 and meet their Judge They have
long since passed away Their clay has "re-
turned 10 earth as it was, and their spirits have
gone to the God who gave Them"