Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-07-28
MISCELLANY.
From tho Cincinnati Chronicle.
MARY CRAIG.

MARY CRAIG.
Early r the spring of lSl3 and as soon as the
snow hanks had we'll disappeared after the long
md tedious winter, Il tall robust man, ct middle
me and melancholy countenance, might nave been |
seen duv after dny, examining the ancient tomb
stones in the different cemeteries about New
York. lie had come from The Far West the
place Of his nativity and the active scenes of his
iie and was searching the graveyards of the city
for the tonbstones of his maternal grand parents
the father and mother of Mary Craig
To the inquirer, the Strangers story was SIM
ple, though interesting, and exhibits one of the
many Instances where real HE surpasses in al
lectlng incident even romance Itself.
eJ0hn Craig, the father OF Mary Craig, emigIa-
ted from Scotland to New York about The year
1867, May, his youngest daughter, having been
horn ON the yoyage to this coLntry. He had bare
" become comfortably selled in his new home,
when he was called 10 bid his family final adleu,
Mary then being about six years old. The widow
and her children remained IN the city oil New
York until the breaking out OF the Revolutionary
War, about three years after, and when Mary bad
attained her ninth year, AT this early age, how
ever, she had imbibtd Wing principles, aud her
whole soul was embarked in the success of that
struggle for liberty soon alter, the city fell INTO
the han,ls OF the British aud her mother being
left among the strangers i'll distant land, ana
meeting with an acquaintance aud country IMAM
from Scotland, in the captain OF British vessel OF
War then in the harLor, was induced 10 give him
her hand in marriage. The captain was of course
n devoted royalist, and his principles SO opposed
To the politics Of Mary, that she could NOT brook
the insults to which her opinions were exposed
though personally treated by her step father with
aren't kindness and respect. Mary therefore left
home and took shelter under the hospltable root
of Dr. llalsled OF Elzahelhown point, where
she found n welcome home and congenla politi-
cal sentiments Here, during the remainder OF
that bloody war, Mary was exposed to lis dangers
and hardshlps.
liz is known that Elizabelh,own was the thea
tire OF frequent engagements between the con
tending pari $, and sometimes III the possession
of one and sometimes OF the other. Olten the in
habjtanls. men especially were compelled TO lily
at midnight from their homes to escape capture
md mprisUnment, il not death. Sometimes all,
male and female, on account OF the invasion OF
the iessian hOrdes, and when they had not the
force To oppose them, were under the necessity of
Hyjng for safety 10 some place OF security. On
such occasions, Mary sometimes reHa!hed behind
TO prevent 10y her entreates the walton desruc-
ton OF her patrons property. Her lie was iro'
ouenily threatened for her importantly, and on
one occasion sword was drawn 10 execute that
,hrsot AT other times she would drive her benS
oacior's zig with his vile aud child III II, through
The darkness of midnight, 10 his retreat, seven Or
eight miles from ElizabelhIown. Often during
enynremeuls between The contendlng armies, The
Dnctors house was the hosp! al Of the wounded
sistuut in suunclling wounds, taking Oft shattered
Inns and administering drink and food TO tho
wounded aud dying linus Marys tnc was
spent during that long and bloody struggle AT It's
close she found herself separated forever from her
friends. At the recapture of New York, her
s,cn father had removed 10 Nova Scotia, wbiher
he took all of Mary's family, and circumstances
prevented them from ever meeting again.
"The war ended, but not hlary's hardships ond
eynos,res Soon aiier the Revolution she was
4. A "A
hurried 10 young man who had accompanied
Symmes in his first tour of observation 10 the
M,n,nes. with which he was so delighted that he
de,ermnedto migrate TO the New Country. In
1888. accompanied by n little colony, Mary and
her husband bent their course ior iher new nome
lived The first winter on the Kentucky side, aud
in the spring of 1889, settled al Columbia, five
miles above Cincinnati, where the llltIe colony
erected block house and garrison Here they
remained living in cabin some three or iour
hundred yards from the block house until lI9i,
when Mary's companion was taken from her ana
she WAS elt a widow in an Indian country, with
two babes, the eldest two years old, The other an
infant OF only lew days
Before The loss OF her husband, Mary had FIRE =
oueptly, in times of more imminent danger, re,ir-
ed with her family into The garrison; but IN hel
bereaved condition, fer lonely hnd wounded near
could not brook The boslerous mlrlh and constant
confusion TO which she must there he exposed
Tie feeling heart seeks solitude in attiiciun She
,h.re,ore Remained with her babes in her cabin
In vain did her neighbors depict the danger o
massacre from the Indians. She knew not VIVA
fear was. Her trust was in that God who alone
could protect her and her little ones For he
children, she provided bed under the puncheoI
floor of The cabin, in small hole usually prepar
ed by The first settlers 10 preserve vegetables il
winter from fios Here every night, week ate
week, would she place her children, alter putin!
them to sleep, whilst she watched through th
chnks of The cabin during the greater part OF eaci
night. tie approach Of the savsges The plan wa
If The Indians entered at door TO fly out at tn
other and give The alarm at The garrison before he
children would lie found in their conceallnent uil
der the floor Often thus watching, SHE saw tn
Indians enter the little settlement, traverse ll'
grounds in the vicinity OF tie block house some
lines they came TO her very door. but never d
thew enter. Horses were stolen, settlers wer
killed and taken prisoners, but Mary aud her babe
were protected. Delicate as flower, ana wh
nil the delicate sensibllily Of The most ieelin
heart il was the faith OF tho Christian lhu sustain
ed her under all these trials, aud enabled her I
triumph over all lear. There day alter day, nigh
have been heard in that rude hut, Mary's sol
voice, rendered plainIive aud melancholy by he
lonely condition, hymning her iaVorI'e rsali'i-
II.ayen lift my waiting eyes,
There NY n0pes 'ufc- svaTu5' - '--------------
The Lord who built the earth and skies
Is my perpetual aid
THAR feet shall slide nor fall,