Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-08-04
aw,TuouT NATURAL AFFECTION"

After passing ridge Of hills, and advan-
cling considerable way on the plain, we DIS
covered at a distance, a little smoke rising
amidst few bushes, which seemed to skirt
the rayine Animated with the prospect,
we fastened forward, eagerly anticipating
delicious draught of water, no matter what
the quality might be- When we had arrived
within few hundred yards of the spot we
stood still, startled at the fresh marks OF H.
ons. which appeared to have been there on
ly an hour before us. We had no guns, be-
ING too tired to carry them, and we hesitated
for moment, whether to proceed or return.
The wagon was yet distant and thirst I'M
PEELED us to 90 in, but it was with caution,
keeping sharp lookout at every bush we
passed.
On reaching the spot we beheld an object
Of heart rendng distress Ii was yenera-
bic looking old woman, living skeleton,
sitting, with her head leaning on her knees
She appeared terrified at our presence and
especially at me- She tried to rise, but,
trembling with weakness, sunk again TO the
earth. | addressed her by the name which
sounds sweet in every clime and charms
even the savage ear, MY mother, fear not,
we are friends, and will do you no harm
/ put several questions to her, but she APP
peared either speechess, or afraid to open
her lips. again repeated, Pray, mother,
who are you, and how do you come to be in
this situation! to which she replied, Il am
a woman; have been here four days, my
children have left me here to die Your
children ? | interrupted yes raising her
l. IL tp,v chil-
dren three sons and two daughters. They
are gone, pointing with her finger, to yon
der blue mountain, aud have left me to die.
'And pray, why did they leave you? in
ouired. Spreading out her hands, Il am
old. you see, and am no longer able to
serve them; when they kill game, | am too
feeble TO help in carrying home the flesh.
am not able to gather wood to make fire.
and cannot carry their children on my back
as / used to do
This last sentence was more than could
bear; and though my tongue was cleaving to
the roof Of my mouth for want OF water, this
reply opened fountain of tears. remark
ed that was surprised she had escaped the
lions, which seemed to abound, and to have
approached very near the spot where she
was. She took hold of the skin Of her left
arm with her fingers, and raised it up as one
would loose linen, she added, i hear the
lions; but there is nothing on me they
would eat, | have no flesh on me for them
to scent At this moment the wagon drew
near, which greatly alarmed her, for she
supposed il was an animal. Assuring her
that it would do her no harm, said that,
7 I ,yauII put har into 4 haI
wagon, and take her with me. AT this re-
mark she became convulsed with terror
Others addressed her. but all to no effect.
She replied that, if we took her, and left her
at another village, they would only do the
same again 1T is our custom am near
ly dead l do not want to die again The
sun was now piercingly hot, the oxen raging
in the yoke, and we ourselves nearly deliri-
Gus. Finding it impossible TO influence the
woman to move, without running the risk Of
her dying convulsed in cur hands, we col
lected quantity Of foel, gave her good
supply Of dry meat, some tobacco and
knife, with some other articles telling her
we should return in two days, and stop for
the night, when she would be able to go
with us, only she must keep up good fire
DIT ll0Ht, Us tuC lIOIiS WOulu SUieIi tllC uTIcu
flesh if they did not scent her. We then
pursued our course and after long ridge,
passing rocky ridge Of hills, we came 10
stagnant pool, into which men and oxen
rushed precipitatey, though the water was
almost too muddy to go down our threats.
On our return to the spot, according to
promise, we found the old woman and every
fhinu hut on nnti AtocAvar-
ed the foot marks of two men, from the hills
referred to, who appeared to have taken her
away.
Several months afterwards, learned, from
an individual who visited the station, that
the sons, seeing from distance the wagon
halt at the spot, where they had so unnatur-
ally left their mother TO perish, came to see,
supposing the travellers had been. viewing
the mangled remains of their mother. Find
ing her alive, and supplied with food, and
on her telling the story of the strangers
kindness, they were alarmed, and dreading
the vengeance Of the great chief, whom they
supposed me TO be, took her home and were
providing for her with more than usual care.
] have often reasoned with the natives on
this cruel practice in reply to which they
would only laugh, 1t may be imagined that
people might devote their friends and no.
bles their first born, like the Carthagenians,
to appease some offended deity but it APP
pears an awful exhibition of human depravi-
ty, when children compel their parents to
perish for want, or to be devoured by beasts
of prey in desert, from no other motive
than sheer aziness, or to get rid of those on
whose breast they hung in helpless infancy,
whose hand led them through many wea-
ry waste, and who often suffered the most
pinching want, that the babes whom nature
taught them to love might be supplied.