The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-07-25
Miscellaneous.
"WITHoUT NATURAL AFFECTION.

Alter passing ridge oil hills, and advancing con-
siderable way the plain, discovered at a
distance, little oke rising amidst afew
bushes, which seemed to skirt the ravne. Ami
mated with the prospect, fastened forward, ca
gery anticipating a delicious draught of water, no
matter what the quality might be. When we had
rived within few hundred yards Of the spot we
stood STILL startled at the fresh marks of lions, which
appeared tohave been there only hour before US.
We had guns, being too tired to carry them, and
lie hesitated for moment, whether to proceed or
eturn. The wagon yet distant, and thirst i'm
PEELED to go in, but it with caution, keeping
sharp lookout at every bush passed.
On reaching the spot we beheld an object of heart
rendng distress. 1t venerable looking old wo-
mama living skeleton sitting, with her head leaning
on her knees. She appeared terrified presence
and especially at She tried to rise, but tremb-
ling with weakness, sunk again to the earth. / add
dressed her by the which sounds in every
cline, and charms the savage ear, my MOTHER
fear not, we are friends and will do you no harm
put several ques'islaadS Inn sut she appeared eth
er speechless, or aifa'l BPen her lips. again re-
peated, spray, mother, who you, and how do you
come TO be in this situaon?' to which she replied,
Il am woman; have been here four days. my
children have left me here to die 'Your children
interrupted. yes raising her hand TO her shriv-
elled bosom, my own children, three sons and two
daughters They are gone, pointing with her finger.
to yonder blue mountain, and have left me to die
= And pray, why did they leave your inquired
4 Spreading out her hands, Il am old yeu,see, and
am nos longer able to serve them; when they kill
game, am too feeble to help in carrying home the
flesh. j am not dbss6 gather wood 10 MAIZE fires
and cannot carry their 6hdTen on Thy back ash US,
ed to do .s3aI
This last sentence was more thai" could bear;
and though my tongue was cleavng to the roof
Of my month for want Of water, this reply open
ed fountain Of tears. remarked that l was
surprised she had escaped the lions, which
seemed to abound, and to have approached very
near the spot where she She took hold
of the skin Of her left with her fingers, and
raised il up as would loose linen she added, sI
hear the ons but there is nothing me they would
eat have 7no flesh me for them to scent'' At
this moment the wagon drew near, which greatly
alarmed her, for she supposed that it was an animal.
Assuring her that would do her harm,I SAID that,
as could not stay, would put her into the wagon,
and take her with me- At this remark she became
convulsed with terror Others addressed her, but
all to no effect. She replied that, if we took herand
left her at another village, they would only do the
same again. ssIt is our custom nearly dead;
I do not want to die again. The was now
percngly hot, the oxen raging in the yoke, and we
ourselves nearly delirious Finding it impossible to
influence the woman to move, without running the
risk of her dying convulsed in our hands, we collect
ed quantity Of fuel, 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 at night
as the lions would smell the dried flesh if they did
not scent her We then pursued our course; and al
ter long ridge, passing rocky rige OF hills we came
TO "a stagnant pool into which men and oxen rushed
recipitatelv though the water almost too muddy
to go down our threats.
On our return to the spot, according to promise,we
found the old woman and every thing gone; but, on
examination discovered the foot marks of two men,
from the hills referred o,who appeared to have taken
her away.
Several months afterwards, learned, from in
divdual who visited the station, that the sons, seeing
from distance the wagon halt at the spot,where they
had so unnaturaly left their mother to perish, came
10 see, surprising the travellers had been viewing the
mangled remains Of their mother Finding her aiive'
and supplied with food, and on her telling the story
of the strangers kindness, they were alarmed and
dreading the vengeance of the great chiefw they
supposed me to be, took her home and were prov-
ding for her with more than usual care. have often
reasoned with the natives this cruel practice; in
reply to which they would only laugh. 1t may be
imagined that people might devote their friends and
mobiles their first born, like the Carthagenians, TO ap
pease some offended deity; but it appears an awful
exhibition of human depravty, when children compel
their parents perish for want, or to be deVoued py
beasts of prev in a desert from other motive than
sheer laziness get rid Of those on whose breast
they hung in helpless infancy, whose hand led them
through many a weary waste, and who often suffered
the most pnching want, that the babes whom nature
taught them to love might be supplied have more
than once handed food to hungry mother, who ap-