Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-11-01
THE TRAPPER.
A LEGEND OF THE WEST.

YIN tne shores OF the HUDSON, IN times long
since passed away, an isolated being lived
bearing the name of Nick Wolsey. His
solitary home was in valley ofthe highlands,
about mile from the rivers bank, and his
occupation consisted in trapping and hunt
ing, aud trading for furs for the Indians
He was tall and gaunt, with peculiarly
stern and melancholy expression of feature,
and from his lonely and gloomy habits,
seemed to claim no kith or kindred with
any one living. The only companion of
his hours was grizzly deer-hound, whose
speed and strength often DER matched the
ileetest buck and once he closed with
silver panther, and despite the monsters lu-
rious struggles, tore the windpipe from his
throat, Crouched before the fire in log
cabin, he would watch each move and ges-
ture of his master, and be as ready as his
shadow to obey the beck and look.
Thus years had come and gone, and still
found no change in the trapper's home
One day, party of Indians, of the Pc
nobscot tribe, approached his dwelling and
proiiered skins, in exchange for the white
mans 6re-water and gunpowder. Among
them was a girl Of singular beauty and with
her, Nick Wolsey became suddenly and
deeply enamored. As he looked at her full,
round and faultless form, his eyes flashed
with the fire in his veins, aud the volcano of
passion burst through each fibre of his
frame. No sooner was this feeling engen-
dered, than he strove to win the tawny-
skinned beauty-as many fair one has
been won--by pouring gifts into her lap ;
and long before cessation of his profuse-
ness took place, dozens of strings of beads
were twined around. her neck, and rings
aud baubles of all kinds bedizened her per-
son. Then the whiskey-hask was offered
gratuitously to the company, and Nick's
suit progressed with the brightness and We
lociiy of sky rocket. In short time a
demand was made for the red mans daugh-
ter, accompanied by present of a Ratchet
and knife to the father, and willing con-
sent obtained
A chief, whose fiery glance showed the
effects of the potent dram, bent his bow,
and winged an arrow perpendicular to the
clouds, and as it drove into the earth, quiv-
ering with the force, directed the trapper TO
remain by the side of the weapon. Then
he shot for one hundred yards, in direct
line, and the expectant bride was conducted
to the spot where it fell by her father and
friends. A third was driven into the ground,
a few feet from where they stood, and the
chief who acted as priest in the ceremony,
addressed Nick Wolsey, by saying, as he
again pointed an arrow upwards, "If my
white brother would win the bird, he must
catch her ere she gains her nest )" and
drawing his bow, the barbed arrow twanged
from the string, and away rushed the trap
per at the signal. For brief second, the
coquette seemed resolved to reach the goal
which would have freed her from the plight
ed troth; but stopping suddenly in her rap
id pace, she turned upon her heel, and
threw herself into Nick's outstretched arms.
A shout of triumph announced the sue
cess of Nick's suit and to all, SaUe one, the
completion appeared to give great satisfac-
ton. This was an Indian YOUTH an unde-
clared lover of the trapper's bride. In Sc
cret he had worshipped the idol Of his affec-
ton, trusting that time would enable him TO
gain the prize, and, when his hopes seemed
ripening. he saw her suddenly lost to him,
and lost forever.
May the great spirit strengthen my aim!'
said he, dashing forward with all his savage
nature reused within him and like tiger
springing upon his prey, he was about bury
ing his knife between the shoulders of the
unsuspeciing trapper, when backwards he
went to the earth, as if "a whis.lng bullet
had crashed through his brain, in the fanged
grip of Nick's deer-hound.
'Hilloa 7 exclaimed the trapper, releas.
ing his wife from an embrace resembling .
grizzly bears tenderness. why, what:
this about, Ell 2
The drawn knife in the fallen Indian.
grasp, and his ferocious aspect, quickly re-
yealed the cause Of the dogs attack, who
continued to pin him to the ground in hi
torturng hold.
Cart Jealous, man y said Nick, laughing
and bestowing kick Of no gentle force OF
his PROSTATE enemy. art jealousP AnC
lifting him from the EARTH after snatchns
the blade from his hands, he cu1ed him
amid the jbes and the jeers Of his tribe, ia
! away from the scene of his discontinue.
Months rolled away The maple-lea
wore the brown tint Of scoring autumn, ant
. Nick Wolsey was a rough, but dotinl
father. Upon returning from examining hi
/ traps, late one evening, he was somewha
astonished, and not little vexed, at hi
wile's neglecting to meet him, according I,
her wonted custom, some short dstanc
from their log cabin.
r Where is Minamee, wonder y said he
striding towards the door and as he reaches
: the Threshold, he stumbled heavily agains
9 something that lay across it. Upon stoop
ing to ascertain the cause, he discovered tn
i lifeless body of his faithful deerhound
'Minameel' he shouted with stentora
lnnoe scaa and earth how did this han