The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-01-15
Miscellaneous.
NY Grandfather's Story,
,,,,,IorMe Early Settlers of .NeO- England.

'.H y,.spdOf The EdTIy oetHc'S W
# ny HEzEKIAH HILTON.
WA ,.dbios and sufferngs Of the early settlers
r,,l,nd, is a topic upon which their descen-
,'.,., delight to dwell, more especially those
y. ,,,e the line of ancestry back for few gener-
',.,. ard dnd their progeniiors among the number
' ',n., have, self denying little band of men and
"...D who planted the first colony upon the inhos-
',.hr. .bO,es of Massachusetts Bay. The historian
r. I.f,L,ed 10 do them honor; and their deeds Of
ala, IN the cause Of liberty, religion, and God,
-. h.er the theme upon which the poet and the
M -,,,,, have delighted TO dwell. Tho philosopher,
.,..,, after some sign amid the mighty changes
.,3,syoc,ons in the condit on Of mar, which should
IN mi, advancement, has rejoced that he could
# l,o3 here in that devoted spirit Of se(-sacri6ce
,tn bs mere personal comforts Of life, TO satisfy
III, Don,r wants of the soul, thirsting for higher
nod more spiritual existence.
B,l the historian, the poet, and the philosopher,
e,1nes this late day, enter fully into their ieel-
| h,,, nr symrathize with their sufierings What
II hey .owed in poverty and fear, upon the bleak hill
H eide, we rquprd in plenty, and garnered in safety
The roar Of the wintry blast fills not with fear,
December night; for by our harry and comfortable
fresides we feel no, their effects, and have but
faint idea of the sutTerings ofthose, who in the howl
ing wilderness, almost without shelter, were actuated
BY a high Of duty, and firm trust in God
ito abide the peltNnss Of the storm" The history
Ofhose early founders Of republic, is us full of
Instruction. aye, full Of all The poetry of romance,
rLnhl "a hat
3D. The history Of the settlement of Roue is not TO
bsNuared with it, even in what, if true, appears
10 he uuacuIous
Had We but n Scott to write the history Of tho P-
gms-tO W before US with his wizard wand, aud
brush away The dust OF obvion now gathering FIST
upon the records Of those early times, we should see
the hills and vales Of New England invested with as
much interest," and mnre allowed associations, than
dwell around the towers Of stirling the ruins Of Mon
rCse, or the fields of CuIIcdcn and Bannoekburn
Not mountain, rock, river, valley, but would
PeaS to Us of the deeds Of our fathers, and tell
"Where many scutcheon and banner riven,
Shook to the cold night wind orheaven.''
There is much Of the history of those times that
exists only in tradition transmitted from sire 10 son,
which, could it be collected now, would be Of meal
eHabe benefit teaching and posterity to venerate
0vedeCpy, and prize more highly, those blessings
which hive been purchased Cor US ut so great sac
rf'e How often, in my boy hood, have listened
10 the tales of my old grandfather, during the long
WINTER evnngs, as seated in his huge chimney corner
he bas recounted and over again what his father
and grandfather had told him of those people. And
enough 1t may not be in the Old gen,lenan's words
1ha'e sent you the substance Of one OF his many
tales OF the olden ,ime,'' which you can lay before
your readers
"""s o''ter night in the winter OF l6-. There
n'u oeen violent storm Of snow and sleet during
'e uay' aud as night advanced, the weather hat
oecome intensely cold. The inhabitants Of one o.
'""'e sparse and lhin!y populated settlements upon
'"' SCUM east shores Of Massachusetts Bay, having
'eomnI''ed themselves TO the care of God IN rerven
prayer, had retired rest in their hun BILE habitalion
:" 'hhc'ed security, and Unconscious of danger for
"0us" 'umors OF Indian devastation in Of the
"''" distant settlements had reached them som,
"o"'n' before, they had full confidence in the
''e'o'y disposition Of the tribe by whom they were
surrounded and had heretofore dweIt upon such terms
"""acy and friendship, that they supposed, tina
"D.' '"a' source, they had nothing TO fear.
:, i"e Time "fdisirusi, when every man abored will
us moskci BY his side, and worshiped his God will
''e instrument of death grasred in his hand. had no
''' arrived in this infant colony and ignorant of thu
'U"ey OF The aboriginal character, they had pursue,
''''' o"''y avocations without fear The seulemen
.O"S's'ed OF thirteen families numbering in all abou
ny' and little did they dream, as they closed ,hei
eyes sleep,,hal to many, that sleep was desine,
ODE eternal
'"''"s 'he colonsts, was man, who for his brave
;! 4"o courage in the time Of trial-his kindness Il
"' "e'shhors-6rm reliance upon God-had becom
-"O'area 10 the people Of the settlement. His nam
;,'' "eeu' lie had an only ohild--a daughrer, tn
- W MS heart, who inherited much of her father
o. pO'''0n' and many of his traits of character
'"S wa" the favOrite Of the settlement. and had n
~ natural, won not only the esteem Of the aged
d.. ' 'O'e OF the young men of the colony; an.
t 1' o'e so sincere. found a response in her ow,
Inc old Pertains had more than once take,
a.. me matter with their good wives, and concluded
n, ''a,'am Hilton would marry Patience Reed.
A"s aishs wasfar advanced, whep,,Ire shadow o
sas@% !SIn might have been sean TO steal GU, riou