Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-02-17


lost sheep OF his tribe. Civilization had
not rendered him cncminolo; for no 70.
taineda his native vigor and mi ght just.
y be said TO have gained tho true object
Of education, that is, tho possession of a
sound mind ia u sound body" In add.
tonic his other qualifications he was skill.
ful in tho use Of oil the smplcs known in
his nation to DO oncacious in the euro OF
diseases; and was not unfroquently called
upon as physician, by the white poopla
in the neighboring towns, as well as by
those Of his own color in the place of his
nativity.
Feeling uubounded gratitude toward
Elliot, his spiritual guide and father, his
Friendship was very naturally extended
to all the white people with whom he be-
came acquainted. lie very naturally lol;
peculiar attachment to the only white
family in his native village, whom he fro
quently visited; and in process of time,
he very naturally felt for their eldest
daughter. Lydia, about his own age, a
somewhat more powerful passion than
Friendship. Nor is ii wholly unnatural
to suppose that Lydia, who seldom saw
any young man OF her own complexion,
should at least respect the good qualities
Of one, whose skin was some shades dar
ker than her own. In reality, both felt a
growing attachment TO each other, though
both were sensible Of the expediency, if
not improperly Of cherishinglt.
| The increasing mutual tondness Of
these young persons could not long escape
the penetrating eye Of Lydia's watch(ul
mother, who, together with her father,
reprimanded her severely, and took mea
sures entirely to prevent in future the Wis
| its oil Bran, which was the name Of our
hero. His parents also felt that natural
aversion 10 interRarriages, which is in a
great degree prevalent among all nations,
even Of the same color; and they used
their most strenuous exertions to direct
the affections of their son TO more suit
able object.
What were the feelings on this occa-
sion, Of the two lovers, (ior SO | may as
we'll denomnate them at once,) leave
the reader to imagine; or, if he or she in
sists on a description of them. one may
be found in almost any play, novel, or ro :
nance, that is worth perusal. | proce ed
with my narrative.
In a few days Lydia was taken i'll with
a fever. An English physician was sent
fer, who came and prescribed, but withon;
effect. Another was called in for consul
tation Still she grew worse, and at
length was declared past recovery. Al
this solemn period, the parents were adj
vised TO consult Bran, who had been FREE
quently successful in difficult cases In
that state Of desperation in which a
drowning man catches at straw, her pa
rents consented. He came and prescrib-
ed the fever speedily left her; and she
gradually recovered her former state Of
health, strength, and vlvaclty.
Which had the greatest efficacy in her
restoration, the company aad conversation
Of the physician, or the simples which
he prescribed as medicine, | will not un-
dertake to determine. Certain it is, that,
during his visits he found an opportunity
20 declare his strong and unalterable
affection for his patient, and she TO de-
clare that, as she owed her life TO him,
the remainder of il should be devoted to
the promotion Of his happiness.
At this time King Philips war was ra-
ging, and the English inhabitants, being
jealous that the "praying Indians would
Join their enemies, barbarously seized
them, and hurried them down TO an island
in the harbor OF Boston, where they we're
closely confined and carefully guarded.
Bran, with few others, we're permitted
to remain at home, and assist in guarding
the garrison Of Lydia's fatheri but her
parents still persisting in their opposition
to her tender regard for him, immediates
| ly on the restoration of her health SEN
her to Medied, to reside with her uncle
and aunt, who had no children; hoping
that by uniting with those of her own
nation only, her unhappy prediction
would be overcome. Here her friends
made use Of every expedient they could
devise, 10 Introduce her to transfer her
affections. At one time they assailed her
with the most serious expostulatons; at
another attacked her with sarcastic rail-
lery. Among other things, such doggrel
as the following was handed round among
her young associates
"Fair Lydia thinks it right,
Most closely to unite
The red rose and the white.,,
"Sure Lydia would live on the cheapest plan;
She asks nothing more than Indian Bran"
But all these exertions drew nothing from
the unfortunate girl but signs and tears,
But d few days elapsed, ere another
kind Of Trouble felf upon her and the rest
of The inhabitants of that -.ated Town, in
which she resided. At daybreak they
were reused from their slun.bers by the
tremendous warwhocp Of the savage en-
envy ;most Of their buildings were redu-
1 49, ~ a -