The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-08-06
Prom the Rural Repository.
Bandits Daughter r
4 TALE OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
BY CLARK w. BRYAN.
CHAPTER |.

Mountains eXteLCluS through uio Mnoi0
lenOth of the State of Verlboni,and the White
Mountains stretching themselves though the
northern part of New Hampshire-two as
lofty and beautiful range of mountains as can
be found in the United States. The scenery
orboth is grand and sublime in the extreme,
and whether covered with the verdant cloak
of summer, or whitened with the SHOWS of
winter, present TO the eye a scene oil attrac-
ton and grandeur. The incidents upon
which the following tale is founded, occur
red on and in the vicinity of the White
Mountains, a range which contains some of
the highest peaks 10 be found in our country;
that of Mount Washington which is the high
est, being 6,634 feet above the level Of the
sea. Imagination may form something Of
an idea OF the beauty Of the scenery compre-
hended in the almost boundless view from the
summit of the highest points Of this lofty
range OF mountains, but 10 be appreciated
according TO their worth they must be seen
/ with the naked eye. The green foliage Of
the mountain-side extending 10 the very base,
where iSmeets the plain, covered with the
same ldHuriant dye ofnature, and spreading
far awayin the distance, here and there
speckled with the beautiful silvery lakes, and
purling streams with which New England
abounds-spotted with neat, lovely farm
houses, and occasionally a small village
nestled quietly down in some romantic spot,
is a fit subject for a lover of nature 10 feast
upon, and scarcely 10 be equalled by the
( much talked Of Italian and Sicillian scenery.
From The towering height of Mount Wash
ington. may be seen at NJ great distance,
five peaks bearing the respective names Of
, Adams, Jefferson. Madison,M Monroe and Jack
son. In the vicinity of these is found the
Notch Il deep and extensive %ravine, divi-
ding the InOuutain for some distance, and
forming on each side a wild and frightful ap-
rciraucc. In the Notch there now stands
I.e remains ola dwelling and out buildings
where o:icc resided a family by The name Of
Whey, who we're in the year 1926 killed by a
slide from The mountain above the dwelling,
the tracts of which are visible 10 this day.
To the west Ofthe Notch spreads a sublime
raaac Of liitn mountains surrounded as it
were at The tops by the clouds. The peaks
in this direction though not so high as those
before spoken oil. command an extensive and
picturesque view. The eye wanders away
ia the long, dim distance OF the hay Amos
lilerc, and like the minds eye when taking a
glance at future years, unable 10 discover
with any distinctness what lies beyond your
immediate comprehension.
There are on this range various caverns
ofdilEerent sizes and descriptions, but the
mountains around them are SO very difficult
of ascent, that they have seldom been visited.
On the eastern side OF these mountains, at
SOM dis lance from the NOTCH there is a
cave known to a few OF the oldest inhabitants
of that city by the name of the Bandits
: GAYS The name was given 10 il, having
I been the home Of large and powerful ban
ditti, that spread themselves over lhesurroun.
! ding country, plundering all property OF any
; value, that could be obtained by any STRATA
1 gem, violence and fOrce-a source of annoy
2 ance and terror 10 the people. The cave was
Il very large one, and consisted OF various APP
o partments and cavities which the bandit
= had formed into rooms suitable for their pur-
= pose. The entrance to it was so secluded
= that a person might pass within afew feet o.
= it and vet not discover it. From the entrance
= 10 it a person could stand and view The noun
a tain side, taking in at the same time alarge
e portion ofthe plain below while directly al
his feet was a precipice OF some fifty feet, ant
almost PERPENDICULAR. On one side II was
protected by a rock that formed the entrance
:. 10 the cave projecting from a high point ovel
Il head and gradually. descending 10 the brow
0 OF the precipice, thus forming an insurmoun
e table barrier t. admittance from that side
while the other side, the only place where al
e entrance could be made, was thickly over
grown with undeTbrUsh, 81 thickly matted
= together. that a passage through II was mex
y 10 impossible; but the banditti had made al
J, opening whereby they could enter by parting
1 tie boughs, passing through,a aud then letting
r item fall back TO their original position, an(
: no one would discover that it had been dis
= turbed. Thus guarded, they were not undo
II the necessity Of placing upon the door tht
l. words so much disIiked by busy bodies-'N'
: Adinittance.'
o FartherdOwn the mountain. in n very sc
E Guided spot there stands Il rnde log cabil
c surrounded with trees and bushes 10 such al
3, extent that il was hidden almost entirely from
), view and could be seen only at two points ia
above il one of which was at the mouth Q
S The cave. This house originally built for III
= accommodation OF some Iaborers upon tn
o mountain, was once the residence for a shor
/ time OF the family ofthe leader Of the ban,
/ that had their home in the cave above de
Q scribed.
L, Charles Arson was the only son Of a veal
t thy merchant in one OF the New EnglanI
r, States, and, like most children under tn
ST same circumstances. was petted and spoile,
n while IN youth, becoming before he hal
ut scarcely entered his teens, governor an,
p chlel magistrate ofthe family, himself seldom
N II ever corrected; consequently he grew u
rs 10 manhood, a headstrong and Wlliui youth
i his passions and desires were unrestrainec
Re exercising his will and pleasure al all lime
and upon all occasions.
He early became enamored ola Young Ia
. dy, whose beauty Of person and ania6iit,
. Of manner had won the bitter feelings of hi
- heart and with all his laults he could not bu
: appreciate her worth and loneliness. She
; in the meantime was drinking draught afte
u draught from the goblet of love, little dream
. ing that there was coileG in the boz
ION OF the cup a poisonous and deadl
d serpent that would strike death TO her heart
Il best hopes, and embitier the close of ll
which had opened with so much sweetnes
Il and promise, with sorrow, and trouble an
} grief; that wouldstrew her path with thorn;
: which had in early life been spread with flow
{ efs. He paid his addresses TO her, was &C
Z cepted and married. For a lime the sun O
d prosperity shone forth upon him witt
much splendor, but a black and threatenin!
e cloud, hidden in the long, dim distance O
Time, was slowly rising, and darkening tn,
sky oftheir life. His love it might have beef
eaid vuac lost of his ms rriare He ,o,.kG,