Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-06-13

dows seemed 10 bring them into closer in
timacy, and kinded warm and cordial feel
ings between them. She showed him the
collection Of books she had brought with
her into the wilderness, and Endcoit, who
had been educated at College, could not
help admlring the excellent taste of her Sc
lectons 4: at the same time she opened her
heart TO him, and complained bitterly of the
exile to which she was doomed A sudden
flood of bright ruddy sunshine pouring in
upon the floor, interrupted them. The
storm was past; the sun streamed from The
west over the wet glislening forests and the
swollen river, while light fresh breeze a.
woke, and a robin that had strayed so far in
to the wilderness began his song.
My ancestor took his leave the next MORN
ing The old lady showed some feeling at
parting with him, though the master of the
house did not alter his position take his pipe
from his mouth, nor change in the least his
accustomed air Of moody Indifference. Sa-
rah bore him company as far as the edge of
the forest Her eyes were red and swollen,
and while Endicott conversed gaily, she
scarce replied word. At the moment of
separation, he pressed his good wishes upon
her lips. Come and see me again, said
the poor girl That | will, replied my an
cestor, raising his fox-skin cap from his head
as they parted, more out of the native gal
antry of his brave heart, than from any arti-
fetal good breeding. He had asked of her
some token Of remembrance, and she gave
him ribbon, which he now tied to his cap,
and laugbingly waved it to her as she turned
back TO gaze after him. If he had been
ha ,,n,1I horo hat cha
weeping When about noon he had reach
ed point of view whence he could see the
mountains and forests to the westward, he
thought he distinguished the rocky SUBMITS
that looked down on the little valley. My
ancestor was by no means enamored, but he
gaZed with a warm interest toward the place,
and felt that those savage mountains contain
ed something that would give them place
in his recollections Il will see her again,
some time or other thought he but at sun
set he had nearly forgotten her in the excite
ment of the afternoons chase.
Late in the summer however, he resolved
to hunt again among the Taconic noun
tains; and as might be expected, his steps
turned in the same direction as before He
had equipped himself with unusual care for
this expedition. His attire far surpassed
any in which he had hitherto taken the field
II consisted Of a hnntng-frock of dressed
deer-skin, fitting much closer to his person
than usual with such garments, and gaily
embroidered with dl ed mOose-hair and por-
cnplne quilts. He wore the Indian eggins,
with their gaudy fringes extending down the
outside of the leg, and corresponding moe
casns. His cap was of fox-skin, with the
animals tail brought over the crown like the
ridge of a helmet. A knife was thrust into
his belt his powder-horn, carved all over
with various devices, hung at his side and
his rifle lay in the hollow of his left ARM
This dress, though rather wild and savage,
very well displayed the light athletic figure
Of my ancestor, whose limbs had been hard
ened by years of exercise to the strength and
elasticity of steel.
The morning was beautiful one for a
n hunter or lover of mature Endicott COM
, bned both characters, and had, into the bar
gain, unwearied limbs and buoyant spirit.
AT the bottom of wide hollow among the
| hills which he was traversing, was one Of
those openings in the forest occasioned by
the too great moisture of the ground. 1t
was smooth as the surface of lake, and
covered with beautiful verdure, while the
forest enclosed ii with dense swelling masses
of foliage glistenng in the soft sunlight and
beyond were the mountain submits, not yet
, quite cleared from the mists of sunrise. -
My ancestors spirits were in unison with
, the freshness and gaiety of the morning.
Here was none of the sombre gloom and ST.
ence of the wilderness. The red squirrels
, kept up an incessant chirping in the borders
the woods, and eaped about in the hick-
DRY and oak trees; the blue-jays repeated
their harsh notes, as they flew, glancing in
the sun, in and out of the foliage the little
wood-peckers could be heard at their labor
and all living things seemed TO have de-
| serted the dark forest, and gathered around
the foot OF an old maple that grew on little
mound in the very centre, and refreshed
, himself at spring whose pure waters Stun.
! bered dark and glistening in the recesses be-
I tween its moist root.
] As he passed down the rough pathway
that led toward the valley, his steps grew
1 quicker. A large gray squirrel, whose lit.
b. tie barking voice he had heard for some time
2 ran out on the branches of a pine, that reach
. ed over the road, and swinging himselfdown
] among the leaves, sat cooly gazing at him,
e without expiatng his rashness by having his
j brain delicately scooped out by the bullet OF
: the hunters rifle From this | infer that
j my ancestor was in no little haste, aud an
e ticipated some pleasure from the approach.
E ing meeting.
! When he reached the place where he had
, parted with his fair friend, he felt more in