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


TnE chief passion of my ancestor was
hunting, which he practised necessarily, to
the great disgust OF his father, who was a far
mer, and Of his grandfather, who was cler-
gyman at Deer6eld, Massachusetts. Under
the auspices of this reverend gentleman, who
was no other than the celebrated Ezekiel
Carver, and who was earnest that his grand
son should follow in his own footsteps my
ancestor had been honored with The name Of
stubborn old puritan governor, whose char
acter was the doctors beau-ideal of earthly
excellence. He was called Endcott Car
yer. take pains thus earlyto mention his
designation, that | may have handle al
ways ready to seize hold Of him by and not
be reduced TO such awkward expediens as
calling him our hero or the subject of our
story after the fashion of less provident his
torians.
Endicott was hunting one day among the
mountains of the Taconic range, in the ex-
IRENE southwest corner of the province of
Massachusetts Bay. As evening approached
and lie began to think of his nights shelter,
he recollected to have heard that few rest
less pioneers from the borders of the bay had
the year before built their cluster of log
houses in the midst of those woods and
mountains Preferring the shelter of roof
to that of hemlock tree, he began to search
for the settlement. At length after scram-
bling down the steep sides of hill, he struck
upon broad new path, which would have led
him to the hamlet, had he known which way
to follow il. He turned to the left at ran
dom and had not gone far, before the road
which was obstructed by roots, stumps, and
fallen trees, and perfectly shaded by the
over-arching boughs of the dense wood, be-
gan to descend. 1t expanded at length into
a new clearing, with its usual attractive spec
tacle Of burnt trunks of trees, standing grim
ly upright, with great piles Of black half
consumed logs and brush-wood, the whole
girt around by the gloomy border of forest
trees, whose foliage was miscrably scorched
by the fire that had lately destroyed their fall
len brethren. 1t was dreary scene but
the light ofthe setting sun that now poured
into the opening, gliding the tall submits of
the wretched half-burnt pines, gave an air
of picturesque wldness to its desolation
! My ancestor had now the opportunity to
| look about him. He saw that he was in the
midst of mountains, rearing their rocky and
wooded SUBMITS all around while far distant,
through one of their openings, lay in misty
perspective the valley ofthe Hudson, and the
blue Catskils. The peaceful June sunlight
was still reposing on the craggy tops Of the
mountains; no trace of human labor was
visible all was silent as midnight except
low sound Of falling water where some noun
tain stream was fiiDging itself into the deep
hollow that my ancestor could see Just be-
low him. After walking few moments, he
found himself in long narrow valley, thro'
which clear stream ran swiftly. 1t was
shut between parallel mountains that grad
ually approached each other as he passed OH.
The banks of the stream had been partially
cleared: here was 4 tract of dead, grdled
trees, with sickly Indian corn growing in
the intervening spaces; and here field Of
wheat, interspersed with blackened stumps
Soon after, in the increasing darkness, he
could discern neat Lighthouse, surrounded
by some rigid and shaggy pines, that gave
the place rude, wild air, much increased
by waterfall just beyond. When EGdicott
came opposite the house. he saw no means
provided for crossing the stream dry-shod ;
so he stepped into the water and waded over !;
for he was too good woodsman to be scru-
pulous in such matters. The ducks and
hens around the house set up loud cack-
ling at his intrusion, at which an old man
appeared from behind corner of the build
ing, where he had been digging in kitchen
garden. He approached my ancestor with
the utmost elaboration, looking at him with
no very hospitabe eye. He was six feet and
quarter high, but sallow and sharp-ieatur-
ed, and so emaciated in his limbs that his
clothes seemed hung on skeleton, There
was little old clay-pipe in his mouth, at
which he did not cease putting, while he
was giving cold and unwilling assent to my
ancestors request for nights lodging
Endicot stared hard at his ill-iavored
: host He was sure that he had seen him
before. His doubts were removed, and
changed 10 surprise, when on entering the
house he found there an old woman Of very
good appearance, but bearing deep marks OF
: sorrow on her face, and tall, black-eyed
girl, whom he Immediately recognized as an
old partner ofhs in many dance and coun-
: try irolic. Combining certain reports he
had heard with what lie now saw, Endicott
had acutcness enough TO hit the clue to the
mystery. The man had been rich, dishon-
| est adventurer, who not having skill enough