Litchfield enquirer., 1846-02-12
THE BIBLE LEGEND OF THE
zs" ~ WISSAHIKoN. '51a '.a

I twas here in these "iids OF the Wissaill-
Kon, on that Gay OF the Oatae, as the no0n-
gay san came shining through the tnlckiy
clustered leaves, thattwomen met IN dearly
com ll'a 1nney graPpled IN deadly connics
near a a s rocck' that rose-llke the huge wreck
o. some pr!mevai worid-at least one nun
dreq 1eet above the dark sot the VISA
hthon. .Ig',uar sjs' = z.
f. !hat man WIN, the dark prows, ana tne
darker grey eye hasning with oeaa!y ngn''
,wlth the muscular IOrnl, ciad IN the Olue
hunnng lfock on the NeVoi9tion, is CO aaaa :
nentas named 'sf warner: his Drotner was wa ).
murdered the otner night AZ tne MasSacre %
: aon; In NAT ofher man, Wltn long pia G y.
hai is aro3Plng along ms cadlyerons lac H.; =
elad ~ the 4, half military costume % Tory
tFeiugee'3 ID 1hat IS inc murderer Of faoh' ma
| med Dabney!d-,n Ig2i'.i esoaw bog he-,.1
Ihey nao met there IN the woods Dy accl,
dent, ana now tney tougnt, not WIN Sworn
orrIf1e, but with long and deadly hunting
knives that Hash in the light, as they go
| turning and twining over the green sward:
r., At last the Tory was down! Down ON the
green sward with the knife OF the Gontinen-
tai upon his breast-that appraised knife
quiyeret in the light, that dark gray eye
flashing into mas lace 49, +.
lus QUARTER yield!, gasped the itory, as
the Knee was pressed upon ms breast
"SpareSme-~-l yield Y! 7tT :" r-.' -
r. my 7oTothef " said the pairtot-soldier. I'm
| that deep low tone OF deadly nate MY
brother cried Tor quarter" on the night OF
Paoll, and even as ne chung to your knees,
4 you struck that knife into ms hearl oh :
will give you the quarter OF Paoh"
And his hand was raised for the blow,
| anu has, teeth were ciencheo IN oeaaiy nate,
ne paused 1or moment, ana theh panioneo
the lory,s. arms, ana with one rapie suioe
dragged MIN 10 the verge OF tne rocK' anu
heid MIN qulVerihg over the ABYSS.
I "MercyE gasped the Tory, turning oiack
and ashy by turns, as mat a 's, gun yawn,
cd below. Mercy nave 2 wl1e-a cnlio
spare me" ..- ,-...t. .... s.-
j Then the Continental, with ms muscular
form, gathered tor the effort, shook the MUIR
4 derer once more over the ABYSS, aad tnen
Missed TINS bitter sheer between mas seetn.
I, my orother naa wl1e ana TWO cn,ldr ~
The morning aiter tine night OF .Faoh, mat
'fphans Wootdnt you IKE 70 90 ana Usg
your life OF mat WIDOW and ner cnildren -
Inns proposal mace ny Inc Con''nentA IN
tne mere mockery o. na'e, Wa .aken - se
5ioas earnest ~ tne thorros-sIickeh 1oly'
ne pe3geo 70 pc .taken 70 tne WlooW ana het
children, to have the pi.ifal privilege ofbeg-
sang ms NE. >Ai.ef momenrs SERIOUS Us
tshougn.,e inc palriot-soio.er eo als ns
ncuha tue. AotyS arms ~ usu... p IS.
MN ON ehe TOOK agaih-teu hla " tns
woods; quiet cottage, 7t emooss SH s anlon
tre S oroke On. tneil y !, .t,v,,..s =.
LII lie
ew and her children She sat there mat
ronly woman OF about thirty years, with
face faded by care, deep dark eye, and
about her shoulders. ryE a'-.jH -s's p
4 On one side was dark haired boy, OF some
six years--of the other a little girl, one year
4 Phe' Bible AN old and venerable volume
I lay open on that mothers knee.
And thenthat paie-taced Tory hung HIM
\ Sell on his knees, CONFESSED that ne had
butchered her husband on the pight OF Paoli,
bat begged his hte at her hands! -
i spare ms, for the sake OF my ~afe---my
child Y, ,.~a ! ''Eez.te vii ..'," n. 7.ss
II tie had expected that this pitifui moan
would touch the Widows heart--but not one
.relenting CLEANS softened her pale face.
| hc Lulu SHoA g""SS DStwee~ No S"~
said in cold icy tone, that froze the muir
dercr's heart. ~, L.s .,.a.e~,- -,sfaI b., Us}I
r. "Look!i The Bible lays open upon my
knee. ] will close that yolame and thet
this, boy shall open it, and place his finger a
random upon a line, and by that line yos
shall live or die!" 'ra iss's:'& ~. 'o b'.g r..
4 This was a strange proposal, made In fun
faith ofa Wild ana dark superstition that !; ex'
listed In ofden time y " "!f i'.sL -I ,,'
F., For moment the Tory kneeled there, liv u
as ashes, aud wrapped IN thought. Inen In
a altering voice, ne slgnihed MS consent.
I halslns her dafK eyes 70 neaven, .ne
mother prayed the Greae amer 70 ai,ee' 'ne
ringer OF her son--sae CLOSED tne n'ole-sne
handed 1t to that COY, whose young cneeA
Freddened with ioathing as ne gazed upon
4 ms iathef,s m9PaeIef'" -,
4 ne look thesDipie--oPeneo us holy pages
7 t,random-placed mis- nsse' On asetse'A
r. mhere was ? silence ill.,! 70 10y -,
linen lne Sohtinensal solslel, Who NY
\ Sworn " fvenssg MS nio'nsls usani, e'''''