The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-16

rumor that morning that some Indians
had been seen skulking about, as if for no
good. departed from Arlington Manor as
you may well imagine in any other than a
tranquil state of mind Go on--or go
back Which should do? Iarrayed the
arguments on both sides, and decided to do
that which had the preponderance Of argu-
ment in its favor. My wife with an infant
had left without protection. The nearest
house was some distance off, and in case
| of an attack from the Indians, she would be
taken or destroyed before she could ask for
or receive assistance. l9wa& her more
THAN loved myself-had in boyhood given
her my young and warm hearts affection,
which, when in manhood, | consummated at
| the altar--had arisen to such volume,
and was of so intense nature, that genuine
happiness was truthfully personi6ed in my
life and conduct.
With this ardent love for Mary, how
could hesitate for moment, when think
ing of her exposure. Obeying the impulse
of feeling, | commenced retreat home
wards. But stop! said !, to myself, you
agreed to consider both sides Of the mat
ter, and then to act accordingly. com
menced the consideration of the other side.
Here is person on the verge Of the grave.
1t may be in my power to start anew the
life current, and to give vigor and action
to now deadened limbs. If | 60 back, and
death removes this person, will the AL
mighty hold me guiltless, when my ac-
count is to be made up. If return to
my wife, another soul may wing its eter-
nal fight-may pass to "that borne from
whence no traveller returns - whose life
might have been prolonged; whose pass
age to the "unknown country stayed.
But is not my duty to my family para
mount to all other duties' Yes, in a case
of certain danger. Here, then, ! was
brought to conclusion. The peril ]
supposed my family in was the result Of
rumor, and uncertainty-the imminent
danger of Miss more as certain as two
witnesses could make it. Committing my
wife and child to an ever mercful God,
rode on to visit the afflicted.
| "Here," said mine host, laying aside the
manuscript, G may as well give you some
explanation of the nature Of the country,
and condition of our relations with the In
dians, al the time the circumstances occur
red, narrated in the manuscript"
"Let me refer you to period, when these
now beautiful aud arabic lands were wild
uncultivated forests. When these now
large and populous cities, were unknown
as other than hunting-grounds of the Abo-
rigines, and lairs of wild beasts. When as
rightful owners Of the soil, the Indian called
all his, from the trising of the sun to the
going down of the same and praised the
Great Spirit for so vast a heritage. A few
years, and these events added themselves to
the great ocean--the mighty reservoir OF
the past. The war of the American revo-
luton, with its thousand deeds of patriot
ism, and signally successful issue, had pro-
mulged the truth, that an enlightened and
lbery-loving people would not endure
the CALLING bonds of tyranny and wrong.
Peace, with universal sceptre, swayed the
nation To the New World, the tide Of
emigration set in; and thousands trod the
shores of independent America, glad to
burst the letters of oppression. Some OF
the States were thickly settled--others but
sparsely. In many of them, too, the Indi-
ans still remained, pursuing their savage
mode of life, without interviewing with the
white settlers, unless from just proyication
ITO be continued.