Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-03-25


s,lution to pursue professional studies, he
was betrothed. Mr. Morton, her father
was a merchant in the city of B
and accounted wealthy man. The
match was what the world would have
called a desirable one, and the lovers had
in Imagination, giIded bright path in the
future, along which they expected TO tread
But the first Rough breeze of fortune can
break the web of earthly hope. Scarcely
had Charles HARDWOOD left the institution,
when MIR HARDWOOD, through the defauI,
of partner, was declared bankrupt
And, to add to his mislortunes, his wife,
the sharer of his prosperity, who had been
laborlng under disease, now fell its VIC
tim. Ills spirits sunk under the load Of
affliclion, and he called upon death to
brandsh again his dart, and strike a sec
ond blow. The first misfortune he might
have borne with comparatively cheerful
heart, but now the sod seemed 10 lie over
the last vestage of earthly hope. lie had
mistaken his daughters character. tho
bred in comfort, and even af1luence, yet
she had heart to meet the rudest shock
Of adversely. She was like The garden
flower, that, when crushed, becomes more
fragrant. She it was that assuaged the
storm Of griel, that beat so loud in her IA
theirs brest, and lulled to tranquility the
troubled waters. Yes, now h e
would live for the sake of his own dear
daughter, yet he could i'll brook the cold
lrown of the world, that was ever ready
to smile on him in his prosperity. Just
then the tide of migration was setting to-
wards the west, he lell into its wake He
joined party whose destination was be-
yond tie Hudson, and when they reached
the place of their separation, he sought out
the beautiful spot, with which we have al.
ready acquainted the reader. 1t was
with sad emotions that Ella Morton took
leave Of the place of her nativity, and her
but tried circle of friends But, for her
fathers sake, she would make any sacri-
fee, or forego any pleasure. She there
fore cheerfully accompanied him TO the
place of his seclusion, but not without in
forming her lover ,f what had trans.
pired, and the place of her residence; so
that correspondence was kept up be-
tween the two, as often as circumstances
would permit. Ella seemed to herself like
one cut off from all civilized society. yet,
an aficctionale letter from Charles Hart
wood, occasionally, would bring sweet re-
prieve from all her sell.denlas. i, would
be needless, perhaps, to relate the suffer-
ings and hardships that they were obliged
to endure for the few first years. They
were then common, and have been expe.
ricnced by many of our frs, settlers. Bnt
nature bounlluly provided for them, in
the wild game that filled the forest, and
covered the lake.
A few years soon had passed, when
Charles HARDWOOD, having completed his
studies and entered upon his profession,
found himself in possession OF a fine es-
tate, yet wanting one thing to complete
his happiness, and that his Iong-loved and
long-wshed-for Ella Morton.
This was in the year 1856, when the
dark clouds of war, that had lowered like
evil omens over the political sky of the
colonies, now had gathered together and
grown thick and black, and were just be-
ginning to disgorge their fiery tempest
over the land. The memorable project
of the union of the colonies for mutual de-
fence against the French and Indians, had
already been matured aud signed at Alba
ny, and the storm Of war had burst forth.
Some daring exploits had been accom-
pished by hostile Indians, and some bru-
tai murders committed upon the most ad.
vancel settlements. The pulse of the
colonies beat high and Warm-all flew to
arms to defend their lire-sdes, their par
cuts, their wives and babes from the hor-
rid seal ping-knile and tomahavk Of the
bood-.hrsty savage. Indignation strung
every mind, but rerengc goaded the heart
of those whose friends and relatives had
perisNed under the crimsoned hand of the
Indian. Armies were raised for agrees
i've movements. Small bodies of indie
pendent Rangers, under their own lead.
crs, were formed and sent to scour the
land of the enemy, (and in the words of
their Instruction., TO distress the French
and their allies, by sacking burning and
destroying their houses, barns and canoes,
and to endeavor to waylay and destroy
their conveys of provision, by land and
water Charles HARDWOOD saw his coun-
Try demanded his services, and he was
ready to yield the sacrifice. lie joined a
small party of friends, of like mind with
himself, who elected him their leader, and t
we're sworn, till death, if needed, to share
each others fortunes. After receiving {
heir Instructions, they plunged into the 7
rackleSs forest, each with his we'll tried c
life in his hand, and a sense of Justice at c
lis heart. The Rangers, in general, ow- j
ng to the migratory movements of their
march, and the rapidi,y Of their change of
'Iace, were comparatively safe from any
arge force of the enemy that might be s
ent against them, They seemed 10 hover t
lround the encmy's camp like bird Of
'rey, to harass, or cut off any stores that
night be sent for their relief. AS an ca
lie darts upon his unconscious victim. SO n
he party OF HARDWOOD seemed ever pres f
hon Iooct oil e In mari, | 1.