Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-01-13
Grandfather,s Tale of Early
Times.
BY MRS. LAWSON.

Wry little clearing had been done, and where
ever the plough had not obtruded, the whole
surface was beautifully enameled with daisies
vlolets,aDd all the elegant varieties which char
acterlze the native growth of the outstretchine
! prarles in Ger own loved west.
! NO exotlcs were here, neither were they de-
sIrable, fer the baimy air OF this region was,du-
ring great part of the year, loaded with perfume
from the exuberant growth of Indigenous plants
And then the woods--oh, You may never see a
land as this, my native. lanassln ~ primitive
freshness and beaufy y Yo1 might list the live
long day to the singing of birds in the wild
green wool, with which it was literally filled,
without ever being able to decide which was
The most perfect manifestation of beauty. the
dazzling varieties of FURNISHED plumage or the
budding and blooming of the wild forest trees.
have said there were no exotics-na: naftirz
here exhlbitei more than ample muniacence:
here she had sown the sweetest flowers and
planted the no5lest of trees. There were min
gied the gurgiing of waters and rustling of
forests on the mountain side: and if the wild
deer, gazing, startled, shnddered, and then fed
with even grt alter speed than before, it was not
The roar OF winds nor waters, but the new log
cabin and its happy occupants that quickened
his energies and set his life-blooi coursing
more rapidly through his veins. AND here a.
mong the early settlers were noble spirits: here
were good men and true, brave men, whose
deeds of noble daring have never become mat
ter of history. But our infant settlement in its
lnclpient state contained great variety of
character. If we had many men of sterling
courage, we had craven hearted towards too.
The circumstance am about to relate oc-
CURED in the spring of 1856. Our family, be-
fore me, had personal knowledge of the whole
affair. A family by the name of Blankenship
had a son, at the period of which Ispeak, fine
looking youth of two-and -twenty. There was
also In the settlement young and beautiful
gnl OF sixteen, whose name was Mary Wilson.
She was the cynosure of all eyes, the belle of
the country. Of this fair being Young Blank
enship became enamoured, and by his unre-
hitting attentions he succeeded in gaining her
affections, that the bold lads of the settlement
seeing themselves completely eclpsed by young
B., reluctantly, one by one, ceased 10 make
their former efforts to secure the smiles of the
lovely maiden, and Il. became the acknowledged
lover of Mary Wilson. Late one Saturday ey-
ening. as Mr.. WI son came into his cabin, he
found his wife and daughter Mary earnestly en-
gagged in conversation.
81 think husband, Mary can't do better"
said Mrs. Wilson. eve have no boys, and
rarely feel ike having some purtection fur us
when you're gone: and then we've power of
work TO do, ami YOU do know there's no better
hand IN the settlement than Jimmy Blankership
And then, 1t is the red skins always peeping in
at US. And then, it is the red skins always
peeping in at US. It's just tother day that the
old white hen made SIGH a tirrible futterment
ont yon way by the woods,that Mary and have
thought about Injuns in good arrest"
Ruf tho father rofocfod fatborc
viii. land rather demonstrated, having no desire
to give up the guardianship of his pretty daugh-
ter just then.
"Weh, jist say right out" said the mother,
"what is it the like OF We could have again git
tin into the family SIGH nice young man as
Jimmy BiankenShip, in this Inlun country ehf
"One strong reason" said Mr. Wilson, sis
that Jimmy is no~great friend to the plough;
and do not know what sort of protection he
would be in case of danger"
At this suggestion of her father, the blood
mounted to the che Of Mary. This was an
unkind cut. The ntimaton that he lacked
courage, she felt bound to resent. She had
heard him talk of narrow escapes are fearful
encounters: many wonderful things she could
relate, but ended by saying he owned the best
rifle in the settlement.
"Yes.'' retorted the father, ''and he is the
poorest shot in the settlement, too."
Here the wife opened battery of soul-stir-
ring appeals. They had no son; five daugh-
tiers; all so helpless; Mary the oldest, so deli
cate and SO good for-nothing for business u
And the sensible father yielded, and the mex
perenced laughter was informed by the indul-
gent mother that she might prepare for her
bridal.
The next morning-theSabbath- day
rf no md of chon hri. 4 v
and the birds seemed filled with an instructive
love of rejoicing, pouring out their most melli-
iuous notes. On that quiet morning might be
seen the family of Wilson's, busily preparing to
pass the day with a neigh5or ten miles distant.
Mary, clad in her nice blue and white pet
ticoat, and her fine white linen short-grown
hanging gracefully about her classic figure,
felt commendable confidence; as she assured
them she felt no uneasiness about their leaving,
as Jimmy would be there,and the mother
thought all the children would be well guarded
by their future brother-in-law.
Blankenship,arranging bis toilet, made ready
to visit his betrothed Mary. The stout hat was
neatly brushed, the buckskin small-clothes were
cleaned down in the most approved style, and
the buckskn hunting shit was exchanged for
the cleaner one of strong linen. His new moi
casons, prepared for his wedding occasion, he
could not be diverted from wearing on that very
day. At length, having adjusted lis belt about
his waist, from which was suspended his faith
fil knife, and shouidered his unerring rife, the
best in the settlement, he sailed out, and with
light heart and lively step, took the path lea
ding to the home of his Mary. Reaching the
dwelling, he found the parents had left, and
his heart leaped at the thought that to him was
entrusted the care of this sweet and helpless
family.
Mary speedily reported to him the signs she
had seen of Indians, but the sight of his keen
-edged-knife and trusty rifle allayed her fears,
and his declaration soothe1 her into confidence.
The day wore pleasantly away. The youn-
ger children were placing quietly in field ad-
jacent to the house, when Mary, looking out,
espied an Indian slipping round with the evident
intent of getting between the children and the
house. She cast on her lover a look of anguish
he saw and bounded into the yard. She sprang
forward to rescue the children, if possible, from