Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-09-30

his toInahawk above its little head TO strike.
All her preceding sufferngs had been moth
ing TO those the mother experienced at that mo-
ment. Her babe, her hrst-born, her only one
murdered and before her eyes, even while its lit
tie arms were stretched out TO her
She fell on her knees at the feet of that saw
age, she clasped his hand.
ooh spare himp was all she could articuate,
for with those words her tongue, parched with
agony Glove to her mouth. She would have
given worlds for the ability to speak, vany hop
ing she might thus move the Indian; Lut she
could only grasp his hand more convulsively, and
lift up her dull, stony eyes in eager duplication
to his face.
For he had paused at her words in his work
of death, and she hoped the poor, deluded
mother, she had hoped. She wound herself a.
round his knees with one hand she lifted the
other to the child for the moment almost believ-
ING he had relented And the babe had crow
ed, and smiling had stretched out his little arms
to her. Vain hope, young mother 1t was
only to deIude you thus that the savage fend
had withheld the blow midway.
The tomahawk descended. A shriIl shrek
of agony arose from the mothers lips. But more
shril even than that shrek, simultaneously came
the crack of the rifle, and the savage fell head
long without cry or motion, his blow spending
itself on the floor.
Was it a dream-was it miricle? The
mother could scarcely believe what she heard or
saw Her babe was alive and unhurt. The
assassin dead She glanced at the sweet, smiI-
ing face of her infant and pressed him convul-
siyely to her BOSOM then she looked up with a
start, for dark shadow fell across her.
But no Indian met her sight The shadow
was that Of a TALL powerful man, who wore a
buck tail cap, and an ordinary hunting dress.
to show that he was one accustomed to COM
mand Behind him, crowding up the narrow
door way, and pressing forward in dense masses
came scores Of men alfred in the provincial
uniform.
"Washington forever Down with the hea,
then murderersP was the exciting cry of his fol-
lowers.
Into the apartment they burst those brave
' sons of Virginia, with hurrah, startling the as
: tonshed savages, on whom they instantly fell
$ 1t was scarcely fight after the first mnute i
d was butchery AS the soldiers drove the In
dams to the wall, with roar of defiance like
Z! lion Just shaking himself from the hunters, Har
+ ding, to the establishment of his wife, sprang t.
, his full height and renewed the fray.
J. In five minutes all was over Not one of tn
i savage assassins escaped; indeed, they disdanet
J. quarter and died fighting. When the conAic
o was done, Harding sprang to his wife's side
It bleeding, indeed, in dozen places but not NOR
S tally wounded. The aged minister was dragge'
G from under the heap Of dead, bruised ard stunn
S ed, but scarcely hurt otherwise, for he remaine
0 where he fell, and only suffered from being trod
If den down by the foe.
it Harding was standing with one arm aroun
q the waist of his wife who, with her head restin
e on his shoulder, was now sobbing and trembin
q violently the excitement which had sustaine
" her being over His other hand dropped at hi
f. side, still holding the terrible axe. He wa
!. smiling at his infant, whose round little fac
o was upturned, half in alarm, half in recognitio
N of his countenance. Suddenly the leader of til
party, who had come SO opportunity TO his aic
70 advanced,
,e God bless you, sill; you have saved me, an
,r these, who are far dearer to me than myself sal
= Harding, and a tear stood in his eye. 4 mu
o. ask your name, SO that we Can pray for you an
in bless you, night and morning
q A tear rose in the strangers eye
to MY name, said he, modestIy, but with qu
ID dignity that foreshadowed the future greatness
H. the name, lis Washington
n. Col. Washington! Then Braddock has bee
n. defeated, and | understand all
n Washington nodded, and then resumed, "
are, as you suppose, retreating and you had be
he ter Join us. We must be off at once; it is n
III safe for you or US to remain here
IN you are right We follow you, the saUiO
IT. of ourselves and country, answered Hardin
yd enthusiastically.
N, Was it a prophecy which thus foretold the
be turel
eel