The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-09-14

arms, as if he OWNED instinctively in what
way TO torture her most, he ~brandished his
tomahawk above its little head 10 strike.
All her preceding suffering lad been
nothing TO those the mother experienced al
that moment, Her babe, her first born, her
only one-murdered-and before her eyes
even while It's little arms were stretching out
TO her!
She fell on her knees al the feet Of thai
savage, she clasped his hand.
oh spare him-spare him. was all she
could articuIate for, with these words, her
tongue parched with agony. Glove to her
mouth. She would have given worlds Tor
the ability 10 speak. vainly hoping she might
thus move the indian; but she could only
grasp his hand mere convulsively, and lift
her dry stony eyes in eager suppiicaiion to
his face.
For he had paused, at her words, in the
work of death, and she hoped-the poor, de
luded she had hoped, She wound herself
around his knees with one hand. she lifted
the Uther TO her child, for the moment al
most believing he was reIenifng. And the
babe had crowded. and smiling, stretched
down its little arm to her. Vain hope.
young mother! 1t was only to delude you
thus that the savage fend had withheld the
blow midN ay.
The tomahawk descended. A shrill
shrek, o fagony rose from the mothers lips.
But. shriller than that shrek, simultaneously
came the crack OF a rife, and the savage
fell headlong without cry or motion, his blow
Speeding itself on the floor.
Was il a dream-was ii a miracle The
mother could scarcely believe what she
heard or saw. Her babe alive and unhurt.
The assassin dead. She glanced at the
sweet. smiling face of her infant and press
ed him convulsively 10 her bosom then she
looked up with a start, for q dark shadow
fell across her.
But no indian met her sight. The shad
ow was that Of a tall. powerful man, who
wore a buck-tail cap and an ordinary hunt
ing undress, yet il needed not the epau
letles on his shoulder 10 show that he vas
one accustomed 10 command. Behind him,
crowded up the narrow doorway and pres
sing forward in dense masses, came scores
of men atrired in the provincial uniform.
Washington for ever! Down with the
healhen murderers!' was the excited cry oil
his followers.
Into the apartment they burst, those brave
sons Of Virginia. with a wild hurrah, start
ling The astounded savages on whom they
Instantly fell, Ii was scarcely a fight alter
The first minute: il was a %5utchery, As the
soldiers drove the Indians back 10 the wall,
they found the savages repealed on them
from that direction, and with q roar of def
ance, like a lion who had just shaken him
sell from the hunters, Harding. 10 the aston
ishment ofhis wife sprang 10 his full height
and renewed The fray,
In five minutes all was over Not one Of
the savage assassins escaped ; indeed they
disdained fighting, When the conflict was
done, Harding sprang 10 his wiie's side
bleeding indeed in a dozen places, but as
was subsequently, found, not MORALLY woun-
ed, The aged minister was dragged from
under the heap of dead, bruised and stun
ned, but scarcely hurt otherwise, for he had
remained unnoticed where he fell, and only
suffered from being trodden down by the
foe.
Harding was standing. with one arm a
round the waist oil his vile, who, with her
head buried on his shoulders, was now sob
bing and trembling violently, the excitement
which had sustained her being over. His 9TH
er hand had dropped al his side. still holding
the terrible axe. He was smiling at his
infant, whose little round face was upturned
half in alarm. half in recognition at his dis
ordered counienance. Suddenly, the leader
Of The party which had come SO o%pportunely
10 his aid, advanced,
God bless you, sir, you have saved me
and these, who are dearer 10 me than my
self said Harding. and a tear stood in his
eye,
Il must ask your name. so that we
can pray for and bless you night and morn
ing
A tear rose TO the strangers eye.
MY name he said modestly. but with a
quiet dignity that foreshadowed The future
greatness Of the name is Washington.
Colonel Washington! Then Braddock
has been defeated, and l understand ALL
Washington nodded then he resumed.
we are, as you suppose, retreating and
you had better join us, We must eff al
once it is not sale Tor you or US 10 remain
here.'
You are right. We follow you, the Sa-
uior ofourSetues and our country answered
Harding enthusiastically.
Was it prophecy which thus loretold the
| future?