Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-01-13
RECOVERY OF A DAUGHTER.

Many years ago, several German
families left their country and settled
IN America. Amongst them was a
man from Wirtemburg, who, with his
wife end large family, established
himself in Pennsylvania. There were
no churches or schools then in that
nelghooghood, and he was compelled
to keep the Sabbath at home with his
family, ins,ructing them himself to read
the Bible and pray to God. He used
very often to read he Scriptures to
'hem, and always used first to say
i"Now, my children, be still, and listen
to what | am going to read; for it is
God who speaks to us in this book"
In the year 1854, a dreadful war
broke out in Canada, between the
French and the English. The Indians
took part with the French, and made
excursions as far as Pennsylvania,
where they plundered and burned eve
ny house they came to, and murdered
the people. In 1855, they reached the
dwelling of the poor family from Wir-
temburg, while the wife and one of the
sons had gone to the mill, four miles
distant, 20 get some corn ground. The
husband, the eldest son, and two little
girls, named Barbara and Regina, were
at home. The father and his son
were instantly killed by the savages,
but they carried the two little girls a.
way into captivity, with great many
other children who were taken in the
same manner. They were led many
miles through woods and thorny bush
es that nobody might follow them. In
this condition they were brought to the
habitationa of the Indians, who divided
among themselves all the children
whom they had taken captive.
Barbara was at this time ten wears
old, and Regina nine. 1t was never
known what became of Barbara; but
Regina, and little girl two years old,
whom she had never seen before, were
given to an cd woman, who was a We.
~ cruel woman. Her only son lived
with her and maintained her; but he
was sometimes from home for weeks
together, and then these poor children
were forced to 60 into the forest to
gather roots and other provisions for
the old woman, and when they did not
bring her enough to eat, she would
beat them in so cruel a manner that
they were nearly killed. The little
g'rl always kept close to Regina, and
when she knelt down under tree.
and repeated the prayers TO the Lord
Jesus, and the hymns which her father
and mother had taught her, the little
girl prayed with her and learned the
hymns and prayers by heart. In this
melancholy state ocslavery these child
rem remained nine long years, till Re-
gina had reached the age of nineteen,
and her little companion was eleven
years old. While captives, their hearts
seemed to have been drawn towards
what was good. Regina continually
repeated the verse from the Bible, and
the hymns which she had learnt when
at home, and she taught them to the
little girl. They often used to cheer
each other with one from the hymn
book used at Halle, IN Germany:
/ ''Alone, yet not alone am |,
Though in this solitude 30 drear."
! They constantly hoped that the Lord
Jesus would, some time, bring them
back to their Christian friends.
In 1854, the hopes Of these children
were realized. The merciful provi-
cence Of God brought the English Col
onel Boquet to the place where they
were in captivity. He conquered the
Indians and forced them to ask for
peace. The first condition that he
made was, that they should restore all
the prisoners they had taken. Thus
the two poor girls were released
More than 400 capives were brought
to Colonel Boquet. 1t was an affect.
ing sight to see so many young people
wretched and distressed. The colonel
and his soldiers gave them food and
clothes, brought them 10 town called
Carlisle, and published in the Pennsyl-
vafaia newspapers that all parents who
had lost their children might come to
this place, and in case of their finding
them, they should be restored. Poor
Regina's sorrowing mother came, a
mong many other bereaved parents, to
Carlisle; but alas! her child had become
a stranger to her. Regina had ac-
CURED the appearance and manner as
well as the language of the natives
The poor mother went up and down
amongst the young persons assembled,
but by no efforts could she discover
her daughters. She wept in bitter
grief and disappointment. Colonel
Boquet said, "Do you recolect nothing
by which your children might be dis
covered"
She answered she recollected moth
ing but hymn she used to sing with