The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-02-12

trust was IN tnat ZOO WHO aiOne cOul0
protect her and her little ones. For
her children she provided q bed under
the puncheon floor Of the cabin in a
small hole usually provided by the first
settlers to preserve vegetables in win
ter from the frost. Here every night,
week after week, would she place her
children, after putting them to sleep,
while she watched through the chinks
Of the cabin during the greater part Of
each night, the approach Of The savages.
"Theb plan was, il the Indians enter
ed at one door, to fly out at the other,
and give the alarm al the garrison be-
fore the children could be found in their
concealment under the floor. Often,
thus watching, she saw the Indians en-
ter the little settlement, traverse the
grounds in the vicinity Of the block
house; sometimes they came to her We
ry door, but never did they enter
Horses were stolen, settlers were killed
and taken prisoners, but Mary and her
babes were protected. Delicate as a
flower, and with all the tender sensibil-
ity Of the most feeling heart, it was the
faith Of the christian which sustained
her under all her trials, and enabled her
to triumph over all fear. There, day
after day might be heard, in that rude
hut, Mary's soft voice, rendered plain
tive and melancholy by her lonely con-
hymning her favorite psalm.
"After Mary had lived in this DESC
late and perilous condition for some
months, her character and histo-
ry became known to a young man Of
kindred spirit. He too, from the age Of
twelve, had been exposed to the perils
of war. He had served in many CAM
against the Indians, and had en-
with them in the battlefield
when quite "a boy. flo had sraverssd
the Indian wiIds from the AlIeghenies
to the Ohio, and from the Kentucky
to the lakes. Fear he never felt,
and had imbibed a feeling OF pity and
contempt for any being who manifest.
ed that childish emotion. Mary's bold
and fearless bearing attracted his notice;
and though he had travelled much,
seen and known many females, his
heart had never before felt the influ-
ence Of ioue and admiration combined.
Mary's exquisite sensibiIity and tender.
meas, added to her undaunted courage,
qualities so rarely found 10 meet in the
same woman, induced him at once to
offer himself as her protector and her
husband. They were married-and
Mary's second husband proved himself
10 be what she had taken him for, a
nan of true worth.
ale was one Of the first p~ioneefs Of
Differentiated much TO give TO her
constitution and laws their broad prin-
;iples Of liberty and equality-liyed
ong to see and enjoy her prosperity,
ind died in good old age, not 'unhonor-
ID though ~'unsung.'' But Mary had
eft him years before for a better home.
She lived to rear to maturity all her
children, eight in number, and to them
was attached with al intensity Of affec-
ion which nothing could moderate
She bore all the privations Of fourteen
Years Of war. British and Indian, Ok.
POSED to the most eminent dangers, and
Ter heart never failed her. But when
me, and then another, and yet another
# her children were taken from her by
he stern hand Of death, her 'heart wes
and withered like grass;' life
ost its attractions-earth its loneliness
and home its endearments. She
,ank under the loss Of her children, and
..I. NI -L.Il- =. .rH-.N- aA.i - Nt|..I MsaL M M". Il
lied Of a broken heart" ,,,.
The stranger paused--ihe big tear
TODD in his eye, and with quiyering
10 he ~added--"the first daughter born to
ne after my mothers death, ! called
Nary Craig, though the eldest had been
,artIy named forh her years before. 1t
vas a most lovely child, but il had an
Mccarthy beauty and sweetness ssl about
!. The lnsighbors noticed this, and
whispered to each other, 'little Mary
viii not IivseAshe belongs not to earth