Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-01-25
MISCELLANY.
THE TRAGIC WEDDING.
BY A. BRADLEY DAVIS.

TO OF the early times, when the red man
vainly strived by wreaking his vengeance
on the defenceless settlers of our from
tiers, to gain the ascendeacy gone from
him forever. These tales are invaria-
bly, interesting: first. because they are
full of thrilling incidents, and then again
because they are true. ., 49,. +. .
The story of the Tragic Wedding is
one among the many that have listen
ed to, from the lips of ali aged friend of
mine "a pioneer in the settlement Of Nor
thern VermonD during the long Novem-
ber evenings of 49,, when banishing
from my mind, as much as possible, the
dogmas of the Learned commentator"
| betook myself 10 the happy freside,
and gathered profit and recreation from
TIE old mans narrative. ...t u;.4
''Just fifty-nine years ago, this very
night began the old man, one evening,
son the identical spot where squire P--s
house now stand, occurred tragedy, the
remembrance of which fills me with hor-
ror. II was one of the most cold-blood-
cd transactions that in all my residence
in the wilderness, Of seventy years, ever
came to my knowledge; i, filed the whole
region round about with CONSERVATION,
causing mothers to hug more closely to
their oosoms their hel lpless infauts. and
Tie hardy men TO take up arms and swear
vengeance on the heartless perpetrators.
Listen, | will tell it to you. .35 ara aH
"a few of the more hardy and during of
the setrlers of M, becoming ltlle
dissatisfied with their situation there, re-
moved into this, then a wild and almost
unexplor'd region, distan, about thirty
miles from any settlements: and finding
"A fertile soil and advantageous location
built themselves log houses, and made
clearings. Things wcntOna prosperous
ly with them, and they lived with bul lit
tie fear of the Indians, as none except
struggling hunter or two had been known
10 visit the vicinity since battle be-
tween large party Of settlers and The
tribe which occasionally located them
selves there, occurred, in which the In,
.dians were signally defeated, and more
than half their numbers slain.a 81. ,..,-s'.r
f., The settlement numbered some twelve
families, who were located within cir
cult. Of Two miles. NJ elder brother
and sister were among the numbers.
Among them, as matter of course, was
q fair sprinkling of lads and lasses, of
whom Mary s., of the latter sex,
was universal lavorite of old and young,
and the belle of the settlement. She
was, my young friend, a girl that was a
girt-not one of your sentimental, pale
faced, wasp-waisied, dainty fingered
Misses OF the present time, but bright
eyed, blooming and laughing brunette,
who could spin tow, and weave the cloth
out of which her dress was made. Oh,
she was charming girl, and wherever
she went happiness followed her foot
steps. Her guileless heart shed its kind
ly influence all around her, impar,ing to
all who came in contact with her kin
dred feeling. fa ,av.
Jack H. was exactly hercoun-
terpart, brave, generous, intelligent and
enterprising, perfect model of a man
in character as well as in form. And as
there was always Il rivalry among the
young beaux of the settlement, in slri-
wing to gain the favor and appreciation of
Mary, SO among the girls, each strove to
gain tile atlentonof Jack The know
ing ones among the old folks planned
deep schemes for .entrapping the young
couple into alliances best suited 10 their
own particular interests; but Jack aud
Mary, disregarding the wishes of 9th
ers, had taken the matter into their own
hands, like sensible young people, as
they were; and in spite Of the plotting Of
the old ladies, they had come TO per-
feet understanding, and formed an init
macy which nothing bul death could sun
der. an ae
'At the time of which speak, this
matter had long been settled, and all the
necessary arrangements made for the
wedding Of the .likeliest couple in the
settlement,' as the old ladies said, which
was TO take place on the evening of The
annual Thanksgiving IN asal a84
Thanksgiving, according to the proe-
lamation of the worthy Governor of the
province, came-and young and old gath
cred together at the capacious (for the
times) house Of Captain S-----, TO
Ill. tko a, IL x,c T., r..I NJ