Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-03-04
The Tragic Wedding.
BYA A. BRADLEY DAVIS.

BY3A. BRADLEY DAavIs.
| Lam no prolessed story writer, but there
are manystales that. | have listened to @!
the early times, when the red man vaihly
strived, BY reaking his vengeance on the
1defencefess settlers of our frontiers, to gain
The ascendency gone from him forever
These tales are invariably Interesting first,
because they arc full Of thrilling incidents,
land then again, because they dfe ls'ate s,
The storzsofl the eddingis one
anions the many that | have listened stq,
from the lips Of an aged friend of mine IA
pioneer in the settlements of Northern Yer
monD during the long November even
ings of ls4-,, when banishing from my
mind, as much as possible, the dogmas Of
the slearned commentator" | betook my
self to the happy firesde, and gathered profit
and recreation from the old mans nara
tive.
"Just fifly-nine years ago this very
night" began the old man, one evening,
''on The Identical spot where Squire P-'s
house now stands, occurred tragedy, tine
remembrance of which fills me with hor-
ror. II was one Of the most cold blooded
transactions that in all my residence IN
the wilderness, of seventy years, ever came
to my knowledge; it filled the whole region
round about with CONSERVATION, causing
mothers to hug more closely to their bo-
SONS their helpless infanls and the hardy
men TO take up arms and swear vengeance
on the heartless perpetrators. Listen |
will tell it to you.
GA few of the more hardy and daring
of the settlers of Al, :, becoming a lit
tie dissatisfied with their situation there, re-
moved into this, then wild and almost un-
explored region, distant about thirty miles
from any settlements; and finding fertile
soil and advantageous location, built them.
sslves log houses, and made clearngs-
Things went on prosperously with them,
and they lived with but little fear of the
indians, as none except Struggling hunt
er or two had been known to visit the vi
cinity since battle between large party
of settlers and the tribe which occasionally
located themselves there. occurred, in which
the Indians were signally defeated, and
more than half their numbers slain.
"The settlement numbered some twelve
families, who were located within 4 cir
cut of two miles. My elder brother and
a sister were among the number. Among
lhem, rs Q master. 81. course, @assa fair
spfinfiag Of lads and 1asses, q whom Mary
s., of the laiter.sex, was a universal
fayerits Of old and Young, and the belle Of
the; settlement. She was,ng young friend,
girl that was q girl-not one of your
sentimental, pale-faced, wasp-waisted, dain-
ty-fngered Misses ofthe present time, but
a brighteyeG, blooming, md laughing bru-
nette, who could spin tow, and weave the
cloth out Of which her dress was nude
Oh, she was charming girl, and wherev
er she went happiness followed her foot
steps. Her guileless heart shed its kindly
influence all around her, imparting to all
who came in contact with her kindred
feeling. .t ~ --.s..= ...-.-
"Jack H was exactly her counter
part, brave, generous, intelligent, and en-
terprising, perfect model Of man in
character as we'll as in form. And MS
there was always rivalry among the
young beaux of the settlement, in striving
to gam the favor and appreciation of Mary,
so among the girls, each stroge to gain the
attention to Jack. The knowing ones
among the old folks planned deep schemes
for entrapping the young couple into alli-
ances best suited TO their own particular
interests; out Jack and Mary, disregarding
the wishes of others, had taken the matter
into their own hands, like sensible young
people, as they were; and in spite Of the
plotting ofthe OLD ladies, they had come to
perfect understanding, and formed an
intimacy which nothing but death could
sunder. #
cat the time of which speak, this mat.
ter had long been settled, and allth nec-
essary 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 lhe annual Thanks
giving.
Thanksgiving, according TO the procla-
nation of!he worthy Governor Of the prov
ince, came-and young and old gathered
together at the capacious (for the times
house Of Captain s., to celebrate the
nuptals of Jack and Mary; and ample
were the preparations for the feast. Bright
eyed damsels with blushing cheeks, and
gallant. hardy young men were there
The worthy parson, from the next settle
ment, was there also, and by his side sat
another parsonage, with whom in these fas-
tidious times it would be deemed sacralge
to associate the man of Cod mean the
fiddler. But things ai'nt now as they were
then. All was joy, all was gaiety. All,
little did those that were gathered there
dream of the awful fate that awaited them.
81 was then just twenty-five. and having
married my worthy wile-peace be 10 her
moulderlag ashes-only few months be-
fore, was unprepnred to go with my broth
er and sister at the outset, but was intend.
ing TO follow them as soon as my affairs
could be arranged. had been out for a
week or two, trapping sable, and knowing
what was to come off, made it my way
to be present. The gaiety of the party
was at its height. The ceremony was just
being performed. The minister had pro.
nounced the solemn words hom God
hath Joined together lie, no man put asun
der'-the kiss was exchanged, and all were
crowdng round the happy pair with con-
gratulations, when a yell, wild and hideous
rent the air-the deadly war-whoop of the