Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-29
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The Tragic Wedding.
BY A. BRADLEY DAVIS.

am no professed story writer, but there are
many tales that have listened to of the early
times, when the red man vainly strove, by
wreaking his vengeance on the defenceles set
tiers of our frontiers, to gain the ascendancy
gone from him forever. These tales are inva-
riabIy interesting; first, because they are full of
thrilling incidents, and then again, because they
are tue.
The story ofthe Tragic Wedding is one among
the many that have listened to from the lips of
an aged friend Uf mine, ia pioneer in the settle
ments of Northern Vermont during the long No.
vember evenings of 1874, when banshlng from
my mind, as much as possible, The dogmas of the
learned commentator" betook myself to the
happy freside, and gathered profit and recreation
from tho aid fnan's narratives. .----=s
g. Just fifty-nne years ago this very night"
began the old man, one evening, on The denti-
cal spot where Squire P---s house now stands.
occurred a tragedy, the remembrance of which
fills me with horror II was one of the most cold
booded transactions that ln all my residence in
the wilderness, of seventy years, ever came to
my knowledge; it filled the whole region round
about with consternation, causing mothers to hug
more closely to their bosoms their helpless infants
and the hardy men to take up arms anu swear
vengeance on the heartless perpetrators. Listen,
| will tell 1t to you.
ga few of the more hardy and daring of the
early settlers ofM., becoming little dissatisfied
with their situation there, removed into this then
wild and almost unexplored region, distant about
thirty miles from any settlements and finding
f fertile soil and advantageous location built them
selves log houses, and made clearings. Things
went on prosperously with them, and they lived
with but little fear OF the Indians, as none except
a struggling hunter or two, had been known to
visit The vicinity 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 number SLAIN.
, The settlement numbered some twelve fami-
lies, who we're located within circuit of two
o miles, My elder brother, and sister were among
A the numbers. Among them as a matter ofcourse,
was fair sprlnklng of lads and lasses of whom
Mary s., of the latter sex, was universal
favorite of old and young, and the belle oil the set.
f tement She was, my young friend, girl that
was girL-not one of your sentimental, pale
faced, wasp-waisted, dainty fngerd Misses of the
n present time but bright eyed, blooming and
. laughing brunette, who could spin tow and weave
o the cloth out of which her dress was made. o,
A she was charming girl, and wherever she
went, happiness followed her footsteps. Her
guileless heart shed its kindly influence around
her, impartlng to all who came in contact with
her kindred feeling.
q Jack II, was exactly her counterpart,
n brave, generous intelligent and enterprisng, a
perfect model of man in character as well as in
q form. And as there was always rivalry among
e the young beaux of the settlement, in striving to
gain the favor and appreciation of Mary so among
,. the girls each strove to gain the attention of
h Jack. The knowing ones among the old folks
!, planned deep schemes for entrapplng the young
couple into alliances best suited to their own
particular interests but Jack and Mary, disre-
gardng the wishes of others, had taken the mat
Il ter into their own hands, like sensible young
u people, as they were and in spite of the plot
y ting of the old ladies', they had come to perfect
g understanding, and formed an intimacy which
y death alone could sunder.
At the time Of which speak, this matter had
e long been settled and all the necessary arrange
II mens made for the wedding of the likeliest
u couple in the settlement as the old ladies said,
'S which vas to take place on the evening of the
> Annual Thanksgiving.
J. Thanksgiving, according to the Proclamtion
V Of the worthy Governor of the province, came
g and young and old gathered together at the ca
e pacious (for those tmcs) house of Capt, s.,
= TO celebrate the nuptials Of jack and Mary; and
s. ample were the preparations for the feast
u Bright-eyed damsels with bushing cheeks, and
10 gallant hardy young men were there. The
% worthy parson from the next settlement was also
there, and by his side sat another parsonage