The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-07-12
FcaH ArAw'i Holas Gasens.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Tur MISSIONARY ASp Tnr RonnER.


In the year Of our Lord ls---, a missionary
from one Of the Eastern States, who had just
completed his studies, and had received
commission from the --- Missionary Society
was passing in westerly direction over the
prairies OF Illinois
lie had seen. occasionally an article in
some Of the three or four religious pcriodi-
Gals of that period, about the Far West and
with benevolent desire Of doing good to the
destitute and scattered pioneers of this re-
mote, and then scarcely known region, had
Travelled on horseback from his native village,
preaching ON Sabbaths as occasions offered
during his long journey.
Ohio was then sail 10 be- land Of moral
desolAtion; Indiana was supposed TO be mH-
ny degrees lower in the scale Of civilization ;
and the new State Of Illinois was Imagined
TO bo situatcd very near the jumping-off
place A vague aud somewhat doubtful inn
preston existed as TO tho locality aud char
Acter of Missouri aud Kentucky was known
abroad, by report, for its fighting and goug
ing propcnsitics, while the population were
characterized a. hhf horse, half alligator,
aud a touch. OF the Enhpping-lnrilc
Among the vague and rather indistinct i'm
prOssions of the character and habits of from
tier Adventures, that Goated over tho mind
Gf tho young missionary, were ttnsc of rob
-bery aRd murders.
During the period ofinquiry and anxious
meditation about dcyoting his life As a mis-
rionary, Of the cross in the wilds OF the west,
the idea of robbery aud murder occupied no
minor place in his Imagination, Sti4,- aith
commcndablc resolution and martyr spir-
it, ho resolved to hazard oven life, with the
sacrifice OF every earthly comfort, TO preach
the gospel and Introduce the meliorating in
Auenees of civilization among people who
belonged to the same nation with himselfand
who might eventually exert a controlling in
fuence over the dcstnics OF the republic.
It was on cloudy and cold day in the
month of December that our missionary friend
was seen crossing an.arm Of the Grand Prai-
rie, east Of the Okau, az the Kaskaskia river
by abbrewation (au Kas) and French accent
had been called. lie had travelled long
distance that day by following devious and
obscure trail, or 'bridlc-path,' now through q
skirt Of timber, then across the point of a
prairie, without seeing a log cabin, or any
other sign of human residence.
Night was fast approaching. The land
herd, where he had been accommodated with
private entertainment the preceding night,
had directed him on blind trail 20 fordng
place across the Okau, beyond which, and in
L. .ar.n l.s.,,;o, ,,.a, tin to,.n - - q.
which ho was jouneying, Both horse and
rider wero fatiGued with long fasting and n
hard ride and the missionary could form no
conjecture how far Il might be from a settle
ment which he had hoped to reach before
nightfall.--
Anxious and somewhat bewldercd, he
looked in each direction for signs OF human
habitation, when an uncouth specimen OF hu-
mRnity appeared on horseback, and coming
in a rapid movement, aud in a diagonal d.
rection, across tho prairie towards the path
OF the missionary.
A. the man approached has personal APP
pearsncs, dress and equipage manifested no
friendly design. His head was covered with
the skin Of the prairie wolf, with the tail
EuIttftHL WI
neither a coat, frock, or blouse. In western
parlance il was "hunting shirt" made Of
dressed deer skin, with the cape and side
strips curiously notched and fringod, but to
the missionary it had an alarming aspect.
Over it hung aPowder-horp and bullet
pouch, and around his body was a leathern
belt, in which was thrust formidable knife
AIoaded rine carelessly lay across the riders
shoulder. 4.
Nor was bis personal appearance in the
loast degree preposseSsing. He sported a
black beard of three weeks growth and dark,
eifsh locks Of hair could be seen beneath the
skin cap. His countenAnce, from constant
esposnre to the, weather, was swarthy, and a
rough, stalwnrt hrawnY frame seemed, to the
alarmed missionary, Of gigantic proportions
Il had braved the storms Of moro than forty
Winten.
Every indication painted most wildly on
t1a Yerturbed imagination Of the missionary
the danger that hung over him. The hrpt
imPalps ~sg IN urge hia ja7ed horse into