Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-06-12
VOLUME VIII. NO. "a.


The savages have surrounded our house
we are encrcled by demons" he continued
"They are already beating open the door in
'front.'"
Another death howl from the Indians mingled
with the roar of the elements.
"My Cod" shrieked the mother, My eld-
est born is lost. Where is my child Oh my
chHdn
He could not be found. The room was dark,
and in the terror of the moment, he had taker
4 -. s,i-s s--A.~s-aaa- -
grasped convulsively to her bosom, tia t1ev-..--
and tainted. A tear gathered III 1Ef'a IT, of State
of Stephens; no time was to be lost.
of the house was already on fire. W. and
ants grasp he seized his wife whom he,ooJo
his left arm; his right hand firmly groM-
dagger. He hurried on to the side dooS,
hastily opening it, rushed out. A stern-S
savage, chanting death hymn, bearing in @
hand torch and in the other brandishin
tomahawk, stood before him. With the sue
denness of lightning, Stephens sprang and plum
ged the dagger in his bosom. The Indian fell,
but in falling he caught his hand in the dishev-
elled hair of the wife of Stephenson moment,
Stephens thrust his dagger in the throat of the
PROSTATE savage, and he relinquished his hold
and expired. Stephens, bearing his wife, ran
as fast as if his feet had wings. While this
bloody scene was enacting, the savages burst
open the door in front. They rushed in; they
searched for their victims and for plunder; but
the flames and smoke drove them back into the
air. Meanwhile Stephens bent his steps east
ward, to the dwelling Of neighbor, who lived
three miles distant. The rain had ceased, but
the darkness was thick, and the wind blew hard
and strong The path which was intricate, was
familiar to Stephens and wild, haggard and
faint, he at length reached, in safety, the house
of his nelghbor, who kindly received him.
Once only, he looked back on the scene he left
behind. The flames, excited by the herce WIND,
bazed over the tops Of the trees, high IN the air
and shower of cinders, resembling storm OF
fire. was blown over the forest. Dimy, he saw
the figures of the savages, who were dancing
around the fames fercely gestlcuatlng, they
were celebrating the dance Of death. MY
son, my son" gasped Stephens, aud the stern,
, snewy man of the wilderness, lifted up his voice
and wept.
Mary Stephens slowly recovered from the
shock occasoned by the destruction of her son.
Her husband was deeply affected. but he bore
his mlsfortunes with torntude. IN few days
: the homeless fugitives sought refuge in Stock
bridge, whittier many families from the North
+ had come. The northern Indians had spread
l. terror in the settlement daily they perpetrated
b, some deed Of atrocity.
h It was the time of the Indian summer. Who
); does not remember this delightful season, when
Il the sun pours on the fair earthhis quiet smile,
and seems to linger, enamoredIy, over the thin
e drapey Of smoke that rests OH the far hills and
d when delicious stiffness prevails, where
6 "The mountains that enfold,
0, In their wide sweep the coor'd landscape round,
J., Seem groups of giant kings in purple and in gold,
That guard the enchanted ground"
. 1t was in the early part OF this brief, but
:. glorious PERIOD that Stephens met, on the bank
Of the Housatonic, a little south of the settle =
ment, the daughter of Wisenapee. He joyful
u ly recognized the heroine of the mountains.--
v But change had come over the spirit OF her
: life She was not the animated and naughty
being he had met; a subdued and death-llke
= melancholy sat on her faded features. The fire
. of her eyes had been quenched as if by despair
She had formed an attachment for her cousin
mentioned above, which according to the GUS
= tom of the tribe, was unlawful. Il am gong
to the land of dreams," said she to Stephens, in
reply to his request to visit himself and wife,
q am roing to the home of the Great Spirit-to
y the calm world of sunshine, where no grief
makes the heart heavy and the eyelids red"
, few days afterward, in company with female,
she repaired to a remarkable precipice in Great
Darlington, overlooking the rich and picturesque
valley of the Housatonic. She was decorated
with her ornaments, her hair decked with flow
ers, and after spending the day on its summit,
in singing with her companion the traditional
songs of the nation, she threw herself headlong
from the rock into the abyss and was killed.
To her memory the Indians erected conical
pile of small stones, the vestges OF which re-
main to this day.
The clergyman who oftciated at the settle
ment, was devotedly engaged in performing his
:, duties. He had great influence over the lndl-
ans about 20 of whom had made public pro-
fession of Christianity. Most of the tribe were
= gathered in this place for rumors were preva-
lent that the Orondocks were about to wage war
against the English. 1t was suggested that the
-. Stockbridge tribe connved at this project; but
@ the sequel proved that the suspicion was UNJUST
The church ediice was the principle building
in the place. It was rude, low built, structure
and stood on the spot now occupied as bury
ing ground in the village of StoCkbrldge
, On bitterly cold, bleak Sabbath in Novem-
: Der, about two hundred individuals, Indians and
whites, were assembled in the house of prayer.
The minister had performed the first part of the
religious services, and was engaged in the con-
4 cuding prayer, when the church was suddenly
surrounded by large party of Orondocks, hid
, eousy painted and attired. Their terrible war
=. whoop sounded in the ears of the fear-stricken
congregation like kne OF death. Both min
iser and people were unarmed-there seemed
> no possible way of escape. Should they walt
and be patiently massacred, or rush at once to
. the arms of death? While in this undeclded' ;
}, panc-stricken state, the savages without, some
y through the doors, others through the windows ;
> rushed upon the congregation, armed with knives
and tomahawks. The shrieks Of the women (,
the cries of the children, the moans of the
wounded, denoted that the work of slaughter
had commenced. But the savages were braVely