Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-06-12
William will you kill my child"

-A' viz Ah9tuht He spoke, one OF lne Indians,
a female, sprang towards her murlerous com.
panlon, and, in twinkling, turned the muzze of
his rifle towards the stars. The ball was lost in
the air. This done, taking the trembling boy
In her arms ,sheran towards the mother, and pre-
sented him to her.
" Daughter of the pale faces, !" said she, proud
ly, " think not our tribe is unfriendly to thee
Yonder Manuta is an Orondock, and Is hostile
to the English. He persisted in accompanying
my cousin-(here flush passed over her fea-
turesl--to the Great Mi@ma.a. q nd uUa..ap no an
our way thither. Your fathers have been very
kind, and have taught us many words and things;
and as yon lake faithfully mirrors the sky and
stars, so does the daughter of Wishnapee ever
return the benefits she has received.
The agitated mother pressed her boy to her
bosom, and forgot everything but him and his
deliverer. The maiden was an only child Of an
Indian of distinction in the tribe. She was an
exquisite specimen of savage beauty. Her form
was slender, but round and full, and proportion
ed perfectly. Her movements, unregulated by
fashion, were unre5traned, harmonious and
graceful, far beyond the reach of art Her face
was marked with the lndelible characteristics
of her race, her cheek bones being slightly
prominent; but her features were beautiful,
though cold and stern. Her eyes we're large,
black and flashing; and her hair dark as the ra-
ven, was so arranged as to float wildly over her
shoulders. She was brilliant personification
of Indian nature-haughty, yet greatful-re-
vengful, yet magnanimous Her dress was SIM
pie. Her moccasins admirably fitted her slen-
der feet, and her other dress closely fitted her
person, except kind of shawl which graceful
ly enveloped her body. She wore a cap, re-
sembling a Scotch bonnet, surmounted with
feathers of different coors, fantastically arrang-
ed, which waved playfully in the breeze.
The rifle was scarcely discharged when the
mastf sprang upon Manuta, and prostrating
him, would have torn him to pieces, had he not
been mercifully prevented. The discounted
Indian rose, muttering deep revenge. He was
noted for his atrocities, having figured as the he
ro of hundred murders, and of thefts innumer-
able. His face was hdeolsy Scared and
wrinkeled. Two small and rat-like eyes glitter
ed beneath his dark, bushy eyebrows. The
vices of the whites, with whom he had mingled,
were engrafted upon, and had rendered douby
mail gnant, his Indian obliqulties, and were he
now living, would be a formidable stumbling
block in the way of disbeevers in total deprav-
NY Aunl1 rnis p4nn iuyxE lyo nnatosI---ns
, sought the hand of the daughter of Wishna
pee!
Of course, there was but little cordial inter
course between him and the cousin of the mai
den. The latter was tall, strong limb ed youth
brave, vary, and taclturn, In the contest witt
= the mastif, he left Manuta to struggle alone
: he failed not to be by the side of his beautiful
8 cousin.
Stephens and his wife were Gained by tn
assurances of the young savages that they woul
not be further disturbed and after exchanging
} gifts, the maiden beckoned to Manuta, who
proceeded by her and her cousin, quickly van
ished in the wood
The moon shown softly on the wild restin!
=. place Of the emigrants, but fleeing and disturb
ed were their slumbers.
Since the incident here described, nearly tw
years had elapsed Within that period man,
families from the east had emigrated and set
tied in the northern and eastern parts of Len
OK. Several, however, had returned from fea
of the Orondock, or French Indians, who made
frequent and hostile excursions. The perils en-
countered by the early settlers, can scarcely
be exaggerated They had wild country tC
subdue, and lis wilder tenants. They were con
stantly under the influence of fear or terror
but the event proved that the fortitude, kindness
} and numbers of the pale faces overcame every
obstacle.
The settlement of Stephens was but few
rods distant from The place where the Court
House now stands. From the trees he had fell
ed, he had erected comfortable log g-house.-
The spot he had cleared sustained crops suffi-
cient for the support of his little family There
were other evidences of industry which it is not
necessary to relate. Neither had the fair mis-
tress of this humble mansion been idle; the in
terror was a picture of neatness and economy
The happy pair went on thus prospering; and
often did
1.-THE wild woods ring,
With hymns of lofty cheer.n
They were also great favorites of the friendly
Indians, who visited them frequently with pres
ents.
Since the night of the encampmont on the
hill described above, Stephens and his wife had
not seen either of the Indians, except Manuta
While at work one day in the field, the savage
Y suddenly passed by without speaking. Stephens
g was aware of the revenge which ranked in Man.
uta's hosom, and was not without fear of its eff.
fects,
Towards the close of burning day in Au.
: cust, the heavens were suddenly overspread
r with clouds The wind tore up trees by the
ROOFS and the woods roared with the crash
: The sky gttered with frequent lightnings, and
!, deafeninr thunder caused the earth to tremble.
4 Stephens, with his little family grouped around
in earnest prayer, They were in total darkness
: His deep voice could only be heard during the
short pauses of the storm. His wife knelt by
: his side in terror. Every moment they expect
ed to be crushed to atoms by the falling trees
or else to be borne away on the bosom of the
winds.
But the elements were restrained for they
: are controlled by heavenly and benevolent
power; but the demoniac passions Of the sons
$ of men, what mortal can arrest them wher
! reused, or prevent them from executing the wOrl
: of death
!, Suddenly, loud and deafeniug yell of saw
: o.oa oyarnowered tho ronunp storm, and thu