The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-07-19
KATE BEVERLY.
nv rrEHcr H. srrLroS.


Did you see that landscape p said the old
man to me, as we paused upon tho edge of
the mountain rood, and look cd down into the
valley Of Wyoming beneath US. We'll, that
spot, calm as IL now is, was once the scene
Of massacre. God help me- the agonics Of
/ iiat day almost wrunF my h-nrt g, -,l,i',k ,.f
them, even amer the lapse OF finy years
/ Il have heard il was fearful time, and
you have often promised TO tell me the tale
of your oFn connection with t. Yet it the
subject be so painful To you, dare scarcely
make the request
No boy, no, said the old man: sadly; Il
will tell it,ior the promise is Of long standing.
aud | feel to day, hs if 1 could narrato that
tragedy with less emotion than usual Sit
down on this rock aud give fne moment Go
rest; l will then commence my story
While the old man wiped the pc-piration
from his brow, aud set tanning himscl~ with
his broad rimmcd summer bat, f50K tilU
place pointed out 10y him near his side, and
spent the moments that elapsed before he be-
gan his narrative, in gazing on the landscape
before mo.
Setting on a huge boulder,on the head of
the mountain, just where the hill began to
slope down into the valley, We commanded a
view af one Of the most uurivalled landscapes
in the world. To our len,r up the noun
tain, bold rugged, aud barren, like tho back
Of some vast monster reared against the sky
but on the right interposing to prevent, the
view whose lovelness 80 far exceeded my cx-
| pcetations, that for some minutes gazed up
on the scene in mute hmration. Beneath me
stretched the valley diversified with gently
sloping elevations and sprik1ed with fields of
waving golden grain; while here and there n
patch of woodland, with its dark green hue,
lay slumbering on the landscapc-the surface
of the forest ever and anon varying to light
tint as the wind swept over the tree-tops.-
Right through the centre of the valley mean
dered the river, now rolling betwixt bluff
banks, and now stealing gently among The
rich meadow lands in the distance, until at
length il turned to the lefl, and striking the
foot of the far hills, was lost behind the pro
! tile Of the mountain before us. In the cen
tre ofthe vale was the village, with its white
houses and airy church steeple, smiling over
the scene. Far away on the horizon stretch
ed line Of hills, their dark blue summit balf
hid by the clouds which wrapped them as in
a veil OF gauze. No sound came from the
valley. Occasionally the twtter of bird
would be heard through the surrounding
trees, while the low twinkle of tiny waterfall
on. the let,monotonously sounded on our cars,
The morning rays of summers sun poured
down upon the landscape, and every thing
around was bright and gay, and beautiful. /
was still lost in admiration at the lovelness
Of the scene, whtn the old man signiied his
readiness TO commence the tale.
1T is now ffly years ago, he began, .sipce
/ came to this country young frontier man,
with hardy constitutions "A love Of adventure
and the reputation Of being the best shot on
the border; the place was at that time settled
principally by families from Connecticut, and
even then bore marks of its present luxuriant
cultivation. Many of the families were in
good circumstances, others had seen better
days, and altogether the society was more re-
! fined than was usual on the froatier-- Among
all the families however, in the valley, none
pleased me so much, as that Of MIR Beverly
and of his ireside circle his second daughter,
Kate, was in my eyes, the gem. How shall ]
describe her beauty Lovely. without be-
ing beautiful, with sylph-Iike form, laugh
as joyous ss the carol Of = bird, a step lighter
than that ofa Young fawn fh Sportive play, a
disposition go axniAhla as TO win, irresistihly,
the love Of all that met hsr; Kate Beverly
was Scarcely ssssutasn, hs6Ns che Ind 8 boat
cF sdmirers. and might h@yo won sny s-outh
srr ..t.