The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-06-21
EARLY SCENES IN THE VALLEY or
THE HoUsAToNIC.

TIE HOUsATONIC.
A stranger passing through the valley OF
BertshiEe, Massachusetts and observing the
succession Of besutifil and opulent villages
from its southern 10 its uttermost northern
limits, would scarcely beliave that hardly a
century Ago, IL wns an unbrOksn Wilderness.
Before that time no European had pcnctrAt-
ed Ia depth. II was the home Of the fierce
Red Men, descendants Of the tribe Of Mohe-
EAns, or MuhhekAnows, which signifies, "the
people oftho great waters continually in mo-
uon-. They were scattered along the banks
Of the Hountonic TO tho number, probably,
OF tso thousand The plseo nov oallssl
Stockbridge was the residence Of their Chief
Herr, NJ stated periods, most Of the tribe
gathered to hold their Council and celebrate
-the War Dance. Here, also, they offered
sacrifices TO the Great Spirit on. the sumu,ita
pf hugo rocks that crown towering, preeip-
itouH mount, which oVeFlooks tse pictureaqne
valley and the beautiful stream that winds
oArcsaingly near It's base, and which com
nands brOnd view of the irregularly group
Hd hilla. and the blue robcd mountains that
stretch FAR away in the distance.
Wild As tho game they chased, and unre-
strained as the wind that swept over their
hills, tho SavAges knew no MASTER. They
had heard, indeed, and some OF them Ind
seen several ofthe pale faces that dwelt near
the great waters but they felt no dread.
Their superstition taught them to believe that
the wings Of. the Great Spirit would over
shadow them, and secure 10 them the posses
sions inberite.l from their fathers.
In process OF time, however. few fearless
descendants OF the Pilgrims, from the East,
saplanasl thesa Aheh aaiii.,les, aad salscaod
places for future settlements. The Indians
ut Arst regarded the setilors M intruders The
spirit OF hostility was, however, in some de-
gree quelled by The kiPd manners and hon
orable dealings OF the English emirrAnts--
They eamo not, they said, to wage war with
them, nor TO take away their lands, but to
live with them as brethren. and to give them
-aHapla RqniEalsntA- for tho land thny minht nc=
cupy. The Chief Of tho tribo listaned favor.
ably 20 these representations, and shortly
ayowed bis belief in the Christian faith. This
remarkable event suggested to the pious Pu-
ritans the project of fChristisnizing these wild
sons Of the forest, by establishing schools and
religious institutions among them. Applica-
tion was accordingly made to the State Cow
ernmant, then in the hands of the English,
and After various delays, the Legislature at
length, in 1897, granted "that meeting
house, together with a school house, should
be built for the indians, at tho charge Of the
Provincc." 10''
But the funds Of the Province were low,
and strenuous efforts were made TO increase
them by private subscription. This mission
attracted great attention and soiicitude It's
wants wore made known in England, and un-
der the auspices ofthe celebrated Dr. Watts,
a respectable sum was rnised, 10 which the
Prince Of Wales contributed twenty guineas.
Although interrupted by the French War,
and subsequent incursions of the northern
Indians, this noble enterprise was emineutly
VOccessfnl The interests, temporal and spir-
ituai, Of tho Red Men we're not only promot.
cd by the labors Of Sergeant, Woodbridge,
Edwards, West and Others, ,but the habits and
characters Of eontemporaneous Enghsh set
Tiers and their descendants. mts-----s-'
Notwithstanding, however, the most slSilful
,endoaYors 10 ChristianiEe them, there were
tsaseral Of the Indians who cherished hostile
feeling towards the emigrants. These. feel
,ipgs were fomented by fewof the OrondoolI
atSsA@ isipS near Sehaghticoke, and who were
in the service ofthe French, But the great
or part Of the Mohcgans afterwards called
the Stockbridge tribe) were friendly to the
Epglish, and hut few Of the hostile or French
Indians had intercourse Ri.h them, which wa,
carried. on with those who dwelt near their
borders.
II was under such circumstances that .Jo-
'Seph Stephens left the patcrnal roof in Con.
rhscticut7Eudi with his wife and child, sought a
home IN these western wiIdA. lie had, the
year prev ietss-esflereat tAe country and 81.
fuctud pfncu for is ris future I-rsffdIrrur.
IL was at the close OF a sunny day In .Iune.
when Stephens might have been seen, slowl,
vending his way over the hills, ,or rathei
mountains, now included in the town called
Beckett AN Of the treasure he had on eartl
,wes with him, TO wit, two horses, one rplaeet
-pofore the other, drawing q marrow shapst
wagon, or cart, Ia which we're his wife aut