Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-06-12
Early Scenes in the Valley of
the AOusatonio.

9oullerh 10 It's utlermoSt northern limits Woud
scarcely believe that hardly century ago, it
was an unbroken wilderness. Before that time.
no European had penetrated its depth. It was
the home of the fierce Red Men, descendants
OF the tribe of the Mohegans, or Muhhekanews
which signifies, " the people of the great wa
ters, continually in motion" They were scat
tered along the banks Of the Housatonic, to the
number, probably, Of two thousand. The place
now called Stockbridgo was the residence of
their Chief. Here, at stated periods, most Of
the tribe gathered to hold their Council and
celebrate the War Dance, Here, also, they Of
fered sacrifices to the Great Spirit on the sum-
mits of huge rocks that crown towering, pre-
cipitous mount, which overlooks the picturesque
valley and the beautiful stream that winds ca
ressngy near its base, and which commands
broad view of the irregularly grouped hills, and
the blue robed mountains that stretch far away
in the distance.
Wild as the game they chased and unrestrain-
ed as the wind that swept over their hills the
savagos knew no MASTER They had heard, in.
deed, and some of them had seen several Of the
"pale faces" that dwelt near the great waters !;
but they felt no dread. Their superstition
taught them to believe that the wings of the
to them the possessions inherited from their fa
thers
In process of time, however, few fearless
descendants of the Pilgrims, from the East, ex-
plored these then soitudes, and selected places
for future settlements. The Indians at first re-
garded the settlers as intruders. The spirit of
hostility, however, was in some degree quelled
by the kind manners and honorable dealings Of
the English enigrants. They came 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 ample equivalents for the land
they might occupy. The Chief of the tribe lis
tened favorably to these representations, and
shortly avowed his belief in the Christian faith
This remarkable event suggested to the pious
Puritans the project of Outstanding these wild
sons of the forest, by establishing schools and
religious institutions among them. Application
was accordingly made to the State government
then in the hands of the English, and after va
rious delays, the Legislature at length, in 1887
gfanteo ~ tuut meetIng nouse, rogepIler
school-house, should be built for the Indians
at the charge of the Province"
But the funds of the Province were low, an
| stFpnOnuc nfinrfo 10 to
by private subscription. This mission attracte
great attention and solicitude its wants wer
made known in England, and under the auspi
ces of the celebrated DR.. Watts, respectabl
sum was raised, to which the Prince of Vale
contributed twenty guineas. Although intel
rupted by the French War, and subsequent hos
tile incursions of the northern Indians, this nc
BILE enterprise was eminently successful. Th
interests, temporal and spiritual, of the Re
Men, were not only promoted by the lab ors O
Sergeant, Woodbridge, Edwards, West an,
others, but the habits and characters of contem
poraneous English settlers and their descendant
Notwithstanding, however, the most skfu
endeavors to Christianze them, there were sev
eral of the Indians who cherished hostile feelin
towards the emigrants. These feelings wor
fomented by few of the Orondock tribe lvn
near Schaghticoke, and who were in the service
of the French. But the greater part of the Mo
hegans afterwards called the Stockb ridge tribe
were friendly to the Eng lish, and but few of th
hostile or French Indians had intercourse will
them, which was carried on with those VIII,
dwelt near their borders.
1t was under such circumstances that Josepl
Stephens left the paternal roof in Connecticut
and, with his wife and child, sought home il
these western wids. He had, the year previou
explored the country, and selected a place 70
his future residence.
1t was at the close Of sunny day in June
when Stephens might have been seen, SLOWLY
vending his way over the hills, or rather noun
tains, now included in the town called Beckett
All of the treasure he had on earth was witt
him, to wit, two horses, one placed before th'
other, drawing narrow shaped wagon, or cart
in which were his wife and child, and sundry ar
tlcles of houswifery. They arrived at the borde
of mountain lake.
"We will encamp here tonight, Mary" SAT-
STEPHENS. "To.morrow we will reach our ney
home"
"And the wolves and Indians will be ou
companions" responded she timidly, yet reso
lutely, gancing at the huge threatning rock
cliffs, and the wild scenery which surrounde
them.
Stephens assisted his wife and child, a DO
about ten years old, to dismount, speaking tn
while encouragingly to her. He was tall, sill
envy, stcrn-faced man, in the prime of life
genuine Puritan-grave, solemn, religious
His wife was in the bloom of womanhood, blue
eyed, cheerful, and perfect counterpart OF he
husband.
Stephens tied his horses to couple OF adJa
cent tees. He proceeded to erect an awning
or tent. which he brought with him. under whlc
his little family were to seek repose Tor the nign
Meanwhile, his son wandered few rods DIS
tant on the border of the lake, gathering Iio"
ers. and followed by Lion, their brave OLD mas
tiff. ,,o,o
A low grOwl of the dog suddenly arreSte
the attention of the mother. She saw three In
dians emerge from the woods The moVemen,
or ono of them indicated hostility. Like a shac
ow bo fitted behind a rock, and was about lev
CLING his rifle at the boy. True to the instinct
Of n mother, the wife of Stephens forgot herse
; in this moment Of danger to her son, and rnSi
ed wildly forward TO save him. Het huSUan'
beholding the cause of her alarm, plunged 10
ward, like lion reused from his LAIR and' IN
voice which bodied forth the intensity oil
feelings, shouted,