The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-03-20
THE TRAGIC WEDDING.
BY 4. BRADLEY DAVIS.

am no prote>scd story writer. but there
are many tales that have listened to of the
early times, when the red man vainlv strove.
by wrcakIng his vengeance on the defence
less settlers OF our frontiers. to ram the AS
cendrnrv gone from him forever These tales
are invariably interesting: first. because they
are full of thrilling incidents, and then acain
because they are true
The story OF the ira sic welding is one a
mon@ the many that have listened to from
the lips of an aged friend of mine. Ga pioneer
III the settlements or Northern Ncrmont) du-
ring the long November evenings of Isl,
when banl>hlng from nv mind as much a.
possible, the dogma> of the LEARNED commen-
tator," ! bctook myself to the happy irr>iIe
and gathered profit and recreation from the
old mans narratives
Just titty-nine wears ago, this very night.
began the old man. one cvcning."on the idcn-
teal spot where Squire P--'> house nov
stands, occurred a tragedy the remembrances
Of which fills me with horror 1t was one Of
the most cold blcodrd transactions that in all
my residence in the wilderness. of S.yrnt,
years. ever came to NV knowledge it flied
the whole region round about with conStcrna-
I b,r la,
their bosonis their hcI plr,s infants and th,
hardy men to take up arms and swear ven
granrc on the h"artlc>s perpetrators Listen
viii tell it to YOU
.. -. IL" ","ro hardy and daring of
the early settlers of NJ, heyominra n little dis
satisfied with their situation there removed
into this then wild and almost uncxpIorcd
recon, distant about thirty miles from any
settlements and finding fertile soil and ad-
vanta"cous location. built themselves loa
houses, and made crarings. Things went on
pr"~perou>lv V with them. and they lived will!
little fear OF Indians. as me except s,rag-
Cling hunter or two. had been known TO visit
the vicinity since battle between a argc
party of settlers and the tribe which occa>ion-
ally located themselves there. occurred, in
which the Indians were Si-nallv defeated.
and more than half their number slain.
The settlement numbered some twelve fam
lilies, who wer, located within a circuit of two
miles. My elder brother. and a sister were
among the numbers. Among them as mat
ter of course. was a fair sprinkling of lads
and la>>c>. of whom Mary SIS, of the lat
ter scx was a universal tavortc of old and
Young and the belle of the settlement She
was, my Young friend, a girl that was a q;r|-
not one of your sentimental. palciaccd wasp
wai>tcd dainty fingered Misses Of the pres
cnt time; but a bri ght-cycd, blooming and
laughing brunette. who could spin tow and
weave the co'h h ont of which her dress was
made. O, she was a charming girl. and
wherever she went, happiness followed her
foot>teps Her guilclc>s heart she'd its kind
" influence around her, imparting to all who
came in contact with her kindred feeling.
jack Il, was exactly her counterpart
brave. generous. intelligent and entcrpr>ing
a perfect model of man in character as
we'll as in form And as there was al
ways a rivalry among the beaux of the set
tlement, in striving to gain the favor and ap-
probation Of Mary, so anon" the girls each
>tro,c to gain the attention of jack Th,
knowing ones among the o!d folks planned
deep schemes for entrappn@ the Young con
pie into alliances best suited to their own par
ticular interests: but Jack and Mary. di>re-
narding the wishes of others. had taken the
matter into their own hands like sensible
Young people, as they were; and in spite of
the plotting of the old ladies' they had come
to a perfect understanding, and formed an liz
tinacv which death alone could sunder.
At the time Of which speak, this matter
had lone been settled. and all the necessary
arrangements made for the wedding OF the
.likeliest couple in the settlement as the old
ladies said. which was to take place on the
evening of the Annual Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving. according to the proclama-
ton of the worthy Governor of the province,
came-and Young and old gathered together
at the capacious 0or those tilnes) house of
Capt. R. to celebrate the nuptIals OF
Jack and Mary; and ample were the prera-
ra,ionS for the feast. Bright-eyed dam>eIs
with blushing cheeks, and gallant Young men
were there. The worthy parson from the
next settlement was also there, and by his
side sat another parsonage with whon' IN
these fastldious times, it wonld be deemed
sacrilcne to associate the man Of Cod mean
the fiddler. But things amt now as they