Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-02-03

herent answers to the words Of his companion.
At length, as if endeavoring to relieve him
self from his own meditations, he raised his
head, and said, with an evident effort to be
cheerful
And so, my boy, you are going to get
married soon, they tell me! Well, well, you
needn't blush so-Molly's a good girl, and
will make hunter like you frst-rate wife.
But these are troublesome times to be mar
rying and giving in marriage" All! re
member
He paused, and his mind seemed absorbed in
painful recolections.
What is it that depresses yon = said the
youth, coming nearer, and laying his hand
gently on the old mans shoulder.
Boy he answered, at length, this is the
fifth anniversary of my sorrow that which
made me the outcast, wandering hunter that
you see me now. Never before have I sought
for human sympathy. But love yon as a
son, and something seems forcing me to speak.
Five summers ago, this very hour, that same
sun looked down upon happy home in West
Virginia. 1t was an humble log-house, it is
true, situated in lonely spot amid hills and
wooGs-but it was full of comfort and happi-
ness. That home was mine. For years all
went well with me. My crops and cattle
were unsurpassed. But above all, had wife
who was an angel upon earth, and two babies,
boy and girl, who wonld have made desert
happy with their sweet laughter and their
childish sports.
Though remote from any human habita-
tion, and though the Indians were occasionally
seen and heard of in the neighborhood of my
dwelling, 1 yet felt no fear. l had never
wronged them, but on the contrary, had often
fed and clothed halfstarved stragglers from the
tribe, who would wander to my door, and
blindIy trusted to their magnanimiiy for the
safety of all held dear.
Well little later in the day than this, just
five years ago, | was seated by my hearth,
with my children on my knee, while my wife
was busted in the preparation Of our evening
meal. The sun went down, and darkness
came on, but the air was so pleasant that l
left the door open to enjoy the fresh breeze
that seemed making music among the branches
of the great oaks before the door. had lent
my dogs to neighbor for a hunt, and there
was nothing TO give warning of danger save
the melancholy hooting of an owl in the
neighboring forest. More than once my wife
spoke of the dismal effect that sound had upon
her feeling; but laughed at her fears. Sud
denly, as she was crossing the room, heard
her utter scream of terror. turned, and be-
held dozen dusky forms crowding iEto the
doorway. Even now | can see their yes Qlar-
ing and their white teeth shining as the fire.
light flashed upon them. Springing from my
ways hung over the Fireplace, when ] re-
ceived blow from tomahawk, which made
that scar upon my forehead. A thousand
lights CLEANED in my eyes, and horrid sounds
echoed in my ears as fell insensible. Severe
as was the blow, soon returned to conscious
ness, owing, no doubt, to the excessive flow of
blood. How awful the sight which beheld
My wife standing bound in one corner of the
room, the little children sobbing and clinging
TO her knees as if for protection, while the
fends were heaping all my little furniture into
the centre of the room, evidently with the in
tention of firing the house. Making a desper-
ate effort to rise, gained my feet, and stag
gered forward a step or two, when the blood
gushed over my eyes, and fell, helpless and
blinded, upon the floor. The shrieking and
sobbing of my wife and children at this pitia-
bic sight, were mingled with laugh Of deri-
sion from the savages, who supposed that /
was dead at last. AT this moment one of their
sentinels rushed in, exclaiming in their own
language, Fly fly the whites are coming 2
i heard a few words Of consultation. Then
command was given in tones shall never
forget. Then came blows and shrieks. They
were numbering my children! Oh God =!
how wrilhed and struggled in vain, to rise
In a moment their infant cries were slilled in
death. Then came crashing blow, fall, a
groan, and all was over ! They had muir
dered my wife Yes they were all gone, all
all! not one--not one left!'
The big tear-drops fell like rain through the
old mans clasped hands, and his strong frame
shook with agony. The young man said
nothing. bat wept. At length the hunter
calmed himself, and proceeded
Il became again insensible. A party Of
hunters who happened to be in the neighbor-
hood, came in time to snatch my body from the
burning dwelling, but not soon enough to take
vengeance on the murderers No, thank God,
that task was left for me
Il was taken to station. twas nursed and
tended most kindly, but for weeks and weeks /
fingered upon the brink Of the grave. ! wished
to de- was delirious not only with pain and
fever, but with grief and rage. But at length,
good treatment and my own iron constitution
proved victorious. l recovered my health and
strength Of body, but there was fever at my
heart, which no time, no medicine, could cure.
l came forth twenty years older in feeling and
appearance. My hair was gray, and my face
wrinkled, as you see me now. But my change
in body was nothing to my change in soul. /,
who was before too kind-hearted to have in
iured worm, was now a tiger, thirsting for
human blood | thought of nothing, prayed
for nothing, but revenge! sold my land, and
s,.o-c ro,a. A., ~a.4 tho laef af that hand