Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-09
DAILY EVENING STAR.
THE MOTHERS ORDEAL,
A STORY OF THE FAIRLY SETTLERS ON THE HUDSON R1y

Willis, in a recent letter to the Home
Journal, written from his residence upon
the banks of the Hudson, revives story
which we recollect of reading in our young
er days. He says:
My windows, some two hundred feet
above the Hudson, overhang, on one side,
the meeting of our lovely brook with a re-
spectacle creek; which. two tributaries,
Immediately after, glide blissfully together
into the great river, and, (like many beau
and belle, famous while separate, but who
marry and are heard Of no more,) pass the
remainder of their fresh water life in swell
ling the general stream where they are USE
full and forgotten.
"The creek should redeem from the
English Interpretation of the word. 1t is
not an inlet or corner in haven, but
rocky and rapid stream, coming down by a
noble aisle from the mountains, and as large
as half the celebrated rivers of England
Its name is matter of some doubt. The
common people call it Murderer's Creek
which the more intelligent Of the neighbors
say is corruption of MooDNA's CREEK;
Moodna having been the name of an Indian
Chief whose tribe fingered long by its Sc
cluded waters after the coming of the white
mau. Still others say that the word is
Merdner, and that this was the name of the
first English settler.
'NIy next neighbor up stream Mr.. Philip
Verplank (between whose noble promotory
lawn and our own Highland eyrie these two
united forthgoing,) gives me the following
as tradition which may possibly contain
the etymology. 1t is slip from an old
newspaper, and copy it as it stands -
Little more than century ago, the beau
tiful region watered by this stream was
possessed by small tribe of Indians which
has long since become extinct, or incorpo-
rated with some other savage nation of the
West Three or four hundred yards from
Hudson, white family of the name of Sta
cey had established itself, in log house,
by tacit permission of the tribe, to whom
Stacey had made himself useful by his skill
in a variety of little arts highly estimated
by the savages. In particular friendship
subsisted between him and an old Indian
called Naoman, who often came to his
house and partook of his hospitality. The
Indians never forgive injuries or forget
benefits. The family consisted of Stacey,
his wife and two children-a boy and girl
old
One day Naoman came to Stacey's log hut.
in his absence, lighted his pipe and sat down.
He looked very serious, sometimes sighed
deeply, but said not word. Stacey's wife
asked him what was the matter, and if he
was sick. He shook his head, sighed, but
said nothing, and soon went away. The
next day he came again, and behaved in the
same manner. Stacey's wife began to think
strange of this, and related it to her hus-
band, who advised her to urge the old man
to an explanation the next time he came
Accordingly when he repeated his visit the
day after, she was more importunate than
usual. At last the old Indian said, 81 am
a red man, the pale faces are our enemies
why should speak," But my husband and
l are your friends; you have eaten salt with
us thousand times, and my children have
sat on your knee as often. Ii you have any
thing on your mind tell it me. GO 1t will
cost me my life if it is known, and the white
faced women are not good at keeping Sc
crets,'' replied Naoman. Try me and see
"Will you swear by your Great Spirit, you
will tell none but your husband? l have
none else to tell. "But will you swear ?"
l do spear by our Great Spirit will tell
none but my husband. "Not if my tribe
should kill you for not telling?" Not if
your tribe should kill me for not telling.
Naoman then proceeded to tell her that,
owing to some encroachments of the white