Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-07-21
Ina short time ten or a dozen sturd,

| They are still digging the water grows
muddier,' said Fleming, who with Boone
and the rest remained in the block houses.
IF they are not sheltered by the bank,
we would soon make them seamper away
returned the pioneer,
| There's burning arrow upon the roof
of one of the cabins said Fleming.
L will go and put it out added Daniel
Boone's son, who was yet but mere lad
You'd better not; [ will CO." replied
Fleming.
L am younger than you answered
young Boone L am not afraid
Stay, my son; | prefer to go myselfr
cried his father, nervOusly, more willing
to expose himself than his SON.
Your life is worth more than mine,
said James, bravely
For my sake-fUr your mothers sake =
cried the captain, earnestly; but before
he had finished the sentence,. James was
running along the roofs of the cabins ex-
posed to the enemy's fire.
The old veteran of the wilderness stood
watching his boy with terrible anxiety
for the result, which no heart but par
ents can understand. He heard a dis
charg of firearms, and the balls that whis,
tied about his son seemed to wound his
own person. James stopped down, and
with his foot extinguished the flaming ar
row, while literal shower of lead cut the
air, and perforated his clothes in many
places The fire being out, the bold boy
turned to retrace his footsteps, when a
ball too true to its aim struck him upon
the breast, and he fell amid the shouts of
an hundred ambushed foemen.
The pioneer staggered and groaned as
if his heart had burst, and would have
rushed forth to cover his sons body with
his own, had not Fleming held him. while
Joel LogstOn, regardless of danger, leap
ed out upon the roof, raised the fallen
youth in his athletic arms, and bore him
back to the block house
The shaft had been well sped the
wound was mortal Joel laid the lad
down gently upon the floor The bereav-
ed father bent over the dying boy in tear
ful agony, and taking up King David s
lament, cried out in the bitterness of his
wounded spirit:
My son, my son, would to God l had
died for thee =
For space all stood silent, too much
affected to speak.
BE man, cap'en; be a man. said
Logs ton.
'Ah, JOEL things have changed since
L bade you master your griefs,' said Boone,
in choked voice. This makes two dar-
ling sons and brother that | have lost
by savage hands,
Others have felt the same heavy losses,
said Mr.. Alston, covering his eyes to shut
out the affecting spectacle.
james, James my dear boy look at
me; it is your father that calls 7 cried the
captain, frantically.
Contrary to all expectations, the boy
opened his eyes languidly and smiled faint
ly.
He lives he lives p exclaimed Boone.
Don't hope, said Joel. THE brave
boy has got his death them drops come
from the heart
Unhappy father unhappy father = ad
ded Boone, kissing the pale lips of his
son.
He's goin to speak, added Joel, and
all bent eagerly forward to hear what he
would say.
I'm going, father = said James.
4 cannot give you up, replied the IA
ther, with a groan.
Where's mother and Lizzie [ must
see them before l 60, continued the dy-
ing lad.
1t will break their hearts-it will kill
them 7 cried Boone I would | had new
CT lived till this fatal hour.
BE brave, dear father-we shall meet
again. resumed James.
And now ensued scene so tender and
affecting that the stoutest heart turned
away unnamed. The boys mother and
sister had come to gaze upon him their
last, and to share his agonies quite down
to the rolling river of death.
It's all over now-the pain of dying is
past-the darkness has disappeared, and
the light flows in. Farewell, loved ones
II go-I go | go to the land where
there are no warfares and fghtings, and
where God himself shall wipe all tears
from all faces
The boy smiled and died and an ex-
preston of serene JOY inexpressible lin
gered sweetly upon his young face.
L have done struggling with destiny,
said Boone, In eart-broken accents. i
yield now to my fate; | relinquish all
earthly hopes. l shall command no lon-
ger among you this last blow has de-
stroyed my manhood Choose a new lead.
er, and leave me to my private griefs.'
No new leader will we have, answered
Joel
My voice will be heard no more in bat
tle.' added Boone.
Daniel Daniel = exclaimed Mrs. Boone,
in voice of solemn earnestness, wiping
away all traces of recent tears, rs this
like you2 Have you ceased to be the
iron-nerved mau chosen by God to people
!, this Wilderness Have you ceased to be
the iron-nerve man chosen by God to peo
pie this wilderness Are you not to these
heroic men what Moses was to the He
brews2 VIII you falter now when the
hopes of all are centered upon you2'
The hardy pioneer still stood irresolute
/ his eyes fixed sadly upon the body of his
son.
Mrs. Boone approached and laid her
~ II