The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-02-18

my lonely situation. But I could nof weep:
my heart was too full of woe. I remember
ed the events of the few preccdin. weeks
The husband of my choice had been murder
ed, and was not allowed the melancholy
privilege ofclo>inc his ewes. and seeing his re-
MAINS dcccntlv inferred. Nv little property
had been stolen. and when within few days'
march of ssvmrathizins friends. was captur-
ed by savascs. and after three weeks Of in
dcScribab!e suferin.s. found myself wander
ing solitary and destitute in the midst Of wild
prairics-mv cup was filled to overflowins.
hut resolved to live in hope if died in dcs-
pair.
After remaining three davs in the place
where first concealed mvsclf ffnm the f>-
dans. went to grove about halfa a mile dis
tant and built littla house Of bushes and
grass. Here lived nine daes Nv only
food was the hackhcrrics that grew on tic.
bushes around. Iqncnchcd INV thirst at a
spring near by. Nv wounds rained me 80
cec'linglv, and wasted to a mere skeleton
for want of proper nourishmcnt II rained
np"n me seven nights in snccessicn, and my
little house was unable to protect me from
The cold storms. More than once spent a
slceplcss night. perfectly drenckcd in fsin:.
while the wolves. sometimes coming ,ssthira
five steps of me. would make the woods ring
with their frightfal howlinss. They would
also follow close behind me when | vent 10
the spring during the dav: expected some
time TO bc devourcd ly them hut they are
great towards. and could easily trishtcn
them awav.
When slept would dream of seeing ia
h'.> spread with an aimnlan-c Of every kind
Of food. but when stretched forth mv hand
to satisfy nv hunger the effort would awak-
en- me, and would find myself weeping bif-
tcrlv.
When absent from mv house on the twelfth
day after nv escape, some Ncw-Ne.ican fras
dcrs passed bv on their way to the Camanche
settlements. While standing on small hill,
locking after them in order TO he sure they
were not Indians was discovered l.r sc,nt
three or four Of the party who happened to
he some distance behind They Immediately
came towards me. and soon understood nis
situation. They kindly offered to take me
with them. and gladly babe farewell to my
house in the wools The Mcxicans pnt me
upon a burro, and gave me blanket anil
come mems clothing, in Which dressed my.
self very comfortably.
Two or three .lavs aficr this We came in
sight of band of Can:anchcs, and as it was
not safe for me to le seen cf them, | WAS left
behind in a rarine. with promise that the
Mcxicans wonld return for me at night. As
they did not fulfill their promise, I started
toward their camp: about midnight while
wandering among the bushes, a Ca.nant..c
lnlan passed within twcr;y steps. Ithoucht
I was captive onrc more. but fortunately
the >avare DID moi see me. threw myself
on the ground and waited for dav. In the
:nornin. >tar'cl again for tho camp Of the
Mcxi ans. but before rcarhcl il was dis
ro:cIctl lv one of ia. trading party who Was
hcrlinc the animals This man is Puri,la
Indian, of san I!d.ton>o. and is named Jaan
jose. To him more ,!ian to any other man
in the party. owe ~ ,rc>e:.t freedom.
He told me the camp was full Of Camanch-
cs. and fthcv saw me il would he impossible
l for The party 10 save me. lie made me lie
| ,loxn on the ground while he covered me
+, with dried grass. lax here all iav. a,.l Al
| nj hit crcpt forth TO 1ncnch my almost intor
, rablc thirst. Juan canne and brought me som.
: brcal. and told me Ia, lv any means 10 lca,,
: my hiding place TIE next day. That ia,
/ ,l,acgcl slowly along. and r"uld hear tn
+ dreaded Camanchc> las>in. and rrra-sin
ana shouting to each other At night Jua
: rcturncd. bringing another llankrt and sex
/ ,ral loavcS of bread alil told me that mus
S remain there for seven "- cis sht DAYS longer
" rs the ra-:v were Obliged - 90 further Il
and could not take nc unless was willin. Z
become a captive once more. | saw the I,ar
" disappear the next ,lav. and it srcnm'. a
if my hopes Of rc>c"c disappeared with them
= Bat resolved to wal, ill the .;;s;..,-, tim
n was np.
t In a ra.ine nrar t.y found large !i:
Il which had been left burning: this fire kc,.
alive day and nigh, till the Mcxic ans return
cl. ami without 1t should probably hav,
: frozen TO death. as the weather had bccom,
i very cold. covered hollow cotton woot
; stump with bark AID leave. ,u keep out sh'
. cold wind. This stamp was my house dur
! ing NV STAY here When rould endure the
+. cold no longer I would leave INV house and
run 10 the fire. but was afraid to stay there
lcnr lest the Indians should see me- The
woi,e, soou found ont my plare Of retreat
/, and frequently while was in the stnnp.,hry
would come and scratch around aud it@
! top. The hackbcrrics were very scarcc here.
and had it not been for the bread Juan .Io.e
paye me do not SEE how | could have keYs
from starving TO death.
The eight DAYS passed SLOWLY hv, and |
knew not whether to give way ia hope or de-
SPAR But on the 9Th I heard se,asal per