Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-03-29


lot than the others and my son Square, had
the hardest of any. He was only four years
old, and when we stopped to rest our weary
limbs, and he sat down on his masters pack
the savage monster would knock him or and
sometimes, too. with the handle Of his Ratchet.
Several ugly marks, indented on his head by
the cruel Indians al ,ba, tender age are still to
be seen.
At length we arrived at Crown Point, and
took up our quarters there for the space Of
week. In the meantime, some Of the Indians
went to Montreal, and took several Of the
weary captives along with them, with view
Of selling them to The French. They gave my
youngest daughter 10 the Governor, Do Van
dreul, had drunken froic, and returned again
to Crown Point. From thence we set of for
st. Johns, in four or FIVE canoes, just as night
was setting in, aud we were surrounded with
darkness.
A heavy storm hung over us. The sound
of the rolling thunder was very terrible upon
the Writer'S, which, at every fash Of expansive
lightning, seemed 10 be all in blaze. Yet to
this we were indebted for all the light we en-
joyed. No object could we discern any longer
than the flashes lasted. Ia this posture we
sailed in our open to,terng canoes almos, the
whole Of that dreary night. The morning, in
deed, had not yet begun 10 dawn when we went
ashore, and having collected heap Of sand to-
gether for pillow, laid myself down with
my tender infant by my side, not knowing
where any Of my other children were, OF what
a miserable condition they might be in. The
next day, however, under the wing Of that ev-
er present and all powerful Providence, which
had preserved US through the darkness and dan
gers of the preceding night, we arrived at ST,
Johns. Our next movement was to ST. Fran
co.'s, the place 10 which the Indians belonged.
Soon after our arrival, a council, consisting Of
the Chief Sachem and some principal warriors
of the tribe, was convened, and after the cere-
monies usual on such occasions, were over,
was conducted and delivered 10 an old squaw +,
whom the Indians told me must call mother
My infant still continued to be the property
of its original Indian owners. was neverthe-
less. permitted to keep il with me while lon
ger, for the sake Of saving them the trouble Of
looking after it. When the weather began 10
grow cold, shuddering at the prospect Of APP
preaching winter, acquainted my new mother
that did not think ii possible for me to endure
it, if must spend it with her, and fare as the
Indians did. Listening TO my earnest soicta-
tlons that might be disposed Of among some
Of the French inhabitants of Canada, she at
length SET off with me and my infant, attended
by some male Indians, upon journey 10 Mon
ireai, in hopes of finding market for me there.
But the attempt proved unsuccessful and the
journey tedious indeed. Our provisions were
scanty, as well as insipid and unsavory, the
weather was so cold and The travelling so bad
that it oltened seemed as if must have per-
ished on the way.
While we we're at Montreal, we went into
the house Of certain French gentleman,
whose lady being sent for, and coming into the
room where ] was, to examine me, seeing my
infant, exclaimed with an oath, 81 will not bay
a woman who has child 10 look ai;er.
There was swll pail standing near, in
which ] observed some crumbs and crusis Of
bread swimming on the surface OF the greasy
liquor It contained. Sorely Pinched with hun-
ger, SKINNED them on win my hands. and
this was all the reireshment which the house
afforded me.
IN The course OF this sisi, TO Montreal, my
indian mother caught the small pox, OF when
she died soon after our return which was BY
water, to st. Francois and now came on the
season when the Indians began TO prepare ior
winters hunt was ordered to return my
poor child 10 those Of them who still claimed
II as their property. lhe babe ciung 10 my
bosom with all its might but was Obliged to
pluck II thence and deliver 1t, shrieking ana
screaming enough TO penetrate heart OF stone
into the hands OF those unieellng wre'cnes'
whose lender mercies may be entitled cruei'ies
II was soon carried on oy party OF 'hos'
ipdlans, 10 a place called Messisno" AZ inc
lower emu oil Lake ohanpia'n, "ni'her Al was
my fortune 10 lo'iow 'hem 10 aoou' mon" az
Ter lhere 'onho my enid IL was eiean,
emacia'eo' and almost starved l ,opk y IL my
arms ana put us lace 10 mine' ana II instantly
OIL me wlii sueh s'oience 'nai y seemed as A.
l must have parted WIN piece Of my cneek
} was permitted 10 iodge win II mat ana .he