Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-10-15

cause the people they bad affected to despise
were mighticr than they.
When night again came, they encamped on
an island now noted for its beauty, in Lake
Champlain, at the mouth of the river La
moille ~--'
Milford sat in sullen silence gazing at the
moon, which looked down with her usual splen-
dor in clear autumnal evening" but his strick-
ened spirit was in no condition to drink in the
beauty of the CLASSY lake which seemed to
smile again as the ripple sent the dancing
moonbehns back towards the spapgled heavens.
Milford's manhood could sustain him no longer,
and tears aowed when he pictured to himself
the image Of his terrified wife senseless on the
floor But his were not the tears of a cring-
ing coward who fears for his safety for the blood
of true patriot was coursing in his veins
but manly tears, such as warriors shed over
their fallen braves, whom the clarion thrilling
sound can rouse no more to fierce conflicts
Just then the light dip of an Indians paddle
caught his ear, and he observed bark round
ing point near him, and observed the we'll
known form of Capt. Joe, a chief warmly at
tached to the American cause, and q general
favorte in the Hampshire grants AS he ap-
preached the shore, u sudden breeze carried of
his cap, and it foa,ed towards Milford, who
eagerly caught it and found in it an open let
ter directed to Captain Horton. Had he seen
the earth open to swallow him up, or looked
upon his Helen as her pale form was struggling
to escape from the flames. while the savages
were driving her back, he could not have tier
ed deeper groan.
"Helen was right in her conjectures respecting
Williamson, for this letter is in his own hand ,
and over his own signature, containing the
cleares evidence that he is one Of the vilest To-
ries who have ever disgraced America said
Milford, crushing it convulsively, " and if ever
| reach home again-O God forgive that rash
resolve, and keep my hands from blood V
Had not the fond hope sustained him, in that
dark, fearful hour, that he should once more
behold the loved form of his Helen, and clasp
his little son to his throbbing bosom, that
morning would have made him maniac, for
there are some minds cast in too fine mold to
endure the shock when the silver cords are
completely severed which bind kindred hearts
As it was, his emotions, betrayed in his wild
glances made deep impression on the minds
of the untulored savages, ond led them to The
conclusion that he was in communion with the
Great Spirit thus influencing thsm to treat him
with marked Difference. Bat thte WIS alwsr|
studied reserve on the part of Captain Hor-
ton relative to Milford, and closor watch was
kept over him. Nightly was he bound with
leather thongs and put between two savages,
so that he could not move without waking
them; nor was he freed from this confinement
until he was lodged in the gloomy prison in the
fortress at Quebec, where his soul was moved
to its lowest depths at the inhuman barbarty
exercised towards the prisoners by the menial'
of British authority for their object seemed tc
he to destroy as many of the Americans as theil
cruelty could bring to the grave which is ont
of the toulest stains ou the royal escutcheon o
England, and generations yet unborn, as the,
read the history of the wrongs, insults and sui
ferings of the fathers who dared fearful doom
to bequeath to them the precious gem of Libcr
ty, may suppress their rising Indignation, bu
will never forget this blackest crime.
Months passed slowly away, while the wilt
storms of winter howled around the walls o
the gloomy prison, fit companions of tn
troubled soul of Milford-not now so muc
troubled because he was prisoner, as becaus
of the Importantly of British officials to Undue
him to join the Tory bands who were the wors
enemies of h is country.
When the mighty precipice on which Quebec
the Glbrater Of America, stands, shall crum
BILE to atoms, when the Plains of Abraham
stained again and again with the blood of til
fallen brave shall be covered with the bitumn
GUS waters of the Dead Sea, then would Mil
ford become traitor, q companion Of Benedic
Arnold, hated and despised, and his nam
branded with lasting infamy. Sooner would h
ascend the scatfod and pour out the war;
blood of patriot.
When the spring-time came and loosed tb
frosty chains of the mighty st. Lawrence
Capt. Horton called on him, as he said to max
h i'm the last offer to become British soldier.
If" said he, ''you will now consent
join our ranks, and change your purposes relt
tive to your country, you shall be immediatel
promoted, and receive large reward in Amel
ican lands in the end for continued he " 81
g must soon fall into our hands, and Yankee rel
els be humbled but if you repel this, my La
,, offer, you shall know the full extent of En-,
lands wrath towards her rebel sons q"
3 Milford listened to him with his dark, pier
ing eyes fixed upon him with such gaze
f made him COVER, and replied with fir
, voice
f Captain Horton, am your prisoner
g dragged FROM my quiet, happy home by yo'
, and must submit to such terms as you mt
: dictate, but while reason holds her throne,
Q never be British subject Willingly, and if y,
j. choose to bind and imprison mo as you ha
O done, the changing of those chains may yet
heard in Boston, where the humbled Burgyo
o lsquartered, whose army was compelled to su
c render on the Plains Of Saratoga to Yank
d rebels, and the arm of retributive Justice h
n fallen on him who is now treated with all th
O kindness due to prisoners of war Be assured
n continued Milford, " that just God will VII
g you for such inhumani.y as you heap up
le those miserable men whom the fortunes of W
Is place in your power, and British soldiers sh