The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-03-11
T From Tie Mar York Lcleer.
BORDER EEROIsIf.
By EMERSON BENNET.

II was in tue spring of l1e5, and on a
clear and beautiful day, that party
consisting of two men, a woman. aud q
child, were passing down the Ohio in a
conveniently sized boat, for the purpose
of Joining some friends at a settlement be-
low. This party bore the surname OF
Msrston, and the relationship of husband,
brother, wife and daughter They bad
come from the interior of Pennsylvania,
transporting their goods by horses to the
Allcghany, and thence descending that
rigcr and the Ohio in the boat thoy Row
occupied.
The eldest Of the four was large, tall,
fine looking man, some thirty years OF
age. and the husband of the female, and
father Of the child. The wife appeared
TO be some SIX or eight gears the junior OF
her partner, WAS suall, slender and grace
.ul, aud possessed a couDtensnce of more
than ordinary Intelligence and beauty =
The brother was youn ger than the hus-
band, and the inferior in size aud strength,
but conely in feature, aud evidently a
man of considerable muscular power
The youngest of the PARTY was sweet,
chatting, hlue-cyed, goldcnhaircd little
girl of four summers, the favoFite of all,
and especially the idol and Joy Of its fond
and almost girli-h mother, both of whom
seemed nuch out of place in jourDeying
through that wild, unsettled, aud pcrilOus
region.
Thus far our adventures bad net with
no material accident or misfortune, nor
had they seen any Of those fierce enemies
Of their race, who we're then known 10 be
prowling through the great forests which
stretch away on either hand for hundreds
of miles; but now they were more direct
ly entering The country inhabitediby their
swarthy foes, and which had been more
distinctly marked by the aggrcssions of
the latter upon their white inVaders; aud
as they turned their eyes toward the
green and fowry banks Of the delightful
stream, upon whose placid bosom they
were floating, it was less 10 admire the
solemn beauties of nature, than in dread
of what those mighty forests might con-
ceaI Yet the men, as was natural they
should, relying upon their strength, and
their skill in the use Of weapons, seemed
less uneasy than the girlish mother,
At every unusual sound, would clasp her
of-pripg to her heart, and glance around
her in fearful apprehension.
"Mary," said her husband, approach
ing her on one of these occasions Of
alarm, which became more frequent as
she advanced on her journey, Chow is that
you, who have been so coursges all along.
have now Of sudden become SO timid!"
"I hardly know myself, William" she
replied, in sweet, musical toae, looking
up With a smile, "uhless il is that We arc
euteriug more dangerous region, and
that l am every moment growing more
fond of our pretty little Ada, aud more
fearful on her account and bcr3iing O.
ser the child wh;,,;o ssav uow held in her
arms, she imprinted a @others kiss of
lcre upon its ruby lips.
aBut I'm not afraid, mamma, when you
apd papa are with me, y prattled the blue
eyed pet; 'for know nobody'll hurt me
where you are"
e"Ab, God bless your trusting inno-
ceneer' cried the father, impulsively
catching her up in his arms, and cover
ing ber cherub face with kisses. "No
one shall hurt you where am-aud may
the good God keep US all from harml"
During their voyage down the river, it
had been necessary to lay up at night, es-
pecially 10 foggy weather; but they had
generally 3 managed this matter with great
caution securing their boat near, rather
than at the shore, by makinga line fastto
soue roverbanging branch, and dropping a
sort of rude anchor. Atthese stopping pla-
ces our voyagers had been the most ap-
prebensive; yet it was not at these that
they were really most in danger, but while
floating along 10 the bright light Of day,
as the sequel Of our narrative will show
On the very day that We introduce
them to the reader, but some two or three
hours subsequent to the consersatlOn re-