Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-19

am too unhappy
To die. as some, too way worn, cannot sleep.
Since Percy Wallace had made the New
Hampshire Grants his home, when not abroad
with the regiment, the place of his residence
had been in Manchester. 1t is now the second
of June, 1777, and seated by chamber in the
principal Hotel, we find Percy this bright,
pleasant morning. He seems little changed
since last we saw him-if anything there is q
more manly look about his handsome face,
though at present it wears look of unusual
despondency. At length rising, he commenced
pacing the room, saying,
"Whence come these strange, sad feelings
stealing over me, like the gloom of dungeon
walls? know these are dark days for my
country yet surely a righteous God will not al
low this long to continue. Gracious God" he
exclaimed, lift the dark cloud from my be-
loved country, and let peace again extend her
wings over her broad fields, unoppressed by the
tyranny of selfish Kings
Again he sat down, and remained silent, not
noticing the entrance of Pat, until slight
pressure on his arm drew his attention. and
caused him to glance up, when he met the sym
pathizing look of his faithful servant.
- You here, PATTI"
"Yis, Marsther, | came in, an seein' you
lookin so sober, sure, an didn't know what's
to pay. What is it, Marsther? Is yer dar-
lint Teddy sick?"
81 hope not, Pat"
Don't yere want me to. carry another let
ther? I'll be sure an git an answer this time,
in spite O. the ovid uncle
d" No, Pat, think I'll 60 myself" and why
not, he thought, go and see her; it will help
throw off this sadness Is Col. Warner down
stairs, PATTI"
6 Faith, an I see him jist now"
A moment after Percy stood by COL Warner,
and said,
&C Can be absent day or two, Colonel I"
Certainly, Wallace, and if you do not re-
turn before we go, you can proceed to Ticon-
deroga you will find us there
Not long after this, Percy, accompanied by
Pat, was on his way to visit Nora. But al
though the day was bright and beautiful, the
sad feeling still clung to his heart, and, if any
thing, became more oppressive as they proceed
ed. There are times, says one,
When the soul sweeps the future like glass,
nd comino thipgs full freighted with our fate
Jut out, dark on the ofiing Of the mind.
Might it not have been some coming event
like this, that threw its shadow on the mind o.
Perey7 But let us go on before him and see.
The evening before, Nora and Aunt Lena were
sitting in the kitchen, conversing Jason and
his father had left home few days before, and
Ralph had gone to the town early in the after.
noon, and had not yet returned. Ellen Bran.
don had been to see them that day, and had a
short time before gone home.
Aunt Lena" said Nora, "did you heal
Ellen say anything about the approach of the
British Army from Canada?"
No, I did not
She said they had lately heard that Gen
Burgoyne, besides having a large army of Brit
ish and German soldiers, was expecting larg
bodies of Indians to join him. The Indian
have already made attacks on some of tn,
Northern settlements, and some families hav
left their homes, not th mixing it safe to remain
While they were talking about this, they hear
steps at the door, and looking around they be
held six Indians standing about the steps. Ha
not Aunt Lena just been listening to depreda
tions committed by savages, she would not hay
been at all frightened But now it was witt
some trepidaton that she stepped TO the doc
and asked them to enter.
"Ugh!" CALCULATED the foremost one; bu
they Immediately entered and accepted tn
chairs she offered. She then placed refreshment
on the table, and asked them te eat. They shoo
their heads, and starting up seized the terrife
females and suppressiDg their screams by tyn
handkerchiefs over their mouths, they boun
their hands, and carried then rapidly ava
from the house. They soon came up with
ragged-looking vehicle, to which was attache
horse. Into this they put their captives, an
then drove off.
Near midnight, (they having left the hous
about dusk,) they turned into the woods, leay
ing the road, After going about half a mile
they halted, and the one who seemed to be thei
leader came to the carriage, removed the cover
ing from their mouths, and unbound their hand
Weak and faint, it was some time before the
could whisper, and this they hardly dared to
for they were conscious that their captors wei
watching around them.
Dear aunt" at length whispered Nor;
pressing her hand at the same moment, "wh,
is to become of us"
+" Hope and trust in the arm that is mighty
save us from this peril, dear child. 1t would
small thing for him to deliver us.
I" Do you think our friends are on our track
When Ralph returned he must have been alarm
ed not to find us, and they will search for us
but they may not come up with u.s."
g Pray, Nora that is all De can do"
Slowly the hours dragged by, and when
last the sun returned, they proceeded back
the road, and again went on. About noon tht
left the road again, and after going nearly Il