The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-11-27

knew that 10 ump, ~ would yield 10 their aas
saulla and SCI them nt Iberty, There was
but one way 10 avert lhis--it was irTHhs
alternative, and for a moment her Woman's
heart shraEk from its contemplation.
But the thought Of her sleeping child and
/ her murdered husband, decided her, aud Aha
had strength for the work, She drew hoRi
her pocket The tinder bos which sYeTy settler
/ kept about the person in case Of Ofhnuldpnt and
struck light 10 the Gfied leaves FOUND
about Then invoking Gods pardon for The
act she lRnlIed pine torch aud threw it upon
/ the rrispvd hark roof Of the hut Il waa but
un lnstaugi the fames leapcd up aud danced
mcrdly over the llammnble mRicrial, then
communicating 10 the hay stored In the Ion,
they sireamed up until far and vide the grim
old mountains gloWed like wateh.iirvs in the
glare.
But Ellen was hardly satisfied with the pro-
gress Of the fire. Close by the hut la a rude
clubhouse there we're sonp barrels Of pitch,
gathered from the pine trees around, 10 sup,
ply the nearest market-place. She took
shovel aud from those barrels bcdauhed the
outside walls Of tho house, until The beat from
the fire drlve her back, when retiring toward
her husband, she watched The rayages Of the
flames.
II was terrible. The cries sof the Indians
when ley realized the snare Into which they
had fallen, we're enough 10 appal the stoutest
heart Groans, shrieks, mad exeoraiions, aud
curses upon the damnabio pale face Who had
given them such fate But oil was vain.
The burning mass from the loft fell la upon
them, the red.hot walls glowed aud aeethgd
As the fire communicated itself to the pitch,
the cries OF the Pefishing sayaFes grew faint
er, the blows upon the door ceased, and tho
waiting woman without knew that the work
was done.
Then with an almost bursting heart she
approached her husband. II for a moment
she had wayercd ia her purpose, II she had
thought OF releptng, the feeling was changed
To hard and impossible stone, when she lncd
up the bloQdy head Of him she had loved 80
well, and saw the deep, fearful cash ia his
dealhly forehead The elotS of blood ron
ccaled his features, his eyes we're closed, his
lace like The faces We see under coffin lids,
and his hair--,hul soft, brown hair which had
been his wile's pride--was dripping heavily
With his lifc-blOod,
In that hour she forgot her babe, forgot
her ruined home, her memory went back to
those long sunny days, upon tic shore Of the
blue sea- those walks upon the golden sands
with James by her side, on those quiet even
ing musings upon the grey headlands, when
hc sat weaving sea-Weed Wrenths, low ut her
feet. She remembered Is all, even the very
shlpr with which the June moon used to sill
yer that calm S,a, and the faircr light whicn
/ bnrni IN her heart when OHs hand held hers,
and one voice whispered to her that she was
dcarcr 10 one heart than all the Jewels
which Eastern princes held, FAR over that
glttcrng Gea.
II all came back To her, frarfuly vivid and
distinct from the contrast, and alone in the
dark night, with the light of her burning
home pouring its red baptism oyer her she
held the inanimate body Of her husband in
her arms, and thought with piled up agony
| of the past.
She thought she felt the cold form tremhe;
! Il was a glorious thought. Ii infused new
life into her veins and courage To her heart
She started up, and tearing open his vest
placed her hand npon the fountain of life.
On what Wild cry OF joy rose TO her lipa.
"llc lives, he lives. Thank God ~
She Ieuorted to- every mguus in her power,
they were but ht,lc, alas how very lhlle--to
restore him, and Heaven was pleased 10 bless
| her efforts With success. Breath came back
| TO James MOrehnd's nostrils and life and
warmth To his heart His first words, WHEN
he opened his eyes, were butan added assur-
ance Of his fervent love.
MY wife-Ellen-lIeavcn be praised
She is alive"
Then he sank back upon her bosom and
said no more. But he lived that was
enough, and the brave woman, casting aside
I al Thought OF herself, aud regarding az
nought the Increasing pain in her wounded
| side, prepared to go foI assistance. The near
est settlement was two miles up The valleys
! hut what to her were fatigue and exposure,
while james lived.
She sought the thicket where she had hid
den her infant it still slumbered, and care
! fully removing il she brought il 10 the side
of its father. Then diyesting herself of her
shawl and apron, she wrapped the injured
man tenderly in their folds. and commits
her husband and child to the care of Heaven
she set forth upon her errand, bearing pine
torch to light the tortuous way. Night hung
dense and palpable over the earth not II star
or glenm Of light over the bntllements of
the grim mountains, but she falterod not.
! Wild animals infested the whole valley, but
I the panther shfunk away frum her white face
with growl of discomfort, and the coWardly
wolf hid himself in the underwood as her
torch went by. g.....
At length, after q tnlSomo tramp Of an
hour or more, she reached the dwelling Of
the neal est settler, and aroused his family.
Peter kenncy and his three stalwart sons
were dismayed when they looked int Nthe
face of their visitor and saw the blood trick
ling siowl, down her dress from the gash in
t Her side hat their cotintenauccs burhed with
impatience when she rrtated to them. in few
hurried words the events of the night, beg
gipg them to go with her to her husband.
No entreaties were needed TO move those
hardy fellows TO action in a case where hui
manity was concerned, and in the space Of
five minutes a rule litter had been construct
ed of interlaced boughs, across which a bed
and some quilts were laid. and then each
armed with his trusty riff, the three men set
forth for the scene OF desolation.
Ellen Morelaud refused to remain at Mr..
Kcnney's house during the absence Of the
men on their errand of mercy, and not all the
entreaties and cXpostulations of the kind
hearted settlers wife could move her from
her purpose. She must go back TO her treas
urcs, and so, declining 10 occupy the litter,
she went on before the little cortage--faith
and hope lending visor to her frame and elias
ticity to her step. -',-.-