Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-04-15
THEKENNEBEC CAPTIVE.
BY THE REV. JOHN TODD, D. d.

in the State of Maine. Her rivers are
numerous and great, her mountains lofty
and imposing, her sea-coast iron-bound and
rough, boldly looking out upon old Ocean
as he sweeps along with tides and storms,
and saying, Come on, sir, and I'll give
you hearty welcome;' her inland lakes
still sleeping in the wilderness, are large
and magnificent, her valleys are warm
and fertile, and her forests have yielded
to none in the world for the abundance
and goodness of their timber. Even
now, her rivers send out salmon and lum-
Der for the use of every part of the ma
tion. At very early period in the his
tory of our country settlers began to push
up her beautiful rivers, and drop down
singly, or in small groups, as they liked.
She was a wild province of Massachu-
setts then and her population, graphing
with all the hardships Of the wilderness,
and of her severe climate. was very
sparse. Far up the enchanting Kenne-
bee, at very early day, were two fami-
lies who had emigrated from the same
neighborhood and who had long been
faithful friends. Old NJ. Redfeld lived
in a comfortable, but no way imposing
log house, on the banks of the river. He
was kind hearted, benevolent man, new
er believing the world to be wicked
enough to cheat him, though almost every
week taught him the opposite doctrine.
He labored hard, was good husband and
father, warm hearted and humble Chris
tian, and loving all men much, but his
God more. He honestly earned proper
ty, but could never make it stick to his
fingers. His wife was noble woman,
who had relinquished brighter prospects,
that she might be happy with man of
her choice. And she had been happy.
One bv one their children had sickened
in the wilderness, and they carried them
to the little opening in the forest which
they had cleared for a burying-place. 1t
was the first clearing he had made after
reaching their new home the briers and
wild weeds were not allowed to grow
there. At the time my story commences,
Mr.. Redfeld had reached the age of six
ty or more. His wife was ten years
Younger. Only one child remained to
them, a staid, sober, quiet, yet courageous
boy, Of about ten years of age, and he
went by the plain name of Daniel Red
field.
Somewhat further up the river was g
house of greater pretensions. 1t wa:
built of brick, gambrel rooted, and wa:
surrounded by fruit trees and gardens
spacious barns, and out houses. 1t stood
in pleasant valley, under the shadows
of lofty mountain. The vale had beer
cleared up and the field of wheat anC
corn, and the rich meadows of grass
caused the passer-by to stop and gaze
and say; esquire Ordway is well to d.
in the world The Squire was man
who, like his neighbor Redfeld was hon
est and kind; but in worldly wisdom h
was far his superior. They had bot
come into the wilderness poor but on
was rich and the other still dwelt unde
the shadow of the hill of wealth withou
being able TO climb it. Its golden sand
never seemed to roll down near him
But the esquire was up early and late
and the man who sold him poor articl,
or a bad lot Of lumber, and salmon nc
of the first quality, must rise very earl
in the morning to do it. Mr.. Ordway ha
large family of boys. They were NJ
so polished, for they had to rough
from their very infancy. Mutual depeI
dence and common privations, teach tt
pioneers of the forest to be ready for an
act of kindness which neighbor needs
and no kinder neighbors than the Or
ways could be found on the Kennebec.-
The parents were proud of their boy
for none could PROSTATE the forest, g
out timber-Iogs for the mills, hunt Il
moose, or catch the salmon with mo
skill than they. But the pet of the f1o
was an only daughter, about four yea
old She was the youngest and last chi
wild as the forest blossoms about the
and as beautiful too. Little Susan W
the idol of the family. The father a.
mother early discovered that she was
remarkable child the boys received it
fact not to be questioned. Hence tn
gathered flowers in the spring, berri
and fruit in the summer, nuts in the a
tumn, and planned slides and sled-dra
ings on the ice in the winter, for lit
Susan Hence it is not to wondered
that as she grew up, she found a will
her owu,and that her little foot sometim
canoa down with n derision that was n