Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-04-01
NJ / s c f L L A n Y.
THE KENNEBEC CAPTIVE.
BY THE REV. JOHN TODD, D. D.

Some OF the most beautiful scenery to b
ind in this or any land, is to be found il
State OF Maine. Her rivers are numer
and great, her mountains lofty and i'm
Plng, her sea-coast iron-bound and rough
dly looking out upon old Ocean rs HI
feps along with tides and storms, and say
Come on, sir, and I'll give you t
hrty welcome :" her inland axes still
eping in the wilderness, are large and
gnificent, her valleys are warm and fer
and her forests have yielded to none in
world for the abundance and goodness OF
lr timber. Even now, her rivers send ou,
mon and lumber for the use of every part
the nation. AT a very early period in the
tory OF our country, settlers began TO
N up her beautiful rivers, and drop down
gly, or in small groups, as they liked -
was q wild province of Massachusetts
n and her population, graphing with
the hardships of the wilderness. and OF
severe climate, was very sparse. Far up
enchanting Kenncbec, at a very early day,
Fe two fam lilies who had emigratcd from the
be neighborhood, and who had long been
hful friends. Old Mr.. Redfeld lived in
hfortable, but no way imposing log house,
Fhe banks fthe river lie was kind heart
benev Jlent man, never believing the
Id to be wicked enough to cheat him,
ugh almost every week taught him the
Posite doctrine. He labored hard, was a
d husband and father. u warm hearted
humble Christian, and loving all men
ch, but his God more. He honestly earn
property, but could never make it stick
his fingers. His wife was noble wo
b, who had relnquished brighter pros
is, that she might be happy with man
per choice. And she had been happy.
2 by one their children had sickened in
wilderness, and they had carried them
he little opening in the forest which they
cleared for burying-placc. 1t was the
clearing he had made after reaching
r new home; the briers and wild weeds
fe not allowed to grow there. At the
e my story commences, Mr.. Redfield had
fhed the age of sixty or more. His wife
ten years younger.-only one child re-
tned to them, a staid, sober, quiet, yet
rageous boy, OF about ten years of age,
he went by the plain name of Daniel
bfeld.
Pomewhat further up the river was a house
greater pretensions. 1t was built of brick,
pbrel rooted, and was surrounded by fruit
fs and gardens, spacious barns. and out
Pses. 1t stood in a pleasant valley, under
shadows of u lofty mountain The vale
been cleared up; and the field of wheat
corn, and the rich meadows of grass.
Eonira 6rJa.ary y " .u, oIiopahu eale' anu say;
a,Soniro,,y i,y ,s 20 wen ~ 10 IN n .he ,', Worid.
6bhor bodSo,d "~s ,s nun Mn', l'Se MS
2orIdlv w;sdon Ta' Wa ,o o'es. CO.. anu nv: Nlho ou'
Gn haj h".S ",buom ne was lar ms superior
nno ,.as r;.L t'. I ~ ~ ."o wlucinvSs poor
her tho shade" a IS 'tI H. oIu1, h;, stiii uwei'
Fhort NV ho;on "uIm abTo o' tho mn OF wealth.
Fds no,an o.s ao,o " ci'h,o IL. lts gplden
|, Tho .. 'son;ra 'n y, " ioil uowh near MN
h ~ , i.ho ,, "ao tcP UP carry ana iate
/, 4 10, FL FL, ~ H. 'o'o n'ui Poor article, or
Ii ;,m ~, ., sa,hoer, ana salmon not OF the first
IL. Mr.. Ordwav 6adn l,rge GmilvorhgS,S far ii i%S -
ey were not SO noli.hed Tor thoy hadtn
pSh it from their yerv ,nf,ncr MY Wyy.nnIa ,"u ~ "
hdencc and common privati3rs Wv ,a,on o"' tI- ue-
,ncers of tho of forest to he reodv So Cav .nr ,nu
OF kindness which neighbor needs and
kinder neishbors than the Ordways could
found oil the Kennebec. The narcnts
re proud of their boys; for none could
ostrate the forest, get out timber -logs fnr
, mills, hunt the moose, or catch the sal.
m with more skill than thev. But tho
of the flock was an only daughter about
IT years old. She was the vonnres, ID ond
t child, wild as the forest bIossnns ohnnt "
I'm and as beautiful too. Littlo Snson u was
, idol of the family. The father and moth.
early discovered that She wa. . :. anu na n'oth-
le child - and rho bovs rooa;vod !. Ioiiark-
I to be questioned. Hence tbar - ro,aas -, = n'o,
wers in the spring. berries and irn;, "'.eo ntSo
inner, nuts in the autumn. and nlannaS ,"S
ies and sled -draw;ncs On 49, P':'h.eu
nter, for little Susan" Hence il Is not r"t
be wondered at, that as she grew nn sba
and will of her own. and that her, ri I;,,io .uo
1t sometimes came down with n deo;s;on
ut was unbending. '''"
A. the two fam;l;s. oan.,
1t the Ordwavs were to ;noroa,,a !. was pam