The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-10-22

her brother, who was four years her senior, |
had cared for her with tenderness and
watched over her with pride and love
which were like those of mother over
her frst-born.-But Mary's beauty had
never blossomed into womanhood.
One time, score and half of years
ago, a company of Indians had made a
descent on the little village of West Farm,
seated at the foot of the hills. Trembling
women had clustered together, with hush
ed breaths and haggard faces, in the cot
tages, and at last company of the bravest
men had gathered together, shouldered
their arms, and gone out, in the name of
the God of battles, tn fight for their wives,
their children and their homes Jede-
diah Woolcoot led this little company of
brave men, and earned thereby the title OF
General They soon succeeded in rout-
ing the Indians, who had stationed them
selves at the northern part Of the village,
and the white men lost but two OF their
number. But that night Mary Rogers
took her death cold; for the child hearing
the war crv Of the Indians, which started
her from her sound slumbers, had sprung
suddenly out of bed, rushed out doors III
her night dress, and remained for nearly
an hour crouched down on the damp grass,
under the apple tree, convulsed with ter
ror. In less than six months afterwards,
Mary's beauty lay under the summer grass
and her broken-hearted mother followed
her a little later. So. with all his money,
the neighbors affirmed, Seth Rogers had
had hard time of it, for it was terrible
thing to have all of ones kith and kin cut
off from them.
"Seth, Seth Rogers, I want to have a
few minutes talk with YOU"
The farmer started, and looked round
in amazement, as he saw old Mrs Wool
coot hobbling slowly towards him, just
as he was putting his handkerchief in his
hat.
"Isee you from my back door, a mowin'
and | knew yon was good deal interested
in what I'd got to say, so l concluded to
get over, though it was quite walk, as
old folks limbs amt quite SO spry as young
uns."
mo, they amt, that's fact" respond
ed Seth, for want of something better to
say; and then he remembered his claim
on Isaac Woolcoot's cottage, and con-
cluded the old woman had come to confer
about that, and the muscles of his hard
face settled down into iron rigidty.
There was an oak tree very near. The
old woman dropped down under this, and
laid her crutch at her feet. Seth Rogers
stood little way off, silent and gloomy,
his arms folded on his broad breast.
} "Seth," slowly commenced the old wo-
man, 81 came across somethin' yesterday
! morning in my garrett, that belonged to
Mary-dear little Maryl'
, All, those words must have been rod
} which smote the granite rock, for the
mans face changed suddenly, and there
was eager curiosity N his tones.
what was n, Miss Woolcoot?"
"Won't you set down here under tht
tree, and I'll tell you, for Pm an old wo
man, and it fuckers me out to talk 81
r loud"
: He sat down on the grass, under til,
e cool shade of the oak tree, close to the ole
7 woman.
1T cut me up, Seth, dre'fully, comm
!, across that ar. just sot down and criet
r like little baby, for it jest brought bacl
7 the time when Mary's little golden heat
. used to- go a-diddlin' and a-daDcin' 'long
S side of my TemperaDce--that, trust il
$ the Lord, is in heaven this blessed day, t
d the old school house where the four road
3 meet. Was there ever pootier creetu
e set foot on the ground, With that face ful
& of dimples, and the smiles cotchin' apar
= the lips and kindlin' the eyes, aud a pal
of cheeks that rose in the medder
II wasn't to be mentioned by the side of ?
/ Seth Rogers mouth, that rigid mouth
: was working almost fearfully, and quic
changes hurried over his face. telling ho'
d the old woman's words were shifting th
rock. ."And it's brought right back t
h me the last time l ever sot eyes on he
D, Seth. I dun know as ever told you, br
g it won't hurt you to larn how much stor
she sot by you You know there was
- singn' school sot up in the meetin' hou:
ly for the first time that winter, and tn
ID young folks had been the night afore, an
Mary had run over to talk with Tempe
m ance about the boys and gals. was bill
D. doughnuts that afternoon, and Mary w,
at mighty fond on 'em, so sot the pan c
~ the table, telling the gals to help then
lie selves aud Mary stood there crsnchi
'em down, aud bobbin' her bright hes
Of around like butterfly among clover, al
laughin' out-O, cant you hear that laus
er now-somethin' like bird and somethi
We like brook tumblin' and singin' over Il
tn stones ?"
i'd II can hear it, granny, can hear
cried the man, in sharp, panied voiC
while his breast heaved, and the tea
ok oozed slowly out of Seth Rogers eye
cd and stood still in the channels of |
sr- cheeks. All, the old woman had smitt
it the rock-the we'll had been found.
o. "Well, just as l was ssyin', Seth, Tel
rk perance was a-tellin' what boys look
of the best, and which uns fancied mo
,ut when turned right round Now, MAJ
ed sez !, it's your turn. Which of them bo
i'd you going to take to? Mary's face fus
ed. ed right up, and she jest spoke out in |
a quick way, Pm goin' to taksto my bro,
ng er Seth, Miss Woolcoot! There aint
ay boy there that's half as scrumptuous a
yer handsome as ne is to my mind; and
lIu knOW uc SOiu W iIdhc WOuuoI
yet smart man ; and never could love ano
He er man so well as do my brother Set
Oh And you oughter to have heard b
his proud and tenderlike she said them wo
My brother Seth.'"
md "Did she say them-did she say tn
or about me p cried the man, in a yo
one which was like plaintive little chill,
He aMy iittla Marv nv littla Marv y, TT
lad the sobs broke out and shook his i
age frame, and the'great tears rolled in 81
wn showers over his rugged cheeks. 7
red rock had been cleft, and the waters GU
ose ed out
dly "Yes, Seth, she said them very wol
owe and when hear folks say you're
,ors hearted, tight handed man, sometir
not think if Mary'd a'lived, you'd abee
,as- different one" And tears of sympa
,ino rnIled down the old womanIs che,