Smyrna times., 1861-01-03
SELECT STORY,
The House on the Potomac in 1875.


STANDING on bluff above the river Poto.
mac was small log house, two stories in
height, with a kIlchen and dining room on the
first h"Or, and two bedrooms on the secohd.-
Old SPellman, the owner, was known 10 the vi
cInlty as the greatest Indian hunter Of his day.
! The red skins feared his rife, aud when i,
came to rOug h-and-tumble fight, they feared
his powerful arm more than his rife. OF
course he was marked among the savages,
known to each warrior, and held in awe by all
The Indian who would bring in ED Spellman's
scalp would be reVerenced, worshipped, and be
regarded as motto and example for all Young
warriors to initiate. The family of Spelmsn
consisted of the father and mother, daughter
and son. The parents were we'll advanced in
years, but stout, hale, and hearty. The son
was young man of promse-large muscular
frame, and, like his father, possessing Hercu-
lean power. The daughter was a girl of eigh-
teen, fair and beautiful. Being Injured to the
forest, she was brave and daring, cool, calcu.
latlng, calm, and self possessed, 10 times of the
greatest danger and most imminent peril
The house stood within a few yards of a
} preclplce, about twenty feet high, which ex.
tended some distance up and down the river
and affordIng it on that side a protection from
an enemy. high palsade, commencing at
the bluff on one side, extended around the
house TO the bluff on the opposite side, thus en-
closing 1t on three sides by the palsade, and
one side protected by the bluff: Ii was cons d.
cred by the neighbors as a strong post, and the
old man himself thought it almost im2regna-
BILE.
About this time the Seneca Indians made
war upOn the Susquehannahs, and drove them
from the head of the Chesapeake They wan
; dered along the banks OF the Potomac, and six
= of the chiefs applied to the whites, desiring tc
negotiate terms Of peace; they were, however
l. put to death, on which occasion, Sir William
Berkeley said, " They came in peace, and
% would have sent them in peace, though they
- had killed my father and mother" This in
famed The minds OF the savages, and they made
e war on the whites, Staying indiscriminately 81
who fell into their hands.
!. 1t was cold evening in November, that Mr.
Spellman was seated by the table with bool
y IN his hand. The old lady was doing befor,
the hre, with her knitting part the time goin;
j, on and part the time lying idle in her lap. Th,
son was mendlng and generally preparing hi
traps for the winter service. The daughte
was seated at her spinning wheel, occasional,
casting sly glances at fine elookng younl
ie man near her, who smiled graciously in return
. The gentleman alluded to was a beau of Nils
10 Spellman's, and had that evening wake
through a lonely forest FIVE miles TO see hi
sweetheart. His name was Robert Rlsler, an
u. a brave stout-hearted man, willing and able /
. defend his lady love from harm.
Y. The wind was whistling doletully about III
house, making everything without seem col
and dreary, and all within look more cheerful
The old gentleman laid down his book, took o
IN his specs, and turned his ear towards the bac
end of the house. The son noticed the father
actions, laid down his traps, and followed th
old mans example.
His.!" said he to his sister, putting up h
finger in token efsilence.
did you hear anything, pap!" asked tn
old lady, starting up IN her seat.
"There is something wrong" replied tn
old man; the horses seem uneasy, and th
. dogs whine. | am afraid the Indians will
-, on US.
NY "OA! don't say that" plead the old lady
ost "Don't be frightened; there is pretl
IN good party ofus Rlser, you, and Nancy, CO
aw lect al the arms together, and put them in o
- der there are sIreng indications of Indians
Guard we'll the doors, aud keep sharp lool
OF out"
rs The old man arose from his cha r. and nois,
is Iessly stole up stairs. There were sever
ho por holes in the upper part ofthe honse, throng
which the old gentleman took an Observable
n of the premises within the enclosure. + o.
Ps what he could observe, he was satisfied that Ii
at dams were lurking about, and, as war eXIste
between the whites and savages, of courl
;. their intentions were not of friendly chars
ter ~
ne When he returned to the room below stair
lP- he assisted in preparing the arms and distrb
ting the ammunition. There were irearn
enough for all, except the old lady, and, f
Der better security. she was placed in one end
ste the room. A screen was made TO shut off Il
ite light from the fire. by ssspendlpg before it tv
mn or three bed-qults
. All the necessary preparations having bee
n's completed, the family waited, 10 perfect silent
oSs the result OF their suspicious. 1t was perha