St. Mary's beacon., 1861-04-18
SELECTED MISCELLANY.
1N4 HoUgR CN THE POTOMAC III
1876.

Sanding On blum above the river
pssepaae was . small log house. two
stories in height, with kitchen and
dining-room on the first door, and two
hed.roo.s on the second. Old Spell
msn, the owner. was known in the vi
entity - the grestest Indian hunter Of
bis day. The red skins feared his rifle.
end when il came 10 . rough and tuu-
BE 6ght, they feared his powerful arm
more than bis rias. OF course he was
marked among the savages. known to
essh warrior, and held in awe BY all.
The Indian who would briag in old
EpeIlman's scalp would be revcrcnccd.
worshirped. and be regarded as a motto
end example for all young warriors t"
is.it.te. The family Of Spellman con-
sisted sfshe father and mother, dsugh'-
q and son. The parents were we'll ad.
vsncsd in yrar.. bu, stout. hale and
hearty. Ths son Was young man OF
pramise-.large muscular frsnle. and.
like bis father. possessing H,rculean
power. The daughter wss girl Of cigh-
tsep. fair and beautiful. Being Injured
% the forest, she was brave and dsr--
ing, cool, calculating. calu,. snd self
possessed. in times Of the greatest dan
ger and unst imminent peril.
The house stood wi,hin a few yards
Of . precipice, sbout twenty feet high.
wbiek attended some dis,xuce up aud
down the river. ASording it on that side
. protection frusp an enemy. A high
s,.iis.de, rommeneing at the bluff on one
side. exseAded around the house to the
bluff on the opposite side. thus enclosing
il on three sides Ly the palisade, and one
eide protected by the bluff. II was con-
sids,sd By the neighbors as stronz post.
and The old msn himself thought it almost
inprcgnshle.
About this time she Seneca Indisns made
war upon the Susquehannss and drove
them from ,hc head Of the Chesapeake
They wandered along the banks ofthe Po-
somsc, snd six of the chiefs applied to the
whites. desiring TO negotiate terms Of
peace; they were, howevcr, put to death,
on which occasion. Sir William Bcrkely
eaid. They Came in peace. and l would
havs sent them in pesce. though they had
killed my father and mother" This in
1smed the minds Of the sav.ges. and they
made war on the whites. slsying indis.
: ssimi safely al Mhs Cell into thsis hands.
ltwas . cold evening in November.
that Mr. 6pellmsa vas seated by the ia
klc With book in his hand. The old
lady vas dosing before the 6rc. with her
batting part tue time going on and par.
he time lying idle iu her lap. The son
wss nendhg and generally preparing his
traps fog the winter service. The dsugh-
ser wss seated ss her spinning wheel. oc-
sasis.aiiy esssing sly glanees At 6ne
sJsnkine yesng ussa- -ness her. whe smiled
gEasisusly in rsturn, The gentleman al
ksaed g was > bsat Of Miss Spcllman's
s.a hi that sxeaing walked through Q
lssely lerst fvs miles 10 zee his sweet
-Assse. His maine Was Robert Risler, aad
-ahsase seoss-hesrted man. willing and
-sAe 10 iaetcsd hs lady love from harm.
sTheTxmd wss whistling dslcfully about
sthes Aesss. making everything without
-sssm coDA end drcssy. and al within look
asrs cheerful. The old gentlen,sn laid
down his beck. took IT bis spces, and
snrnea his car towards the back end Of the
-ASn66. The son noticed the fAther's &C.
lisns. hid Sewn bis trsps. and followed
sAha aA mans example, - ..--...r,
! a"Hntw ssiG he to his sister, putting
ppaAis fager in token Of silence.
- :.psd 900 hes- anything. psp3'' asked
sbe Old isdy. stssting up il her seat.
There is something wrong. replied the
o6 n.sn '.the horses seem uneasy. and
de deg whine. am afraid the Indians
viii = @ ~ ;,
"ua1 ddutsy that" plead the old
Qers Be frightened. there is > pretty
xoS8 party ofus, Risler. yon and Nan
e, 0oAeef al tiR arms together, and put
den u order; tbere are stscng indications
o1a4jens GSard veil The doors. and
~ 4xrp iootoat.s -
jhe Cd .usn srose from his ctsir. and
ncli4s<stly stcle Up sssirs. There we're
sewral pert hcsestL .tx upp- rs:t sf The