Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-09-26

ton, found across his path dead rattle
snake. "a good omen," he exclaimed;
''still beautiful, but deprived of venom"
He turned, rode to the house of his lady
love. She met him, as he entered, with a
smiling face and extended hand, and ere
long the compact was sealed. Months af-
forwards the young widow, 1.-THE American
beauty was married by Justice of the
Peace to the Prince Achille Murat, son
of the late King of Naples, but not before
he had written to his exiled family, obtain
ing their full consent to their marriage,
which was recorded in the Tuileries. This,
on change of dynasty, obtained his wife's
recognition among the crowned heads of
! Europe
After marriage, Madam Murat removed
to her husbands plantation, and gradual
ly took charge of his affairs. He was Of
most generous disposition, and having
never in youth known the value of money,
he lavishly expended what yet remained
of his former wealth Finally, Madam
Murat took the management of the plan
tation in her own hands, selling the crops
or not according to her own judgement
The Indian, or Florida war, broke out
and the white population generally moved
away from its environs. The Murats had
for years lived in kindly friendship with
an Indian chief who was in the habit of
visiting them continually. He would ar
rive at their house at night, and if the
Murats had already retired, would safely
ensconce himself comfortably in their din
ing room, after kindling a large wood fire,
never in any way disturbing or annoying
his white friends, who highly appreciated
the honesty of the Indian chieftain,
though Madam Murat often expressed her
fears that he would set fire to the house.
Murat now thought it necessary to inquire
ofthe Indian if the friendship and good will
Of former peaceful days was to be continu-
ed through the dark and bloody times then
threatening.
Eyes said the Indian, ''you and your
squaw are safe.
They remained on the plantation deeds
of horror were committed daily by the In
dams and one day the lucid glare of a
burning homestead, seen through the
woods, attra ;ted Madam Murat's attention.
Hastily calling her husband he sounded
his hunting horn which quickly collected
some neighbors, and they hurried to the
---l q al sl.o Enssiape 5sv,,ur, lruwiug
a murdered mother, literally torn to pieces,
with her infant by her side, lying close to
the burning homestead.
AS this act had not been done by the
Indians friendly to the Murats, Madam
Murat now consented to leave Florida till
peace was restored, but unable to endure
the anxiety consequent upon the separa-
from her husband, she again returned to
her home, and few days after, being
alone in her house, she perceived an In
dian chief, with five companions, dressed
in war costume, covered with paint and
feathers, approaching the house. She in
stantly stepped out to meet them.
"Whiskey," said the chief
Il have none to give YOU" she replied.
"You know that in these times we have
none"
The chief paused, then put his hand
out, she grasp ed it within her own
Friends" he said, tsquaw safe :"
From that time the Mufats remained
unmolested on their estates during the six
years war, though often afraid of making
use of lights in their houses at night,
dreading that they might attractth ands
of marauding Indians, who frequently
prowled around their homes Madam Mu-
rat mentioned that during a severe illness
of her husband, she sat by his bed in
darkness, often putting her hand on him
and bending over him to know if he still
breathed, not daring to kindle fire, watch
ing thus in cruel anxiety through the long
hours of the night
After twenty-five years of married life,
Murat died, his last words being blessings
on the wife who watched so ceaselessly be-
side him.
For many succeeding years Madam Mu-
rat continued to live quietly on her Flori-
da properly, surrounded by a hand of
faithful servants-her negroes. But the
Southern war waged through the land and
her days were spent in caring for the sick
and comforting. the dying, and the hospit-
ais tell Of her noble muniGcence. She
sold her jewels to feed the starving, and
afterwards of her plantations, and divided
the proceeds among the houseless and ma
ked of her unhappy State.
At the close Of the war she visited
France and England in search Of health;
was received as royal guest by the EN-
peror, and with kindly interest by the
beautiful Eugene; but unallured by the
glittering court or the generous offers of
Napoleon, once more the waters of the
Atlantic divided her from the land of her
husbands love, and she returns quietly to
her garden, her flowers and the negroes,
Call of whom have remained faithful to
her, notwithstanding the charms of free
dom offered them) to lay her bones in her
native land-her beautiful Florida -Au-
gusta (Ga. Sentinel.
While Thelwall was on trial at the Old