Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-12-16

L. { ssasa -sr.ss5 snsiss@---T-------.
- ~ stsalthy loosesp; now
1v0y ~ q esao wsvinr uruu sDne
ID 49, ~ sosDsd b d. ~ he
- aD6oeea hair; anon, IL Wa . bed Of
"a - ~ whoss burning glowing
1o eea11a 70 the m"thsr to wear Ia
80 3 - darlisv's drere.
- Al 10 vain the, sought; sud The
- Sooe high i'm dazzling -plendor
~ vooey md disheartened the LITTLE
pn9ey 5000 10 rest ia . quist glade. Nc,
- 1&Gaoe - looely swamp, and fror.
- 0nomoso s1Ennge snd awful voices rose
80 - A&GhA Some one has said, "Au
~ - - asspa. but n night II has
. 0sasaoA tngass" And now the plain
6vO csy - ~ vhip-poor-vill, the boom
~ q - hsA.rs, tAs hooting Of the owl.
- riPtag q the frogs among the resds'
and heonno Daxnuxs Iron the Wild beasts
issiag fksa tAsir lain. al eoospired 70
Bsndss ~ sssne mast awful; but above,
the stsedlnst sonD voes shining With their
egss Of LIGHT, md 0ed was watching ~
He hes thsoagh countlso year,. Mr..
H0pR was ths Asst 10 speak "Coms my
fKis0ds," be sa3a, 'slst NJ return home tail
noeniag hssahs, and msy God take care
a kttls Phnr They rose to 20 when
his quick eye caught the sight Of foot
step In sons dewey leaves near by; the
tsadsr branches Of young shrub we're
thrust aeide, and broken ~ by some one
pacing IN haste: 4utely they followed
the tE1il Lit b. the mooobeams and their
Atful toech-hght; sometimes IL was 20
faint - 10 Be almost LOST, but Just ~ they
stood discouraged and at fault-loi al
thsir let lay . little shoe Of dressed
dsse skin, poor Phil had worn that day
Csutiously they crept on-the mother
nsrved With supernatural strsngth-tili
Just - the stars were psling for the
dawn, they came upon the brink Of
high oli6 that overlooked small valley
below.
A light CLEANED up like Q red star,
through riffs of tossing foliage, misty
vines, and giant forest trees, and creep
ing cautiously TO the verge, the settler
knew il vas an Indian camp fire.
Hill dozen dark forms Gay motionless
With their blankets vrapt around them,
anA By the side of the tallest figure was
little child, its tender wrists bound with
thongs Of deer skin, and half dead from
tsEror Of his painted csptor. No time
Wa to be lost. Fastening their weapons
10 thsir persons, the settlers prepared 10
descend the cliff. II was abundantly COW
cred with thick fbrous grape vines and
creepers of rankest growth, that formed
net work over its whole exterior. Grasp
ing the stems of these vines, the mel
swiftly and neiselessly descended, and
dropped down into the tall grass that
clothed the valley beneath.
The fire had died down TO a mere spark,
and the friendly moon had hidden hek
light, % Mr.. Harper crept along in the
shadow. till he laid his hand on his sense
less child, and strove TO draw him 10 bis
embrace, but alas be was fastened TO the
body of the Indian. who lay in lethar
gic sleep.
Quickly drawing his hunting knife. be
severed the thong, and handed the child
to . companion behind him, who hurried
with it mp the cliff, and gave 1T TO bis
mother, telling her to lie down under the
shadow of O. huge rock. She did so.-as
mddenly the Indian sentry awoke. In
moment he gave the alarm The savsges
sprung TO their feet, and brandished their
tomahawks,-but in vain
One BY one they fell in desperate con
Aict before the weapons of the settlers.
The Aowery sods of that beautiful valley
in the vilderness were stained with
blood, q was the current of 3 little
stream that rippled through il. Dark
and silent, like bronzed statues, the Ind
ans lay there. each in the attitude in
which he bad fallen. When Mr. Harper
reascendsd the cliff, he found little Phil
clinging TO his mothers neck, and she
weeping over him o food of happy tears.
When morning broke, with its dews
and incense, the settlers followed deep
grave, and hid the forms of the dead from
sight. They conjeetured them Ia be 4
wandering party Of Pequawkets. and
feared if their deaths were discovered.
they might suffer a fiery revenge at the
hands of their kindred. With glad
hearts the brave band emerged from the
wilderness, and separated TO their re
spective homes-
When Eben Harper re-entere.l hi-
cabin, his first act was to take down the
time-wor Bible, and open it at these
words This my son was alive again
be was lost and 10 found"
Time passed on: the settlers increased
In plenty and prosperity. Philip Harper
grew up noble, fearless man. honored far
bis integrity in long and useful life
! have revived the incident from the
ashes Of the past. The toll Of successive
generations has made the wilderness %
blossom like the rose. The tribes Of the
red man have for ever passed away, only
leaving few dim legends. few musical
names, clinging like ivy TO ruin. round
our rivers. wales aud waterfalls. And sit-
ting tonight, In the tranquil bngbtnss-
Of the autumn sunset. i have repeated the
recital Of the gentle voice" that told me.
long ago, the story Of The Loot Child.