Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-08

CANADIAN winter Went Dy, Win It's snOWs
and storms /; the genial spring, the warm
summer, and the busy harvest came and
went but there was no return OF the
Hurons. Many a time we young people
went up to the rising ground in the forest
and strained our eyes in the direction
where their camp had been, in hopes OF
seeing the smoke of their fires ascend once
more but there was nothing except the
dense woods and the mighty river to be
seen. Many a time we talked of LaDoma
on the messy bank at the foot of the great
oak, where we had seen her first, and by
the Preside, where she had sat with us SC
often. Many a time we wondered if, ac-
cording to her fathers views, she had be-
come a great chiefs squaw, and taken to
the hard work and unattractive habits oil
the Indian women if she had forgotten
all that she had learned among us, and
sunk into the superstition and barbarism
of her people or if some remnant of that
better learning still kept place in her
mind. like a faint light shining in deep
darkness. My father often lamented that
we had not been able to teach the truths
of Christianity more fully to the daughter
of the Huron chief. He feared the knowl-
edge she had received was too vague and
slight to be of any use or duration. But
my grandmother said, LET US trust for
her, as we trust for ourselves, in Him who
can make the smallest light sufficient to
guide a sinner to his cross"
We had heard nothing Of Lanoma, but
we had not forgotten her, when the quiet
ou--o13 sc l,ca IN tho c. Niair sas+la,an,
was troubled by news of the breaking out
of the second American war. 1t was ter
rible intelligence for US, living as we were
on the very borders of the enemy's terri
tory. Who could tell that an invading
force might not cross the river. and re-
quire US to quit the land or become citi-
zens of the United States =? or, what was
still more to be dreaded in that Lakewood
country, might not some Indian tribe on
the American side choose to possess them
selves of lands and goods by exterminating
the British emigrants, as they had done in
former times, to many a settlement strong
er and more populous han ours? The
provincial government could spare no
troops to protect US, there was no defenses
which our own men could hold, and the
advice of the military authorities was that
on the approach of either Indians or
Americans, the settlers should at once pack
up and retire with their goods and families
to Kingston, which was then the nearest
garrison. Some of our people were for
taking that step directly, without running
the risk of & surprise-a thing to be ex-
pected from the enemies We had to fear !;
but others hesitated to leave their homes
and holdings while there was no actual
danger, and for our own family it was
scarcely practicable. The winter had
commenced, and with more than usual
severity that year; the sudden and rigor-
Gus frost had brought sickness to our house
prostrating alike the aged and the young
Old grandfather and grandmother were so
i'll that they thought their time had come
and my two little brothers could only
creep out of bed and sit by the fire. How
were they to travel in the only conveyance
we had, a rough wagon. all the way to
Kingston, through miles and miles of a
wild forest track, where there was no sur
face fit for the more easy and rapid sleigh ?
go, all of you that think it best to do
So" said my father to the men of the
settlement assembled in our little church,
the only town-hall or council-room they
had " | advise no man TO stay for the
enemy may be nearer than we think. But,
with my helpless sick, it would be folly TO.
move, except we were driven out. l have
clearly a call from Providence to remain,
and put my trust in Him who can make
all things work together for good to them
that love Him"
We will not leave you, minister, -
cried all the men in a breath. " If it is
needful for you to stay, as 1t clearly Is, we
will stay too. You and we lave come
from Scotland together, and we will live
or die together, as the Disposer of lots may
determine" From that resolution they
could not be moved, though my father ad-
vised them to consider chiefly their own
and their families safety, and leave him
and his to the hand that protected Daniel
in the lions den, and Moses in the ark of
bulrushes on the great river of Egypt.
They were hardy and determined men,
accustomed to the perils of the wilderness
and that practical reliance on the ever
lasting arm which the man left alone with
nature and Providence is most apt to
realize. Moreover, they were sincerely
attached to their minister he was an old
friend as well as pastor TO them all. Go
he could not, and 90 without him they
would not and when he and they had
sung a psalm and prayed together, like
their covenanted ancestors in old and peril
times, it was agreed that all should re-
main, and every man take his turn of act
ing as scout for the settlement. to give
warning of the first approach of the enemy,
that it might not be fallen upon unawares,
but minister and flock have time to take
what measures they could for parley or
flight, according as the invader happened
to be Indian or American.
".
Well l remember the long nights and
days of that fearful winter,-how
our scouts went out through cold and
storm, and my father among the rest; for
he would take his turn, being as brave a
ba~ckwoodsman as any in the settlement.
Robin Ross generally went with him. 1t
was thought best that no scout should 90
far out alone, as a single man might be
easily surprised and cut off by the willy
Indians and when they were both gone,
we at home would startle at the blast
through the forest trees, and think
heard the sound of coming hoofs or the
war-cry of the red-men mingling with it.
1t was a weary and an anxious time, yet
good came out of its evil their common
danger drew the settlers more closely to-
There had been always good neigh
borhood and good feeling in the little colo
ny but the fears and the duties of the
time made them and their families meet
more frequently. and know Zach other
better. Their common danger had also
effect of deepening On all their minds
serious impressions of their Scottish
and Presbyterian teaching. A sort of re-