The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-05-18

KASKEEWAWA.
A LEGEND OF THE DELAWARE.
BY ALLAN EMORY.

Along the Delaware river, about twenty
miles above the memorable place where
Washington crossed his army on Christ
mas night, 1776, the country on the
Pennsylvania side comes out to the river
in long lines of rolling hills and presents
a frowniug front of bald, perpendicular
bluffs, heshighest point of which stands
out four Hundred feet above the level of
the river. This overhanging cliff time
out of mind" has borne the name of the
Top Rock" 1t was favorite lookout
of the Indians, and on the beautiful green
sward sloping upward and back from the
rocks, shaded by few cedars and short,
sturdy oaks, the council fires of large
and powerful tribe of Indians had burned
for many generations. Kaskeewawa, the
Tall Cedar, as was called on account Of
his great stature, was the Chief of this
tribe. By his daring and bravery in bat
tie he had distinguished himself among
the various Iudian tribes, and for con-
tinued marks of friendship was highly
respected by the whites. Under his pro-
lection, more than hundred years ago
settlement sprung up in narrow valley
short distance from the Top Rock.
Mr.. Nicholas Heller was the most
prominent man of the village, between
whom and Kaskeewawa there existed the
greatest friendship, and at whose house
the old Chief was almost daily visitor.
At the time of which we write, Mr..
Heller's only daughter, Mary, was about
nineteen the favorite, " the light of the
village" the beauty of all the region
Many youth had wooed her, but John
Preston alone had won John called at
her house one day on his way home from
the mill, and the day, as he said, " to tie
the knot" was fixed. His joy was so
great when he left that he led 'sthe old
grey" and carried the bag of meal himself,
whistling all the way home, only now and
then widening his good-natured mouth to
say, "only two weeks from to morrow"
Indian Summer, that most delightful
season Of the year, had come with its
smoky skies of hazy blue sunrise, beauty
and glory, and sunset grandeur softly
shaded and yelled with floating violet,
alternated all day long. Not bird trilled
harsh note, but warbled magically in
distinct in far away tones the bees float
ed lazily homeward laden with honey the
music of mature slowly rose and fell in
gentle cadence, and everything seemed
doing away in delightful dream. The
villagers with thankful hearts were gather
ing in their crops of golden corn, and on
health, plenty and contentment peace and
prosperity smiled.
When, as usual, John went to see Mary
one evening, many were the bright plans
for future happiness and joys anticipated
only to be clouded before the morrow's
sun should rise. The lovers sat in cor
ner of the old kitchen, (and for that mat
ter parlor, dining room and all, for it
boasted but one room) }, and Mary's father,
with book before him and spectacles in
position, was sitting by table but with
eyes shut, for slumber's gentle chain had
bound him, when light, but firm step
was heard, and without salutation in
strobe the old Chief His locks uuwhiten-
ed and his form unbent by the storms of
sixty winters, he yet stood model for an
Apollo. As his custom was when he had
important to communicate, he
beckoned Mr.. Heller to follow. Hating
at an old oak few rods from the house,
he said: g." White man, we are friends
When the red man wants anything he
speaks. Hushahooa has seen many SHOWS.
When her father gave her to me she was
like the young roe of the mountain, but
now she is like you withered pine, and
soon she will go to the far hunting grounds
of the Great Spirit Thy daughter is as
Hushahooa was give her to me she shall
be the bright eyes of my tribe"
The father, struck with surprise and
sorrow at the unnatural proposal, con.
cealed his feelings as best he could,
through fear of the powerful Chief, for
be well knew that not only his own, but
the lives of the whole settlement rested
10 his hands. He said, /" But Hushahooa
yet lives in thy wigwam." "She lives
not to me-" was the laconic reply. "But,"
said the father, trembling for the safety
Of his daughter, and not wishing to say
that she was promised to another, /" it
would be disgrace to thy tribe to take
pale face to thy wigwam, and perhaps the
maiden is not willing" "The words are
as the wind" said the Chief, showing
passion, for his word had always been law
e give me thy daughter" The father
pleaded for time, and at length Kas-
keewawa said, "wben three suns have
passed, come with thy bright eyes to
the Top Rock" So saying, he strobe
away in the darkness, and the dim outline
Of his tall retreating form seemed like
one of those huge fabled figures that
crossed the sky with gigantic strides just
before Hcrculaneum and Pompeii were
entombed alive. With anguish in his
heart, Mr. Heller returned to his dwell
Eng. and made known the terrible iptelli- |