The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-05

] They arc gOne-l will not say they are
dead, for they still live; but they have
passed from Garth-and at elgtylOur am
alone in the world without kith or kin to
shed tear when shall sleep beneath the
sod.
Ny life has been happy one; but l
would not live 1t again. AS matter oil
course, in this world, sOrroYs come to all,
and have had my share; but now stand.
ing as may say On the edge oil my open
grave, can look calmly down the vista
Ofthe past, strewn with blighted hopes,
and say from my heart, God has been
g6Od." have brought with me on the
voyage Of life memories often sud but
never painful.
loved my husband ind my bright,
sweet children; and when God claimed his
own l had not strength to say: "Tby will
be done; but ROlO | see the mercy OF the
dlspensaliOn, and my heart bows down TO
kiss the hand that snOte in time agonG.
have lived and loved and LOST, but the
balm of serene faith, healing my aillic.
lions has made me happy.
My life has Of lAlC years been quiet and
composed, for AIN living on borrowed
timcand have sought TO make myself
ready for the Redeemer's call But in
other days when this country was wilder
ness and this city q settlement merely, my
life was all action and incident i must
have been about ten or twelve, as my
memory serves me, when my father re.
moved from Dinwiddic county in the
eastern part Of Virginia, 10 what WIS
then the western wilds, II had been his
intention 10 settle on some land below
BlennerhausselL's Island, the patent for
which belonged to Washington, but for
some reason when he reached this point
he decided 10 go no further, and have
thus been hero full seventyyCars or more.
In that time what q change hath man
wrought! ! have seen the wilderness
vanish and cabins and gardens spring in.
TO being where the giant oak and under
wood OF laural had reigned supreme for
countries. And gardens und cabins have
in their turn disappeared and where once
bloomed the wild rose and honeysuckle
on rlstiCc lattice, now only long streets
and dingy walks greet the eye, l have
picked the sweet wild Strawberries on o
sunny bank in II small meadow, where
now stands ST. Matthews church, while
my first born, my darling that buried so
long ago, gamboled about In the fragrant
new mown hay. That meadow was
afterwards filled with graves, but even
they have been removed. Since l can
well remember, the white.winged bObO.
link, filled his greedy crop from fields Of
waving grain in the vicinity Of the Custom
House, and paid his thievish way in notes
OF liquid melody. In the days Of which l
speak the houses were nearly all built
north Of tho old fort, which was situated
Just on the brow Of the hill near Union
street.
There had been no trouble with the In.
dians for some years, and l cannot say
why the people feared to build near the
creek. Perhaps II was the dread Of high
water, for It seems TO me that bottom was
not us high there as it is now. know the
mouth Of the creek US far up as the second
bridge was twice its present width. The
abOrigines were preparing to move into
the West. Most OF the young women and
warriors had gone to some reservation in
Ohio, but the more aged and quiet lin.
gered in the vicinity of their old hunting
grounds, hoping to be permitted to leave
their bones where their fathers had been
buried. They became iuveterate beggars
and the people, ever suspicious that they
were in league with other tribes, and
fearful that they would yet, when we least
thought, swoOp down on the settlement
and repeat the history Of their brutal mas.
sacres of the settlers on the James, warned
thelI constantly to keep away from the
fort.
Think at that time they had no designs
upon us more inyidiOus than the enjoy
ment Of their prerogative to beg; but the
trealmentth received naturally foStered
the Jealous hatred which kindness could
hardly eradicate, and their feelings found
expression in innumerable petty annoy
ances, triiling and yet agravating.
Up to the age Of about fifteen I had buI
little personal knowledge OF the Indians
and as most Of my information concern
ing their characteristics had been obtain
ed from sources little likely 10 acknowl
edge their virtues, and ever prone TO mag
Nifty their faults, il NAV well he supposed
that my impressions Of the race were moi
Of the most tlattering sort.
But ever Us a child had never beer
afraid of them like other children, though
Il must be confessed that this was not the
] fault OF my bringing up, for they wert
the bug-a.bOo of the nursery in thOSC
days, and the very name Of Indian be
came from the cradle up, in most families
, terror. And thus Christian mother!
laid the foundation Of the wars Of exter,
minaiion that followed. But at thai
;; period of my life it fell out that made al
! acquaintance among the dusky race
which soon ripened into friendship, last
ing and sincere, and which l believe has
: had great influence on all the rest OF my
life. This was no less an individual thar
the medicine.man OF the tribe, q person
Of considerable local fame as doctor
and not unfrequOntly employed In whit
families.
His name was MockOnOwha, which, II
the language OF the tribe, meant "ThC
Healer" One afternoon in June, after Z
tempeStuous thunder storm, I went W
the creek in search of the cows
which had been left TO broust
In the marshy lands along Ii
border. / found them just beyond whert
the second toll.gate now stands, and start
ed them hOmeward, walking myself alonl
. behind. ats
Ihad not gone far when1 heard an al
most inarticul9ie groan. l stopped Il
listen. Presently It was repeated littlI
loRder; and following. the SoundS kcamI
upon MOckonowhE pinned 70 the grouni