Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-03-26
A Frontier Episode.
BY w.P. CHAMBERS.

nighi?"
"Yes. if nothing happens. know the
road is muddy, aud my team is heavily
loaded. may mire down, or be other.
wise delayed, but think you will see me
before bedtime"
II wish the trip wac Over"
80 do | ; but you are not afraid to
stay here?'
mo. not afraid" the little wo-
mau sighed as she spoke, and sci about pre-
pairing for her husbands departure. Man
like he failed TO observe the anxious look
10 his wife's eyes, that he would have de.
iecied so readily in the eyes Of his bride.
Nor when he gave the parting Kiss dill he
observe the uushed tears trembling on her
lasheu, or the quiver around her mouth.
With eheery words upon his lips he seized
his whip, aud giving thu word TO his team
! the heavily.iadcD wagon rolled away.
William Armstrong. his wife aud babe.
were among the FIRST white settlers west
OF the Tombigbee. They hailed from
Georgia, and placing the Creek nation
between them aud their kindred, went to
work with will reclaimiug the ushcwn
forest With the cver-friendly Choctaws
they were at peace, and anticipated no
trouble from their more warlike ncighbors
east of the river.
For four years they had lived unmo-
Tested AID altogether, Kind Providence
had blessed their lahors. No sickness had
visited them--their farm and their stock
yielded an ample support, and in tue not
distant future William Armstrong bade
fair to become wealthy man. There
was one drawback, however; it was two
miles to the nearest white neighbor, aud
their little boy, Charley sturdy chuT
of five summers-had hardly ever seen
white boy of his own age.
At that Time cotton was just bccomin:
an article Of commerce. With an cater
prise beyond his wisdom cur settler plant
ed his little farm in the feecy staple
The yield was abundant and the price
high, hut there were 10 available acili
ties for ginning and baling, and so be wa
compelled to haul aud ship his crop in tn
seed 1t vas twelve miles to the river
at a landing on which village had sprun,
up, which was the "market"-fur an cx
tent Of country that now would support
city Of no mean rreteusi0ns.
This was his last load of cotton, and hC
expected to bring back his annual suppl
of groceries. Our pioneers, however
!. bough; but little Wheaton bread once
eek, and coffee with sugar in it once
day, was an extravaganza in culinary mat
tcrs few could asoirc to and no woma
was expected to have two calico gowns Il
once.
When her husband was gone, Mar
Armstrong did up her ordinary housework
and then proceeded to the spring, whic
was at the foot Of the hi! some two hund
, red yards from the house. to dc her week
iy washing Charley-lhcir only child
went with her and played near her Ill
the washing was nearly completed. Say
I ing he was hungry. he set off toward th
house. His mother, intent upon her work
hardly noticed his absence, nor could sh
even remember now long since he ha
gone away, when her task was ended, an,l
with ii pail Of newly-waShed cloihe, poisc
/ upon her head, she started homeward.
As she ascended the hill which hid III
t house from her view while at the spring
| sight met her eyes that froze her to tn
5 ground with horror. Their house aoas o.
fire!
The roaring flames lcaped upward, an
darted forth their lurid, withcriug tongue
in fantastic gambols, as they were swcp
BY the winds. ldi
Great God Oh. my child"
gasped the bloodless lips, as the halfcraze
woman rushed toward the burning pile
Too late! wretched mother, TOO late! tn
roof has fallen in, and the walls aud door
ways are in a solid flame! The child
now bn, charred aud shupcless mass
blackened cinder with 10 semblance of
human form.
An unseen arm seemed to hold back tn
frantic mother. Essay often as she wou
to rush forward, an outside power SCENE
to retain her, to hurl her back faintin
and breathlcss.
& Charley! Charley Charley" Th
words rang out above the roaring din 0
.he flames, but they seemed more like tn
weird shrieks of lost spirit ihaR the CT
Of a human being. AT last the walls fe0
in and a showerof sparks shot upwar
toward tho pitiless sky. Charley" ran
out once more like u wall of despair, au'
the wre,ched mother fell down 10 dead
lly swoop. When she awoke 10 coocious