The Republican journal., 1873-08-28
Chocorua's Curse.


on the beautiful country, which atar off
lies sleeping i'll the embrace of heaven;
precipices from which the young eagles
take their flight to the sun; dells rugged
and tangled as the dominions of Roderick
vich Alpine, and ravines dark and deep
enough for the death scene of bandit,
form the magnificent characteristics of
this picturesque region. A high precipice,
liarly interesting by legend which tradi-
ton has scarcely saved from utter oblivion.
Had it been in Scotland, perhaps the genius
of Sir Walter Scott would have hallowed
it, and Americans would have crowded
there to kindle fancy on the altar of MEM
ory. Being in the midst of our own ro-
mantle scenery, it is little known and less
visited; for the vicinity is vet untraversed
by railroads or canals, and no Mountain
House perched on those tremendous bat
Elements, allurcS the traveller hither to
mock the majesty OF nature with the in
sipidities of fashion. Our distinguished
artist, Mr.. Cole, found the sunshine and
the winds sleeping upon it in solitude and
secrecy; and his pencil has brought it be-
fore us in its stern repose.
In olden time, when COTE and Whaley
passed for wizards and mountain spirits
among the superstitious, the vicinity of
the spot We have been describing was oc-
cupied by a very small colony. which,
either from discomfort or enterprise, had
retired into this remote part of New
Hampshire Most of them were ordinary
men, led to this independent mode Of life
from an impatience of restraint, which as
frequently accompanies vulgar obstinacy
as generous pride. But there was one
master spirit among them, who was capa-
Bile Of Il higher destiny than he ever tul-
filled. The consciousness Of this had
stamped something Of proud humanity on
the face Of Cornelius Campbell; something
of u naughty spirit strongly curbed by
circumstances he could not control, and at
which he scorned to murmur. He assumed
no superiority; but unconsciously he threw
around him the spell of intellect, and his
he was among them" but not of them
His stature was gigantic, and he had the
bold, quick tread of one who had Won
dered frequently and fearlessly among the
terrible hiding places Of nature. His voice
was harsh, but his whole counsenance pos
sesscd singular capabilities for tenderness
Of expression; and sometimes, under the
gentle influence OF domestic excitement,
his hard features would be rapidly lighted
up, seeming like the sunshine flying over
the shaded fields III an April day.
His companion was one peculiarly cal
cllated to excite and retain the deep,
strong energies of manly love She had
possessed extraordinary beauty and had,
in the full maturity of an excellent judg-
ment, relinquished several splendid alli-
aLces, and incurred her fathers dspleas-
ure, for the sake Of Cornelius Campbell,
Had political circumstances proved favor
able his talents and ambition would I'M
questionably have worked out a path to
emolument and fame: but he had been a
Jealous aud active enemy OF the StuartS,
and the restoration of Charles the Second
was the death warrant of all his hopes.
Immediate flight became necessary, and
America was the chosen place of refuge.
HIS adherence TO Cromwelrs party was
not occasioned by religious sympathy, but
by political views, too liberal and philoso-
phlcal Tor the state of the people; there
fore Cornelius Campbell was no tavoritc
with our torc1athers, and being of a proud
nature, he withdrew with his family to the
solitary place we have mentioned
1t seemed a hard fate for one who had
from childhood been accustomed to in
dulgence and admiration vet Mrs. Camp
bell enjoyed more than she had done in
her days of splcndor; 50 much deeper are
the sources of happiness than those of
gayety. Even her face had suffered little
from time and hardship. The bloom on
her cheek, which in youth had been like
the sWeet-pea blossom. that most feminine
Of all flowers, had it is true, somewhat
faded; but her rich intellectual expression,
did but receive additional majesty from
years; and the exercise of quiet domestic
love, which where it is suffered to exist,
always deepens and brightens with time,
had given a bland and placid expression,
which might well have atoned for the alb
sence Of more striking beauty. TO such u
woman as Caroline Campbell, Of what
use would have been some modern doc
trines Of equality and Independence ?
With a mind sufficiently cultivated to ap-
preciate and en- Joy her husbands intel
lectual energies. she had heart tLat could
not have found another home. he bird
will drop into its nest though the treasures
Of earth and sky are open. TO have proved
mestic life Il thraldom, would have affect
that the pure sweet atmosphere she breathed
was pressing upon her so many pounds to
every square inch Over such heart,
and such a soul, external circumstances
have little power; all orldly interest was
concentrated in her husband and babes,
and her spirit was satisfied with that mex
haustible fountain of JOY which nature
gives, and God has blessed
A very small settlement, N such re-
mote place, was Of course subject to incOn-
yenience and occasional suffering From
the Indians they received neither injury OF
insult No cause of quarrel had ever
arisen; and, although their frequent visits
were sometimes troublesome, they never
had given indications Of jealousy or malice.
Chocorua was prophet among them, and
as such an object of peculiar respect He
had Il mind which education and motive
would have nerved with giant strength;
but growing up in savage freedom, it
wasted itself in dark, fierce, ungovernable
passions. There was something fearful in
the quiet haughtiness of his lip-it seemed
50 like slumbering power, too proud to be
iPuot't, 'tii,t too JIttttDlc W Slctp
again. In his small, black, fiery eve, ex-
preston lay coled up like a beautiful
snake. The white people knew that his
hatred would be terrible; but they had
never provoked it, and oven the children
became too much accustomed to him to
fear him.
Chocorlla had Il son, about nine or ten
years old, to whom Caroline Campbell had
occasionally made such gaudy presents as
We're likely to attract the savage fancy
This won the chid's affections, 50 that he
became a familiar visitant, almost an in
mate of their dwelling; and being unre-
strained by the courtesies of civilized life,
he would inspect every thing, and taste of
every thing which came in his way. some
poison, prepared for mischevous fox,
which had long troubled the little settle
ment, was discovered and drank by the
Indian boy; and he Went home to his
father to sicken and die. From that mo-
ment jealousy and hatred took possession
of Chocorua's soul. He never told his sus-
picions-he brooded over them in secret,
to nourish the deadly revenge he conten-
plated against Cornelius Campbell
Il.