Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-03-06
0aIe5 ano 5bstrbes.
'GOod-sye Sweetheart" or why he
Lived "a ESachclor.
BY l. G. WINMONrH.

BY L. G.. WINNONrH.
II was only an old. red farmhouse in
Helbrunt Valley, as the place was called
in honor of old Colonel IIclbrunt,a Ger
man settler who had served under Wash
ington in rs, and upon the establishment
of Colonial Independence had taken out n
4 grant for this beautiful tract Of country,
lying between two lofty ridges of uoun-
tains, and at that time wholly uninhabited
save in the autumn time, when lalf a
dozen warriors of the st. Regis tribe would
follow the creek afar down the Other side
of the mountain, and, attracted by the
abundance Of game and the Spontaneous
productions OF the forest, the Indians 'natu-
raj subsistence would stretch their wig
vans among the mountains and Occasion-
ally down in the valley, and after rtjocing
in an abundance Of deer and wild fruit for
a season, would remove their tents % tlln
/ fishing grounds by the far-away ftte and
leave the valley once more to quft and
.
/ the Colonel removed htEer, built his spa
/ cious log cabin-and commenced thing
I the rich, productive soil. Other settlers
/ quickly followed him, and commeund, like
him, to lay the foundation Of their family
fortune in the broad acres Of Helbrast Val
lev. Aud as nearly all of them were en-
dowed by nature with the spirit of true
( German thrift, it came to pass in time that
! the inhabitants Of the Valley were bearded
as n sort of aristocrats, after all, though
The country had so lately declared itself
unalteraoly 4 republic. Now, if they had
/ taken this title to themselves, doubtless it
would have been disputed by every one
! ontside the boundaries of the magic circle
but as they still continued their piodding
cares. and plowcd and sOweG and garpered
with the same personal suPervisica as at
/ first, not one Of the most cnviOua could
! find aught in their speech or manner 10 lay
| to their charge, and they were sti!I regard
! ed, as | have said, as little superior 10
/ the inhabitants of the neighbOrinr region.
| The adventures of the early settlers
would not interest US now, for this little
! story concerns chiefly Colonel Helbunt's
/ grandchild, and | must not stay longer
with her noted ancestors, save to lamarB
! that they never quarrclcd with the Inlians
when they made their yearly visits to the
valley, therefore never lived an hour in
dread OF tOmahawk or scalping-knie. In.
deed they gained the love and esteem o
! the sava"es to such 4 degree that upon one
occasion a noble warrior and chief, on a
hunting expedition through The valley
having heard much Of the old ColOuel's
hospitality, paid them visit and was St
charmed with his reception and with Aun
Betsy Helbrunt, the COlOnel's MAIDEN sis
ter. that he offered to make her his squav
before our own minister and dcrOse he
who had been for long years the light o
his wigwam. But Aunt Betsey, although
horror stricken, managed to preserve he
presence Of mind, and politely but firmly
declining the offer, succeeded in cOnvincin:
him of the cruelty Of turning the othe
adrift, and urging the necessity Of remain
ing with her brother, on account Of the i'll
ness of her brothers wife and her ilefli
cheney in the housekeeping department
He took his dismissal with true sayag
firmuess, and, presenting Aunt Betse,
with a rich mat of deer skin, took his de
parture forever from the valley which con
tanned ''the light ofhi eyes" He did no
forget, however, for every year came som
; token of his remembrance pair of Lowell
bead moccasins, dainty baskets and othe