Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-04-23

which, containing the letter, fell into the
hands of Rev. Samuel Bowman, whC
was intimately acquainted with the Slo.
cum family and he mailed paper tC
her brother. who lived in Wilkesbarre
The reception of the letter threw the
whole community into excitement, there
being not u particle of doubt as to the
identity of Frances. As two years had
passed since theletter was written, and as
it stated that the old lady at that time
was under apremonition of death, an in
quiry was addressed to Col. Ewing by
John j. Slocum, The nephew of Frances.
A prompt reply, dated at Logansport
came to hand saying that the old lady
was still alive, and would be glad to see
them. The letter contained minute di.
rections as to the course they were to
take to reach her. Arrangements were
at once made to do so. Mr.. Isaac Slo
cum and Mrs. Mary Town, brother and
sister of Frances, resided in Ohio, but
not in the same neighborhood. Joseph
Slocum of Wilkesbarre, another brother
started in his carriage, taking his sister,
while Isaac went in advance, it being
agreed that they should meet at Deaf
Mans village. Isaac reached the place
ahead of the others, and, accompanied
by an interpreter, made call upon the
lady, who received them pleasantly, but
evidently with suspicion. The brother
found her to all appearances a perfect
Indian, but he had fixed in his mind an
unerring test of her identity. Previou:
to being carried away, ffty-nine year:
before, her brother Ebenezer had crush
ed the fore-fnger of her left hand with
hammer. Taking hold of her hand
and raising it, Isaac saw the disfgure
ment. What caused that ?" he asked
"My brother struck it with hammer q
long time ago." was the answer.
He remained some time in conversa.
tion but the woman did not seem at ease
and he returned to the village Of Peru
to await the arrival of his brother and
sister. When they came the three made
them another visit She treated them
with the same kindness as before, but
stoical and unmoved, and when she
saw tears in their eyes and every indica
ton of coming "scene" she looked
anything but pleased. The only time
she showed any signs of emotion was
when she was asked her name. She re
piled it was forgotten. Is it Frances p
Her dusky features suddenly lit up and
she nodded her head Yes, yes, Fran
ca, Franca" The visit was prolonged
for several days, and some months later
was repeated, some of the nieces and
nephews joining the party.
On the day when little Frances wat
captured, SO years before, she was car
ried rapidly through the wood, and 9
final halt was made near the Geneset
river. In the following spring she was
taken to Sandusky, where she STAYED
until autumn, when the Indian friend:
removed to Niagara, where she lived q
year. In accordance with the nomadic.
habits of her people, her home was con.
tinually changed. Her greatest dread
was of being discovered by her relatives
and taken away, and there is no doubt
that when the weary mother was hunt
ing up and down the earth, she more
than once came within hail of her lost
child, who carefully avoided her 1t
was fortunate they never met.
Frances had been married to Miami
by whom she had four children. She
was wealthy and held in the highest
veneration by her tribe and descendants
many of the latter being around her
After time she seemed to form quite
an attachment for her brothers, who, Of
course, were old men, and she Offered
them half her land if they would live
near her. They in turn pressed her tc
join them further east, but she thanked
them and declined. She was an Tndiar
in everything except birth and such she
lived and died.