Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-12-03
A Tale of Olden Times.

In the summer of l757, when we were
lighting against the encroachments OF
France on our Northern and Western
borders, there lay among the picturesa ue
hills of Northern Virginia large plan
tation. The family mansion stood on
elevated ground, with sloping lawns,
and broad piazzas, shaded by, an abun
dant growth ofivy and tall poplars.
The owner ofthis beautiful estate was
an excentric old planter, whose chief
pride lay in the immutability of his
word. A law of the Medes and Persians
could sooner have been broken than his
commands changed, and under his arbi-
trary rule he had brought up daughter
his only child. She was just seven.
teen, and possessed of beauty so rare
and unconscious that added to her pros
pective wealth, it caused her fame to
spread far and wide.
About this time the atrocities of the
Indians grew SO daring and terrifying
that the planter determined on getting
son-in-law possessing strength and
courage, even at the sacrifice of his
daughters happiness; but he matured
his plans before he revealed them.
One afternoon, late in August, the
planters daughter stood on the western
with climbing roses. She was detected
ly gazing into the golden hazy clouds
that lay piled in the distant west, and
nervously pulling apart the roses until
the floor at her feet was covered with
petals. ! wonder if anything can be
DONE
About what honey q asked mother
Unlocking darkey, looking up from heI
knitting through pair Of large brass
spectacIes.
Haven't you heard, nanny, of faith.
er's last whim p sighed the girl. I'VE
are to have jumping match On the east
lawn in two weeks. All the young men
of the village are invited to take part
and am to marry the one who Jumps
| the farthest.'
Lord o. Massey, chile! the butchers
son might jump de furdestp
'On no, there is little danger ofthat.
fear others more
| Il reckon darlin,' dem savages is de
cause Of all dis here trouble, said the wo
man thougbtfully. 'Massa is awfully
'frald dey'll come up here an bptchsg
US without judge oriuSg, aA' he's gettin
ole, honey, and needs q son dat can htt
an, lafn de boys to fife, too
A quick step on the gravel walk made
the young girl turn. oh, hare is 1on
at last!' she exclaimed, as, with beam
ing face and heightened color, she
sprung lightly down the steps to meet :
fine looking young military officer.
i am 40 glad to see you, and SO ole
Tim actually found you?'
Yes, he replied, taking her hands
and then lifting her tell tale face to fint
q confirmation of her words in the in
nocent depths of her dark eyes. Tin
found me and here am, Nettie; but
have only ten or fifteen minutes to stay
Let us walk in that path yonder, wher'
we can talk undisturbedly and he drew
her hand through his arm. Your not
tells me Of this iank- d iiapes whim o
your fathers, and the consequent son
in-law business. It fsiEiK makes MJ
blood b. h.oil to think hfe would subject yo
| to such q trial, ~
But you con jump further than an. an.
one else, Tom, and you won't have to 3
to Carlisle, will you p
No, thank fortune, not for some time
We are at Fort Cumberland now, but il
few days Will be nearer this plantation
Col. Stinwix sent me down with a part
of men to help dose these Indians wit
gunpowder. They have. committed som
fearful ravages not very far off,
Il wonder where Col. Washington Is
Why doesn't he stop these cruelties,
he is as brave as they say?' asked Net
tie
Because Gov. Dinwiddie is always II
terfering with him. He has scarcel
more than enough men at bis own heat