Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-10-19
A Tale of the 0lden Time.

were fighting against the encroach
ments of France on our Northern anc
Western borders, there lay among the
picturesque hills of Northern Virgins
a large plantation. The family man.
sion stood on elavated ground, with
sloping lawns, and broad piazzas
shaded by an abundant growth of ivy
and tall poplars.
The owner of this beautiful estate
was an exoentric old planter, whose
chief pride lay in the immutability OF
his word. A law of the Medes and
Persians could sooner have been bro
ken than his commands changed; and
under his arbitrary rule he had
brought up daughter-his only
child. She was just seventeen, and
was possessed of a beauty SO rare and
unconcious that added to her prospec-
tive wealth, it caused her fame to
spread far and wide.
About this time the atrocities of
the Indians grew 50 daring and terri
flying that the planter determined
on getting a 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 west.
ern riazza, leaning against a pillar
covered with climbing roses. She
was deiectedly gazing into the golden
hazy clouds that lay piled in the dis
tant west, and nervously pulling apart
the roses until the floor at her feet
was covered with petals. II wonder
if anything can be done!'
"About what, honey?' asked
motherly-looking darkey, looking up
from her knitting throu gh pair of
large brass spectacles.
Haven't you heard, nanny, of
fathers last whim p sighed the girl.
1--WE are to have a junping-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 Massy, chile de butchers
son might jump de furdestl''
ooh no there is little danger of that.
l fear others more"
II reckon darlin', dem savages is de
cause Of all dis here trouble said the
woman thoughtfully. "Massa is aw-
fully frail dey'll come up here an
butcher US widout judge or jury, an
he's gettin' ole, honey, and needs a
son dat can fte an larn de boys to
fite, too
A quick step on the gravel walk
made the young girl turn. ooh, here
is Tom at last T. she exclaimed as,
with beaming face and heightened
color, she sprung lightly down the
steps to meet a fine looking young
military officer.
II am so glad to see you, and so
old Tim actually found you ?"
eyes" he replied taking her hands,
and then lifting her tell-tale face to
find confirmation of her words in
the innocent depths of her dark eyes.
"Tim found me and here I am, Nettie;
but I have only ten or fifteen minutes
to stay. Let us walk in that path yon-
der, whore we can talk undist acL,d-
ly;" and he drew her hand through
his arm. "Your note tells me of this
jack-a-napes whim of your fathers,
and the consequent son, in-law bust
ness. 1t fairly makes my blood boil
to think he would subject you to such
trial"
"But you can jump further than any
one else, Tom, and you wont have to
go to Carlisle, will you?'
"No, thank fortune, not for some
time. We are at Fort Cumberland
now, but in few days will be near
er this plantation. Col. Stanwix sent
me down with party of men to help
dose these Indians with gunpowder.
They have committed some fearful
ravages not very far of"
81 wonder where Col. Washington
is? Why doesn't he stop these cruel
ties, if he is as brave as they say"
asked Nettie.
because Gov. Dinwiddie is always
interfering with him. He has scarce
ly more than enough men at his own
headquarters in Winchester to protect
Fort Loudon alone. As to his bra