The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-12-13
THE PIONEERS DAUGHTER.
BY UNKNOWN.

II was in the winter Of l777, memo
rable through ali the annals OF Amer
ican his ory as that in which the SUI
ferlng army, uuder General Washing
tou, was encsnped ct Valley Forge
Among tho brave and patriotic bant
was Alfred Sydney, a lineal descend
ant of Sir Pnilip Sydney. Chamber
lain TO King Henry II, and OF Alger
non Sydney, who died OH the scafiold
a martyr to his princip e.. 1h,
young wife OF Afro Sydney. wher
Ter husband went 0orih ~ hight III,
battles OF the Revolution. was, with
their infaat child. received into the
bone OF her childhood-her father
Mr. Vernon. being sturdy aud in
telligent pioneer in a then sparscly
settled district in the State OF New
York. This home IL the scene OF the
present sketch.
The dangerous proximity OF Tho
frontier hal induced Mr.. Vernoh's
neighbors, few enough before, TO re-
move nearer the forts and atrong
holds in possession Of tho army, until
he was left quite alone at distance
of ten miles from any settlement ;
but, e ny i,n less man. he was lii
Ito disturbed ny the circumstances
Ills wife being dead. himself, his
daughter, and the infant compri.ed
Tie household. Clara Sydney, inner
iling her fathers spirit of proud in
dcprn lsnc', ept qui tly IN tls
insulated home, dreaming not Of red
coats or rchlping knives. and regret
ting only the rcmoteness from any
point at which news regarding the
state OF the country was TO be OBJ
tanned Gladly would she iii alone
The long day with her helpless babe.
Ms often as she could prevail on her
father 10 90 10 town for letters from
Alfred, or any tidings that might
affect him.
One day in Janusrv, Mr.. Vernon
set of ally on ono Of these visits To
the settlement but when the sun SET,
and tho brief twilight settled into
night, Clara was still alone. She
was neither iimid nor apprehensive !;
yet she listened e,gerly for her
fathers footsteps. or stood before the
little square window. her hand shad
iug her eyes from flic freight. look
ing forth into tho starry night; but
listened and looked in vain.
Supper waited, the small table was
neatly spread. the fragrant ten bnb-
blcd on the hearth. the vcnison steaks
we're ready, the light short cake In
the old bahe.pan was browning
slightly, and still Clara waited tor
her father, and wniicd in vain. At
last, she was Obliged TO confess to
herselfa feeling OF uneasiness. The
night, clear and Stall, was severely
cold, and without the light OF Il he
moon. Her father might have been
belated, aud lost his way; and, il go,
il must DO exceedingly difficult to
find ii IN the darkness. with the road
deeply buried in unirackcd snow.
oyer whose crusted surface he walked
upon snow shoes.
She took down the diuner-horn
from where it depended by a string
from nail on the end of the dresser
and, going without, blew il loud and
shrill full a dozen times, hearkcning
after each blast, till the echoes died
away in the surrounding forests, but
it called forth no response of hui
man voice. Once, indeed, she
thought che heard q call but fe "
moments listening convinced her that
it waa only the distant baying of n
wild bcast--a sound not so unusual il
that neighborhood as 10 excite alarm
The unwonied noise breaking in
upon the's,ilness had awakened hel
babe; and Mrs. Sydney re entered
the house in. haste TO still its wild
crying. The little creature seemed
thoroughly frightened; aud tor the
next half hour, she carried 1t in hel
arms 10 and fro through the room
trying Intellectually to still its crying
AT last, when both were nearly ex
hausied, The mother threw hersei
upon the bed, her infant still eIaspet
to her breast, whereof shortly grew
| quiet and fell asleep.
Clara was not deeply alarmed con
corning her father; he was no novic'
in forest adventure; had hunted an,
camped out on many wintry nigh
ike this. Mr.. Vernon never wen
without his gun and plenty OF amnu
milton and that day he carried ava,
with him small, sharp Ratchet, sluni
al his belt behind. lie had thus tn
means OF making fire and Of de
tending himself ugains. wild beasts
as to the other dangers peculiar I
the period, she considered as she ha
ever done.
The tall clock at the head of the be
struck eleven while she lay ther
medtating. II could not have bee
long after this, that she fell into
state between waking and sleeping
such a state as most persons, perhar
experience many times in their lii
in which the mind retains more O
+, less consciousness OF outward thing
though the bodily faculties SCENE
bound as in fetiers of iron. Her fir,
sensation was of suffering from coli
y which grew more and more inteni
,, every moment. She believed the I'll
i had burnt out, and wished 10 rise al
!, replenlsh it, but felt that il was b,
You'd her power. They were lyir
r on the outside ofthe bed, but she wi
u glad to remember having drawn Il
coverlid snugly over her babe.
A In this state of helpless consciou
!, ness, suddenly there came TO her e
y the report ola musket; and imme
a lately following that succession
the most horrible sounds that ev
/. rent the midnight air, sending di
!, may to the human hoart--the despe
: ate shouting ola man, mingling wi
a fierce yelping of wolves, closing
: upon their prey in determined al
At ine.is ible attack.
\, The interrogation flashed aero
y a a IL.