Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-06-18


most gone, Phebe came to a pond,
now called '.Streeter's Pond" which
she must ford. Concluding to wait
till morning before crossing, she be-
gan to look around for some place to
spend the night. Presently the
| twisted trunk of an old hemlock
| caught her sight. 1t was crooked
in such a way that it formed a kind
of cradle. She fixed bed out of
boughs, and laid the baby who was
| asleep in this novel cradle. Then
she dug hole in the ground close
| by the tree, and put the tea kettle in,
covering it carefully, so the Indians,
should they come, would not get it.
She ate her supper and laid down by
her baby not meaning to go to sleep.
Long she gazed up through the
branches of the tree at the stars
twinkling in the sky, and listening to
the hoot of the owl, and the screech
of the catamount but her walk of
twenty-five miles, and carrying the
baby, had tired her so, she could not
keep awake, and commencing her
baby and herself to Him "whose eye
never slumbers or sleeps" she fell
into dreamless sleep.
When she awoke the day was
breaking, and the birds had already
commenced their morning concert.
She arose from her uncomfortable
bed feeling lame and unfreshed, but
Thankful. the night had been past in
saftey. She ate her breakfast, resur-
rected her tea kettle, and was soon
on her way. She was determined
not to pass another night in the
woods alone and went on as fast as
she could only stopping little while
to rest and eat her dinner. Just at
dark, when she was beginning to
think she would not be able to 90 on
for she could not see the marked
trees, the path began to widen, and
as she reached the top of the hill she
almost shouted for joy, for in little
valley at the foot of the hill were a
few log houses, and from the open
door of one she could see the cheer
full CLEANS of fire light; how pleas
ant it looked to the chilled, exhaust
ed woman. Pressing on she direct
ed her steps to that house, and was
kindly received by the inmates from
them she learned that she had reach
ed Lancaster, that her destination
was six miles further on, and gladly
she accepted their hospitality until
morning, when she finished her journ-
ey, arriving at Northumberland about
noon, giving her husband, who was
just making preparations to go to
her, a great surprise. Phebe found
her anxiety had been needless. Mr..
Spaulding had delayed going back to
Haverhill until he had put up rude
log house, so Phebe found home
awaiting her and they were soon set
tied at housekeeping. Their furni-
ture was of the rudest kind, all being
home made. But her tea kettle sang
just as cheerfully on her humble
hearth as it had done in her child
hoods home, and she would sit be-
fore the fire holding her baby and
think of the time when, instead of
the woods that now encompassed
their house fields of waving grass
and corn would be seen, and their
log house exchanged fol nice frame
building.
She had planted her garden, and
already the seeds were springing up,
but there were many times when it
looked very dark to the poor emf
grants. The Indians were trouble
some, food was not plenty, indeed,
their chief dependence was upon
hunting and fishing. Some of the
party were anxious to return to Lon
donderry, and Mr.. Spaulding would
have been easily persuaded to have
done so had it not been for his wife.
1t is said that she was setting out
some cabbage plants in her garden
one afternoon when some of those
who wished to return, came to talk
the matter over, but Phebe put her
hoe down decided and told them, "all
to 90, every one; she never would"
She felt sure it only required patti
ence and perseverance to make that
wilderness blossom like the rose.'
1t happened one time during that
first year that Mr.. Spaulding had gone
hunting for two or three days, leaving
Phebe and the baby alone. As it
began to be dark she thought she
would take her baby and 60 to the
nearest neighbor's, which was about
mile, but decided she would not be
so foolish, and going to the door to
close and fasten it, six Indians con-
fronted her.
They had approached the house so
noiselessly she had not heard them.
Her heart sank within her as she saw
them, but trying to speak as if she
had no fear, she inquired what they
wanted. They informed her ''they
; had come to her house to have a
pow wow" Probably surprise parties
, had not come into fashion then, and
| Phebe was rather embarrassed at the
: announcement, but knowing that she
, must not offend the Indians by re-
, fusing, bade them come in.