Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-05-30

10 remain over night in the woods. to walk
d through the wilderness alone
On she went, noticing with pleasure the
signs OF spring on every side. The brown
n buds Just bursting. and the tender green
leaves peeping out. She thought of the
r garden she would have planted with the
seed she had in her tea kettle Then she
would beguie the weary way with
snalches OF songs or old strains from
some old hymns she had heard her mothcr
sing, until l think the birds must have
hushed their songs to listen to this strange
music.
Just as the suns declining rays gave
warning that the day was almost gone,
Phebe came TO Il pond, now called
"Streeter's Pond" which she must ford.
Concluding to wait till morning before
crossing, she began 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 way that it formed kind of cradle.
She fixed Il bed ont 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,
lowering 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 60 to sleep. Long
she lay gazing up though the branches
of the tree at the stars twinking 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
s,umbers or sleeps" she fell into dream
less 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 |
unrefreshed, but thankful the night had |
been passed in safety. She ate her
breakfast resurrected her tea.ketlle, and |
was soon on her way. She was deter
mined 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 al dark, when she
was beginning to think she would not
be able to 60 on for she could not
see the marked trees, tho path be-
gan 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 few log houses, and from the open
door of one she could see the cheerful
CLEANS of fire light; how pleasant it
looked to the chilled, exhausted woman.
Pressing on she directed her steps to
that house, and was kindly received by
the inmates; from them she learned
that she had reached Lancaster, that her .
destination was six miles farther on, and
gladly she accepted their hospitality until
morning, when she finished her journey,
arriving at Northum berland about noon, |
giving her husband, who was just making
to 60 for her, great sur.
prise. Phebe found her anxiety had been a
needless. Mr.. Sdaulding had delayed q
going back TO Haverhill until he had put
up rude log house, so Phebe found I
home awaiting her and they were soon t
settled at housekeeping. Their furniture 4
was of the rudest kind, all being home b
made. But her tea-kettle sang Just as t
,neerfuly on her humble hearth as it had +
lone in her chidhood's home, and she t
would sit before the fire holding her baby S
and think of the time when, instead of the s
woods that now encompassed their house u
lelds OF waving grass and corn would be v
'een, and their log house exchanged for l
,ics frame building !,
She had planted her garden, and already II
he seeds We're springing up, but there $
we're times when. 1t looked very dark to /
he poor emigrants. The Indians were II
Troublesome, food was not plenty, indeed, a
heir chief dependence was upon hunting
md fishing. Some OF the party were
lnxious to return to Londonderry, and
'lr. Spaulding would have been easily
PERSUADED to have done so had it not been y
or his wife. 1t is said that she was setting 10 m.s
'ut some cabbage plants in her garden r
me afternoon when some of those who
Wished to return, came to talk the matter :,
'ver, but Phebe put her hoe down decided. ., %
y and told them, 'all to 60, every one; w
he never would"
She felt sure it only required patience - =,
md perseve ance 10 make that "wilder. a.
less blossom like the rose." n n
1t happened one time during that first =.
'ear that Mr.. Spaulding had gone hunting, "
o be gone two or three days, leaving -
'hebe and the baby alone. As it began p
o be dark she thought she would take her a: ~
'aby and 90 to the nearest neighbours, :, =,
which was about II mile, but decided she -
would not be SO foolish, and going to the T.
loor to close and fasten it, six Indians a. q,
onfronted her. u
They had approached the house so +,
oiseessly she had not heard them. Her 81 81
eart sank within her as she saw them, =
ut trying to speak as if she had no fear, II, 10
he inquired what they wanted. They in =. "
ormed her "they had come 10 her house "
D have pow wow" Probably surprise II
artes had not come into fashion then, ~
nd Phebe was rather embarrassed at the o'
announcement, but knowing that she
aust not offend the Indians by refusing, ! III
ade them come in. 81 >.
They seated themselves around the fire e
lvting Phebe to join them, and not u
airing to refuse, she sat down holding <
er baby in her arms. The Indians had
lenty of fire water" and commenced q
rinking, and passing the bottle to 81
hebe would say, brave white squaw no va va
raid drink fire water.' She would make II
pretence of accepting their offer and to co
ppear as if she were not frightened. For to
ours the Indians kept up perfect bed. IN
IN, until one by one, thew became m
vercome by the fire water'' and sunk
Ito drunken stupor. Through the pc
hole night Mrs. Spauldng sat there IN
olding her child. ea
In the morning the Indians aroused W,
NAS'i Va oiCCp OUT Oh Al
10 house. Ever after that Mrs. Spauldng .h
as considered a heroine by them, and lo'
'lled the "brave white squaw," and they el'
lpressed their admiration of ber be- NJ
lvior TO them by bringing her presents IN
game, fish and corn. Mrs. Spaulding's ma
cam was fulfilled. she saw the wilderness ln
sappear before. the ak of the woodman, MI
I'd thrifty farms and comfortable homes So sa
kes its place. TN
She lived to be about eighty, leaving irt
any descendants to cherish her memory. lo'
ne copper tea-kettle is in the possession SUI
a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who con- si
lers it one of her household treasures. wi
'rtIand 7ydnscipt. IN
tn,
cd
A young man looking over pretty str
rls shoulder while sne was playing cards sal
SarVnd uWhat a loual,, h.aa ~ t,N.. ..