Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-08-28
CHAPTER X


the Mohswk, and the snow still lay
upon the ground, in heaps and ridges,
as its playfellow, the wind, chose to
dispose it, and the moon, riding high in
the starry vault. gave weird effects to
the ermine carpet below and the black
and naked giants which flung their
gaunt arms to the sky in salutation of
the Queen of Night, and the river with
majestic rythm like host with glitter
ing crests, invincible in its might.
To-day the scene is changed, the saw
age grandeur has departed with the red
race who once Inhabited it. The Erie
canal bears the freight of tho West to
the seaboard, the scream of the loco
motive whistle takes the place of the
war-whoop OF the Mohawk brave, and
the turbulent river.
On this April night in the year 1756
Sir William johnson, sitting beside the
cheerful hearth Of his kinsman, Charles
Se1wyn, was urging upon. that youth
some suggestions, the worldly wisdom
Of which could not be doubted, falling
as they did from the lips OF a warrior
and statesman whom King George was
graciously pleased to honor with a
baronetcy in reward for q victory which
was saved from disaster by his neuten-
ant, after his gallant chief had retired
from the feld; with slight wound,
which was, however, of sufficient impor-
lance to be mentioned in the dispatches
announcing the defeat and capture OF
Dieskan at Crown Point. In fact. the
lion skin being too short, the epidermus
OF the fox was made available to exc out
the deficiency, with the happiest results
to the wearer thereof.
Charles Selwyn vas about twenty-five,
tall, browD-haired, gray-eyed, with q
resolute mouth and . thoughtful yet
cheerful expression.
The room was large with no attempt
at adofnment, unless the stags' antlers
and other trophies Of the chase suspend
ed on the walls could be counted as
such. 4 few bear skins scattered on the
floor served the purpose Of mats and, at
q pinch, beds, when guests were numer-
Gus; and the blazing logs gave all the
Zig hit that was needed on winter nights.
1t was, in short, the great hall and re-
ception-room OF IN American manor
house, rude and inelegant to European
eyes, but quite In harmony with the
genius and the requirements Of the
hardy pioneers Of . new nation. A table
strewed with books and manuscripts
gave evidence, however, that the light
Of eighteenth century intelligence was
not quite excluded by the forest shade.
From this object Sir William glanced ct
the fsce Of his nephew.
Dreams, dreamsl Charles," he said,
with IN impatient gesture, well enough
in time OF peace, but now we have other
matters on which. to sharpen our wits
and our swords"
SIS it not peaceful in the valley,
unclea" asked the youth. 'Methinks
this Arcadisn peacefulness is the nurse
OF poetic thought, the cradle Of philos-
ophy."
''Thou'art not lacking in the soldier
blood OF thy race. boy, else would not
be here tonight" replied the baronet,
dropping into famiiisr and confiden-
tial tone, land that which have to say
imports thee much.''
''You are right, uncle, but If lay my
books aside must have something to
fecompense me for the sacrifice"
"Hard blows, lad, hard blows. Turn
thine ambition in snothef channel.
King George is not . niggard Of his
favofs to those who deserve them. The
laurel on the hefo's brow is nobler than
the bay Leaf OF the poet or the toga OF
the sage"
The young man vas not as much i'm
pressed by this rhetorical speech as his
kinsmsn supposed. He was not al
together . bok-Vorm, having served
under Sir William in the gallant affair
st Lake George, where the French and
Indians under Baron Dieskan were de-
feated by the provincial troops. Per
hsps the youth knew, better than the
English home government, how small
share Sir Willism earned of that DAYS
lourel1-
70 RE Continued