New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09
MADAM MOULTON'S STORY
BY ADELINE A. KNIGHT

at Unmpion whereby my father, Robert Moody
came TO : cnd-his boat and he beng hited IN
ia tIov savd almost in sight OF Our home and
then drawn down TO death by III IhISHN "d Th
IN dccp seas Well | mind our home l'S Il
small place where three little pines stand IN Il
INV the Icncth of a meadow from IL common
field and cure next naybOuI-a >oId, low mouse
under bic trees and well set about WIN FENCES
and palisadoes-thc Garrison house they Dc~lL
Nv mother Mistress Betty Moody. could scarce
abde in ourc Logsc before my fathers drcadtull
davc--so fearsOmc Va> She of redskins. For ale
th' world doth know that in tLat Ncare- twas
ten vcarcs before King Charles dicd-thc red
men harried allc Ncw-Ensland. After In eyre she
grew so paSSlonachc aieared that IL Ich ana
but cacllc on a stone step tn cloud would grow
upon her features like sea turned upon IN
land and she would catch mp tn babe. glanclns
fcarfullic at my brother cutting wood or hoclns
the patch, and al me upon Tn dNe-tuO knitting
And of mOOu-ht nights size would stare from our
lattice upon the dccpc woods.
Child. she has said to my brother often, as
wee all pcCred together, ready dressed Tor HlS NJ.
Does that bush move? McthlnkS It's IN color
OF TN pale ground.
The Indians forayed in white. to simmer along
in tn frendlc silence of the still moon like NapoIS
lying next the slound.
looking bicce as ne could. but trembling too,
though ne Sayd twas because the Aprl night was
chill and the woodpilc too small for brave neat.
Hast thou not NEE And the Garrison mouse
80 near Robert alwaicS added this last, though
he was a brave dark boy. ike our father in 3
face. straight -browed and looking with level eyes.
lie would cry when DE tondcd Tn babe Such
uiChtS-'twaS a sweet eirl babe and Witle llk"
our mother. And finally when one night came 81
man riding hard TO tell that WatohanioWcl-"h"
had long disputed boundailcs-"ds ON l"' Val
path with mamie braves my brother was fam
Tor allie his serious talk To lay hold Of as many
trenchcTS as a could carry, ana order me 10 OflAs
tn bed. our mother following with her babe
There came no Indians, and Wee went back
/ the home next day. But The Spnng WAS
j. the last o. spring he came and did throw himself
Lcadlong on IN floor I'm sweat
Rose SAITH he, there IS nut one Ic4 Wi'I
murrain had settled upon our poor fowls, giving
them naked crops and backs which hliStered
The sun. And all the maize be yellow saith
he There is no hill that is good and greene 4:
and thou knowest how have watcrcd it,"
1t was hot afternoon, with shore wind our
mothers hair chung TO her pretty temples IN It'"l
damp rings, as She scwed al tn bed valence,
sweet with lavender-our mother was e'er dainty
Lie. rest, my good lad saith she. wien
III suns down Rose and | Will help carry water.
not lose thv maize" And She smiled such a
ancc on tn day of ones distress.
When that II was cOOle. our mother was as
good as a word, carrying full plggns from III
spring with haste Tor fear o IN babes awaken
ing A shoes were bad and they did tear upon
tn stony dirt, the skin reddenlng ! IN sliS ;
but she only flew the faster. her arms strain
ing with her loads. Then would She fall 10 and
dig, while tn damp settled and frogs / IN pools
clamOrcd. And then n when we coud Sc" "
ged and fOoteorc. hut with klnde white looks
at Robert and me rakcd tn ashes oil the
stick and warmed III bread.
But our maize was ne CT 70 he harvested.
Another fell story came 20 Hampton of more
Indians coming from inland. Well | wot how
my mother paled and scrccchcd Robert Ron
err when the naYbur body told it, smoothing
her Primers by cure hearth. My brother rushed
in from the patch; but he saw, and did l. twas
our father She was calling
sat NE down 10 spin next day, my stunt being
marked for me. Twas fayre morning, ana
Robert, outside. went back and forth IKE IN
shuttle i the web / our hcld. Ana mother she
nut on the Grape shuwl-'tWAs foreign and flow
cred most bcautifully-and taking tn babe IN
as arms She starts for tn beach for an airing.
Of willowy shape, hurrying across tn fields
i m salt ayre-the little white bundle in as
arms.
Now. She did 90 to o hairy captain of a great
smack i the harbor, and SAYS She with a courtesy
our mother was aye m4nncrlN- =.
Il am Robert Moody'S wle. and ! have IN
mind 20 live at the Shoals. Wilt carry out my
But he looked with a weary merry face at
Best STAY on t mainland, good wife Thou
dost not know what j. Life on the Shoals. Thou
canst not help pull IN a trawl'' sad the man.
40. but my son can, said our mother quick
lie and lifting her timid eyes lie IS fifteen, and
20. if thy son can work for thee said the
captain. And tn bargain was cllnchcd by u
Our mother did plan this fitting because those
sure refuge from red men. Dreadful Joke Of
the seas went there, but Indians never
In another wcekc we were far from our
hollvoaks and our dcare Tustical porch. The
1oppaus o. the Garrison house helped rs on
even running with d tch OF bacon WHcn We
were upon tn load. Mr. ToDpan seeming IN a
browne study over my mothers %HticIihH EYES rs
Dut he SAID nothing. our gear was WOelullN
broken i tn handling. Robert breaking the
green beakcr as We crowded upon III s'h"Ck-a
having The glass IN p hands Tor saic'N. ~ NJ
lntolcrable smells Of our craft as we went TOuk
ING and dipping upon the green waves we
could but say naught and cover our heads close
as The sailors advised for sickness. TIL al lcnt
when Robert and ] came up for breath Ike
fishes, 10 great and small fields before and round
is set upon III Sea like the stones III splendid
ing upon Lady chickering's finger But aiaS
Hampton was now httcl rimmc Of wurld Of
water
our home on the shoals was a close chamber
Of "a miserable but. our bed with IT'S haneines oc-
cupYing Lalf tn space. Onlic one pane i the
easement, and thai upon "a prospect o. dole
fullc of tie deep seas. We all thnned for tn
swcte fresh ayre oi Hampton, and M cleanliness
and IN quiet and tn pleasant smells. sights and
sounds. Our mother sttte allie day ~ her wheel.
and ! AT her feet. hetchellina fax and tow. And
tn puny babe between us, minded too little some
times. Then would come in l;oncrt with Il great
fish pcrchancc. or kettle Of clans and would
take up IN precious mite into his cathcrn icrkiu.
not DER clean 10 touch, and kiss and hug her
till tn tiny maids irocks we're allie rumpcd.
Twas plain 10 see this wild life suited Robert.
He liked III sea. But tho the liic pleased him.
il harmed him. foul words beginning to stick in
IS memory and fall from 5 tongue.
The end came One night We were stirred from
sleep by a horrible face at our easement Twas
Of a foul man, drunk ever, and sprawled upon
IN rocks continualic in drunkenness-'twas said
Inc was 10 have been hanged on the land and
did never dare step of the shoals
Wake, woman beloved the harsh voice.
Look, all Of We"
And as we huddled at tn easement he pointed
|. DER the heaving waters rejecting fun moon
to a flock Of canoes like swimming BIRDS We
could see dark forms il them. steering with arrOwy
paddles.
% what shall do?7 shriekcd our mother.
90, what shall / do ?"
"Do?" yelled the man " hide thee! liark We
Hank We There's no time for boats but there
a cliff j. the rocks back o. tn ish.houSe IhOu u
tnow il by the biz balanced rock where the babes