The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-24
When the Land Was Young.

CInE Jay TIC 1OtuCn NC0lAAlH VI - wal
Thy wife (our daughter) and so many OF
thy family as may conveniently come are
hidden with thee 70 the feast
HUGH SAXBY,
Dated Sept Is. 1s47.
This quaint invitation is among the
sacred relics Of our family, preserved in
the oaken writing desk which belonged
10 my grandmother, to whose golden
wedding my father was thereby invited.
Alas, 10 think that my own silver we'd
ding is since passed and my golden we'd
ding day approaching. The name OF
Saxby even has already disappeared, ex-
cept only I'm my eldest son, Hugh Saxby
Noreland. who himself has left the home
Of his youth and is now a prosperous
merchant OF St. Louis.
Blu IL was to write OF my grandmother
that I took up my pen, and to that in
tent I have opened her cabinet and
taken out therefrom the packet of her
letters and her journal to refresh my
memory and bring before me the remem-
brance of herself and the story OF her
life. which she told to me after ! went
20 live at her house an orphan, my
father and mother having both died of
a fever which ravaged the land. And
the better 10 have my grandmother be-
fore the readers eyes I will let her speak
as she spoke to me wheI telling the
story:
! was born (said my grandmother in
the midst of strife. when our land was
being freed from the tyrant, az the say
ing was, though in truth men fought
for liberty of conscience at the first
rather than for separation from the
mother country; but being borne along
by success the ambition of a few
snatched at the chance Of political power
and the land was declared independent.
Nay. child (my grandmother still called
me a child. though at the time I had
already seen and loved John Moreland.
my husband). nay. my child, do not ask
me for a story of those times. though
many were the deeds OF heroism done
by our countrymen, for I could only re-
peat TO thee what 1 have heard my faith
er and mother tell. Rather will 1 con-
fine myself 70 what has happened to me.
for II is well that thou shouldst know
Of 1t. seeing that it is of the history of
our family.
My fathers family before the late
troubles with the King of England was
Of very considerable wealth and sta
ton. being descended from a former gov
ernor of the colonies dispatched hither
by King Charles III, whose son elected
To remain here after the term of his
father had expired. We were therefore
more highly thought of, being higher
born than the other settlers in these
parts, who were for the most part
Quakers, Anabaptists and others who
sought here the liberty OF conscience
denied them in England, though some
Of them equaIled u family in wealth of
possessions.
/ was brought up straightly as regards
etiquette, though in matters of religion
rather loosely. l have since come. by
the grace of God, to think more serious
ly of heavenly things and less of earthly
through the influence of my deal hus-
band, and from him / have also learned
TO say thee and thou, though not a
quaker, rs he is. / grew up to be a
beautiful girl. Nay, doubt not, child.
Though l am bent and wrinkIed, remem-
Der that / am now nea eighty years
or age, and surely it is no longer vanity
10 speak Of that which has long since
withered way, except in the eyes of
one only, who tells me that I am more
beautiful to-day than / ever was, while
he is to me the comeliest man L have
ever seen. But I am wandering. Thou
shouldst keep me to my story, child.
My father lived in great state, with a
large retinue of servants, and slaves to
till the fields. and the house was con-
tinually filled with guests to kill the
monotony Of our country life. OF re-
ligiOn there was very little in the house
save in the outward form of attending
church. In politics my fathers cavalier
blood remained unchanged. / have even
heard him complain. when talking to his
friends, that the country was no longer
fit to live in since Jack was as good as
his master and the privileges of the
gentry were all swept away. Yet he
submitted to the change brought about
by General Washington. and served a
number of years as a member of Con-
gress.
tell. saucy girl. The story OF my meet
ing with thy grandfather and his court
ship; a love story. 'Tis we'll to see thy
bushes. child. They are the blazon of
thy innocence. and thy John is a good
man and true
Our first meeting OF which I have re-
membrance was on his wise. The Sax
by farm marched with my fathers
estate, and we were neighborS, though
a full two miles divided the houses. But
AltAt was III 4llCAOCA4AP 1tNOC Jul
family and theirs, for they were Quak-
ers and not of gentle blood. At that
time / was about fourteen years OF age,
and my elder sister being Of marriage
able age. though not yet married, i was
kept under somewhat until she should
be spoken for. Being a proud, willful
girl. / was glad TO take my opportunity
10 run away from the observations OF
our governess, and so. my
pony one day-it was a day which has
since become memorable to me, being
the 18th OF September| rode away
alone. pretending TO GO no further than
the paddock. where i was allowed to
ride without escort. But after / had
ridden a while in the paddock, being
tempted by the beauty of the day, the
mad fit seized me to canter trough the
woods. which came here almost TO the
house.
Accordingly. I opened the paddock
gate, and. gaining the road unseen, was
soon galloping down the thoroughfare
which led over hill and dale to the next
village. All went we'll until. reaching
the bottom of the hill. / came TO a
stream which must be forded, there be-
ing no bridge. Here l designed 10 stop
and retrace my steps, but the pony,
seeming the water. would no longer
obey me. Without regarding my pulling