The National tribune., 1902-11-13

'but l can tell it in few words, as l
must. My first remembrance is of being
in beautiful garden, and some one was
with me. / think it must have been my
mother. At any rate she was very beau
tiful, as beautiful as you are, and about
your age Suddenly, without warning, our
dreams were broken by the yell of the
Indians, and my mother was dashed from
me, and l was borne off in the arms of
brawny warrior. l remember of look
ing back, as cried for help. of seeing her
lying there so white and still. l never
have got that awful picture quite out of
my poor mind. After a long. terrible
Journey through trackless wilderness l
was taken to Montreal, and placed in the
care of French family. / cannot COM
plain of their treatment, but every night,
for a long time, 1 cried myself to sleep
thinking of mother.
FINALLY, the good woman with whom /
lived first, died, and / was placed in the
convent Even there / was not very un-
happy, save for the sad memories of the
past l was allowed many liberties, and
1 found among my associates several kin
dred spirits. But when I was IA l was
taken away by those whom suppose were
my Indian captOrs, and l was made to
live among them at a small settlement this
side of Montreal. l had far rather they
should have killed me, than to have been
placed among them. l think they feared
I might kill myself, for was constantly
watched. Finally was told that / must
marry one of the braves. About that time
| l was told that someone had come to see
me, and that to please him must meet
ihim.
"But before I was allowed to do this,
without dreaming who it could be who had
interest in such a forlorn outcast, ! was
made to solemnly promise that whatever
might be said to me, l should reply that
l did not wish to go away. l was charged
not to speak in English, and to say as
few words as possible in the Indian
tongue. Under such conditions I was led
out to meet the stranger, clad in the garb
of the race that held me as its prisoner.
There proved to be two men waiting
to see me, while down by the bank of the
river l saw a boat with other men. One
of the couple that had called for me was
the Governer, whom l had seen at Mon
ltreal The other man / did not know,
but ! soon knew that he was an agent
sent by father to ransom me from my
lcaptors. Can you feel my agony, Can
you realize tie awful thoughts that filed
my troubled mind? / listened to him in
lfeigned indifference, while my heart was
bursting within me. and when he was
done replied in that tongue which he did
not understand. An Indian was called
Ito explain to him that I did not care to
leave my present situation!
'1Then he pictured to me in earnest,
heartfelt words the sorrow of my parents,
and told me that it would break my
mothers heart, if l did not return with
him. He said they had been searching
for me all the years, and now that they
had found me 1 must go home. How
sweet that word sounded, but l knew !
lshould be killed the next moment did
answer truthhfully, and 1 shook my head,
Though not till l felt the point of the
Chiefs knife that he held under his
blanket piercing my flesh until the blood
lstarted.
"The Governor also interceded, but
when Ire was done the Indian declared that
they had heard with their ears my an
iswer. had seen me with their own eyes,
and that it was no use to say more. With
what feelings you may imagine i was led
away, and back to slavery worse than
! death. l suppose the Elen went away,
! as never saw them again. ! suppose the
} Governor dared not press the claim of my
tparents, and probably he excused himself
by saying that l openly said / did not
wish to go back.
"Soon after preparations were begun for
me to marry the Chief, and in my despera.
! ton 1 managed to escape them that very
might. / crept down to the river, and TAX
: ling one of the canoes set off down the
stream, going l knew not whittier. but de.
ltermined never to be taken alive. All
night long l fonted with the current, and
the next day, stopping only long enough
to pick some berries growing near the
lbank, and digging some roots. At last
1 reached Quebec, when l was taken care
of by some French priests. They meant
! to be kind to me. but / soon found the
: rules more rigid than at Montreal, and
was allowed fewer privileges. They
claimed this was necessary on my part.
las it would not do for the Indians to know
: was there. Six months ago I was re.
moved to this place, though for what rea-
son I do not know"
!, "Your experience has been harder to
bear than mine," said Mary, but before
!. feet coming down the road at smart can.
. ter reached their ears.
u 1T is Intendant Bigot and his men re-