Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-10-26
AhOlaha
ALITTLE MARYLAND CAPTIVE
An Historical Romance of the Pioneer History OF
Western Maryland
ply, an he thinks a heap of her."


"Come in, Moll, come to yer daddy"
Marie stood trembling, but her
mother held her close and her father
said: "You may as well stop that nom
sense, my friend. If you had daugh-
ter carried off I'm sorry for you, and
1 hope you will find her as we have
now found ours, and are going to take
her home"
"No you WON'T" yelled Brocker,
"she's my darter, Moll, an you take
her eff you dare"
A little crowd had gathered on the
street and man stepped forward,
saying, "What is this fuss here,
Brocker?"
Brocker knew him, a Justice of the
Peace, and he answered him in more
subdued tones, esquire, this here man
says as how my darter, Moll, is his'n,
an he says as he'll take her home, but
I'll see him Id first,' shaking his
fist at Marie's father.
The Squire, seeing that Marie's pa
rents were respectable people, and that
she clung to them, and knowing
Brokers character, said, "You just
come to my Office, all of you, and We'll
try to settle this"
1t was some distance to his office, but
they followed him, accompanied by
the crowd on the street, which increas-
ed as they passed along, and finally
quite filled the Office.
"Now," said the Squire, "well give
both parties to this dispute hearing,
and decide according to the evidence,
to the best of our ability"
81 presume, sir" he said to Marie's
father, "that you are the plaintiff and
We'll hear you first. Your name,
please, AMI residence"
Casper Schmidt" said Marie's IA
ther, "from Frederick County, Mary
land"
"Take this book in your right hand,
Mr.. Schmidt" and he administered the
customary oath.
"Now please to proceed" said the
Justice.
Mr.. Schmidt told the story of his
daughters abduction by the Indians,
their hearing some months ago that
she was alive and that the Indians
were about to give her up to the Pro-
vincial Government at Philadelphia;
that he had come to Lancaster to at
tend a Synod of the Moravian Church
now in session, and hearing that a
man living here had found his own
daughter, who, it was said, had been
carried off by the Indians, he had gone
to see him and learn more about it,
and at or near his house, had found
this child, his own daughter Marie;
who at once knew them as her parents,
and they knew her as their child. That
he had told that man-pointing to
Brocker-that she was their child, and
they would take her home, and he had
resisted them with threats.
"Have you any witnesses, Mr..
Schmidt ?" asked the Squire.
"If you can send to the Moravian
Meeting House for Bishop Spangen-
berg, the president of the Synod, and
for the Rev. Mr.. Richter, who was our
minister when the Indians took our
daughter, they will testify for me-"
The Justice sent messenger with a
note, requesting the presence of the
Bishop and the minister for few mo-
ments. Meanwhile we will hear the
defendant" said he.
Brocker stepped up and the oath
was administered to him.
"Now tell your story straight" " said
the Justice.
Brocker proceeded to give his ver-
sion of the circumstances in a ram
bling, incoherent manner, saying again
and again that the child was his
daughter Moll, and he would like to
see any man take her away.
While he was speaking Bishop
Spangenberg and the Rev. Mr.. Richter
entered the Office. The Squire arose
and courteously invited them to come
forward and assist him to determine
to which of these two men, Mr.. Schmidt
and Mr.. Brocker, the girl there pres
ent with Mr.. and Mrs. Schmidt be-
longed as his daughter.
Bishop Spangenberg went to Marie,
and taking her by the hand, kindly
said, T am glad to see you again,
Marie. Your honor, I have recently
seen this child in Ltitz and in Beth
lehem, when the Indians who had
carried her loft as a captive were
bringing her to Philadelphia, and she
told me that her name was Marie
Schmidt. The Indians had given her
the Indian name Aholaha, but she
gave her name To the authorities in