Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-07-27
Thurrlont Frederick County, Maryland Thursday July e. 1922

of the mountain, log house built il
1748 by the Moravian Brethren, for {
church and school house, on a tract Of
land given to them by the Hon. DAME
Dulany; the first house of the present
village of Graceham, in Frederick
county.
Thinking, however, that there may
not be so much danger after all, the
settler returned to his farm to gather
his harvest, taking his little daughter
Marie and two older children with him
Marie is placed on a horse while the
others trudge slowly along the rough
! path up the mountain.
Father" said Marie, whose blue
eyes and golden hair give her an ap-
pearance of delicacy that does not
seem suited to her rough environment,
81 wish we had finished our work and
were going back. l think l heard a
shot in the woods just now, and I'm
afraid the Indians will come"
Don't be afraid, daughter" he re
piled, 81 do not think there is any
danger. Maybe some of those rough
white fellows who try to scare people
away from their farms are prowling
around, but they won't hurt u.s."
81 wish you would get me gun, fa-
ther," said John, boy of fourteen,
$50 that l could help you."
"In good time, Johnnie" his father
answered. 81 don't think you need it
just now."
"But / could shoot some of the
squirrels that are so plentiful, and eat
our crops, and some wild beasts too,
maybe, father, like that wildcat
mother had to fight off the other day,
when she was baking"
"Well, son, you can take this gun
sometimes, and see what you can do"
So they advanced into the noun
tain solitudes, until their deserted
home is safely reached. Marie is as
sisted to dismount, and they attend to
the work for which they had come
After collecting few articles to take
back with them to their place of ref
uge, they hear the report of gun,
and a bullet strikes a tree close by.
Father" exclaims John, 81 see an
Indian yonder!"
"Oh, l thought they would come,
cries Marie, "now what shall we dol!
She is quickly placed on the horse,
and her father says, "Ride back as fast
as you can. We will follow
But she has gone only short dis
tance when several Indians, grim and
terrible in their war-paint, with rifle,
tomahawk and scalping knife, sur
round her. One of them seizes her in
his brawny arms, and drags her from
the horse, while her father and broth
ers stand in mute terror and dismay.
"Oh father, help me! Help me, IA
therw she cries, vainly struggling to
free herself from the rude grasp Of
her captor. And her father would
rush to her side, but bullet whizzes
past his head and another strikes the
tree at which he is standing, and he
sees that it is vain to think of rescu-
ing her from the savages at whom he
fears to shoot lest he should harm his
child. Shall he offer himself as cap
tive too, that he may at least go with
Marie, and perhaps somehow save her
from the terrible fate that may awaft
her at the hands of the savages? But
he knows that they would rather have
his scalp, or would probably torture
and kill him in the end. And what
then will become of the rest of his
family?
While he debates with himself in
agonized uncertainty, the Indians,
5strangely appearing satisfied with
their booty, and offering no further vi
olence, glide away silently in the forest
dragging the helpless child with them,
until her voice still crying, "Help me,
father! Oh father, help meY is lost
i'm the distance.