Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-09-21
AhOlaha
An Historical Romance of the Pioneer History of
Western Maryland
A.LITTLE MARYLAND CAPTIVE
BY the late Rev. A. L. Oerter

tizing meal prepared, and some pro
visions were given to Johann, who wa!
shown where they could be prepared
for the men in one of the outbuildings
When they had all finished, and Jo
ham offered to pay for their enter
tainment, the man refused to accept
anything, saying, GIVE been here now
some twenty-odd years, first settler il
these parts and I've roughed it con.
siderable, but Ben Chambers is from
old Ireland, God bless her! and never
yet asked anything but thanks from
them as he could feed"
Their host was indeed Benjamin
Chambers, on the site of whose clear
ing the future town of Chambersburp
named in his honor, was to arise.
Thanking him heartily for his hospi-
tality the travellers were about to GO
on their way when a daer appeared at
the edge of the forest just beyond the
clearing. Dannie spied it first and
exclaiming "Deer!" shot and wounded
it, and shot from one of the Indians
brought it down. Quickly running up
one of the hunters despatched the ami
NAL, which they then brought to the
cabin, where the flesh was divided be-
tween the travellers and their host,
who declared that now they were more
than square.
By evening they had arrived at the
base of a mountain ridge and en-
camped there for the night. Having
crossed the ridge and advanced sew
eral miles the next morning, they
found the country more thickly settled.
Although on their appearance they
were regarded by many with mistrust,
an explanation of their character and
purpose was always sufficient to OBJ
tain for them kindly and hospitablc
treatment. Such was their experience
when evening found them at the little
farm of one of the pioneer settlers
and they asked permission to stop
there over night. The weather had
become sultry, and as the sky was
clouded and some drops of rain were
already falling, and they could hear
the distant rumble of thunder, the
settlers wife took pity on the women
whom she saw with the party, and in
vited them into the house. Dannie got
permission to put Marie's pony in the
stable while the other horses were
sheltered elsewhere, and the Indians
were permitted to occupy an clubhouse.
When all was arranged the man took
Dannie and Johann into the house with
him, being evidently glad to have their
company.
ave haven't much room to spare
here" said he, "but maybe we can
make out for one night"
After sharing the evening meal of
the family, some food being also sent
out to the Indians, they sat together
very sociably, Johann giving the set
tier some account of their journey.
The settlers wife asked Marie where
her home was and when she had been
told exclaimed, "Why, that amt fan
from here, is it, Jamos?"
"No," he replied, "you can get the"e
in a day, easy"
Marie had an idea that her home
where her parents were still mourn
ing her as -fbst to them forever, and
her brothers and sisters were wonde,-
ing what the Indians had done with
her, was really not more than days
journey to the south distant, and hard
ly that. Mrs. Robinson knew that il
was not much farther to her formea
home, but they all realized that they
were still captives and could not go te
their homes even if they were still
nearer. Marie made room for Dannie
who had gone to look after the pony
beside her on a bench in one corner Of
the room, when he came back to the
house, and managed to, hold his hant
whiIe~ she looked what she could moi
express and he pressed her hand gent
ly to reassure her.
I Meanwhile the storm was coming
nearer. There had been several f1ashe!
of lightning and thunder-peals grew
louder and louder and just as theil
host opened the door to look out, ther'
was binding flash and an instant af
ter a terrific thunder-burst, and thel
the rain fell in torrents. Now f1asl
followed flash, and peal followed peal
as the full fury of the storm ragged a
bovo and around them, until it scenes
as though the dread artillery of tn
heavens would blast and demolish al
things beneath their terrible power
Those in the cabin little dreamed tha
these same fields and hills would trem
BILE and resound, an hundred years la
ter, with the thunderous reverbera