Year: 1859

Charles Lsnox was little above the medium
height, had dark hair, dark brown eyes, light
complexion, was rather slender, but was finely
built, and when he walked or ran there was an
elasticity in his step and grace in his motions,
seldom seen to such perfection in any one. He
was, seemingly. yielding in his disposition and
willing TO fellow rather than lead, yet now
when look back and recall all his history,
while he remained in our back woods Indian
settlement, history which then so little knew
or understood, am led TO judge him differently
from what he seemed, and 10 think that instead
of yielding in all things to us we wele bindly
following him, aud were the unsuspecting sub
jects OF his strong but subtle will. He had the
faculty OF concealing his feelings from those he
was with, aud of seeming to be frank aud open
hearted when he was most dark and designing
in his purposes. He was more skilled than we
OF the back.woods in reading human chara cter,
and could at once interpret our most secret
thoughts. Bat this is the character give him
after years of reflection and experience in the
word then, when knew him intimately as
supposed, thought him the best, most social,
companionable and warm hearted fellow that
had ever met We walked together, hunted to-
gether, became, in short, as thought, boo and
bosom companions. | conided to him all my
secrets, received his advice on all subjects, and
believed, then, that he confided in me as fully,
but now see that the confidence was all on
my part-1 never was intrusted with secret
that he regarded as such. He kept his own
counsel and yet made me think that he shared
with me his every thought, With all this sub
tlety and double purpose which he so success
fully concealed, he possessed high and noble
qualities OF mind. He had tast. for poetry,
was pensive and even melancholy at times,
dreamy wandering alone in some quiet retreat,
and perhaps indicting verses which reflected the
saddened feelings of his heart This is an i'm
perfect, though hope no. altogether untrue
outline of Charles Lnox, as he now presents
himself to me after the lapse Of many years.
hope have not given his character colorng
which exhibits him in a more unfavorable light
to the reader than facts will warrant it is not
my wish to do So and yet, confess that may,
even at this late period, judge him partially
that may not give suffi :ient weight to the fact
that this was new life to him, and freed in
hismind from those binding obligations of honor
which usually obtained among gentlemen in civil
lized society. He thought, doubtless, that he was
only among Indians and back-woods settlers, but
a little removed from Il EN- in all their habits and
assoca lions. | say this, lest by viewing his
character from nn improper standpoint, may
do him an injustice. There is one other circum-
stance, also, which feel it my duty TO relate,
which leads me to think that he had been
wronged by his parents, and that by brooding
over his fdncied injuries he became somewhat
reckless as to what he sii this was letter
which came into my possession some years after
had known him. | will here copy portion
Of it for the reader:


"DrAREsr MARY IL am writing on my knee
in this deep solitudc-this desert West, where
civilization is scarcely percep;ible, this lonely
place Of my banishment. o how lonely! How
full of solitude How far removed from thee
The dense forests which surround me are not
more dark aud full OF gloom than my own heart.
Why were we separated? Why was banished
to this wilderness, where none but Indians
are my companions? But the time is near when
my father can no longer command. Then,





West where solitude, dense and perpetual,
reigns, this, far away land where there are
no churches, no schools, no anything but wild
beasts and savages. ~
This extract will throw CLEAN of light,
dim though it be- on his earlier life, and will also
explain, somewhat. the cause Of his melancholy
at times, which have already referred to-
Several scraps ofpoetry have also come into my
possession, all of which are seemingly unstudied
and yet full of that melancholy sadness which
is reflected in the letter. from which | have
quoted. 1t may not be Inappropriate to give to
the reader the following verses which were found
carved on the bark Of tree ia locality near
where Charles Lsnox was known frequently to
wander alone


Tn far away from thee, love,


No kindly voice hear;


There's nanght in all | see, love,


To give moments cheer


I'm far away from thee love,


In solitude | roam


There's naught in all | see, love.


To call my thoughts from home.


I'm thinking aye Of thee, love,


AS here and there stray;


There's naught in all see love,


To call my thoughts away.


Then why away from thee love.


Was l compelled 10 go,


Since nauSht in all see, love,


Brings aught to bur woe.