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‘Portlande
BY GOULD & ELWELL,
Office 80 Middle, near Corner ot Exchange &t,
TERMS: $1,50 PER YEAR.
One Dollar for Eight Months,
‘ AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, NEWS, &&.
VOLUME XVIO
POETRY.
a
Written for the Transcript.
. Ost “BUDS iW AUTUMN.
: BY DODOKA MONTFOREST.
Pale Autumn buds! why linger ye,
To view the earth’s decay
When the sister flowers, ail beautiful
With the Summer passed away.
” ‘Phose fleecy clouds that Lahey veiled
The Summer’s golden
Grown dark and Threatening, phantom like,
Sweep wildly ‘cress the sky.
‘she Summer wind that late so light
Came whispering through the trees,
Now pipes its lone discordant notes
‘To the rotling of the seas.
Bright was the wealth of waving green,
That decked the forest old;
But Nature now is shivering
In her scanty robe of gold.
Why then, pale buds, why tarry ye,
When all that’s bright is fled?
The chilling blast ere morrow’s eve
May lay thee wich the dead.
Types of a trusting soul are ye,
‘That hopes from morn till even:
‘So thus may I, through weal and woe,
Look calmly up to Heaven. :
A GAPITAL STORY.
THE PLEDGE.
AN IN CIDENT OF FRONTIER WARFARE.
“wy hat is to be done 7” asked Capt. Thorneastle,
as much of himself as of any other person.
No one. attempted .a reply. There was a total
silence, so deep that each might have fancied he
heard his own héart beat, and yet some forty: per-
sons were grouped on the platform of a small, ir-
regularly built fort, between Lakes Michigan and
Huron. The fort had, in tact, originally consisted
of a rade block house,built by old Mark Thorncas-
tle, for his own safe lodging, and a palisaded, en-
closure, where his cows and horses might, at need,
be driven for security. But after the early days of
the struggle between England ‘and her’ American
colony, when the bravery of Thorncastle had been
rewarded by the title of Captain of a very irregu-
lar corps of sharp shooters, composed chiefly of
the young settlers round, the block house became
its head quarters, the pelisades grew into a high,
strong, luop-hoted wall,'and a platform was ‘erect-
ed, garnished by two nine pounders, commanding
the greater portion of the open space around the
fort, while a swivel. planted on a bastion opposite,
performed that service for the remainder of the cir;
cle.
~ Rude as was this construction, the fort had with-
stood more than one rough attack—thanks perhaps
ess to its detences than to the firmness and, pra-
dence of its commandant, for Mark Thorncastle
was no novice in warfare, but had seen much hard
‘service, both in India and in Eerope, and fought
his way up from the ranks, until at last the -lead-
ing of a forlorn hope won him at once an ensign’s
commission, and a severe wound which lamed him
* for life, and cat short his military career, as he be-
lieved forever. Prosperity had attended his beating
his sword into a ploughshare among the western
” wilds, and the old soldier was waxing rich through
the arts of peace; when the breaking out of the war
recalled him'to mofe congenial pursuits, +
And again as of old, there Was one to thiok, and
feel with him, to pray for him while he fought, and
lose the remembrance of his past danger in proud
gladuess, when men praised some deed of his gal-
lantry.
* The wife who had shared the hardships and ma-
ny of the perils of his campaigns, Was long since
dead, but her only child—as fair a one as ever did
bless # father’s love—entered with her whole heart
into bis feelings. [say it advisedly, “with all her
heart,” for many a lover had found, to his sorrow,
that there was no part to spare for him.
Still, despite all her coldness, Willa ‘Thoracstl
had a crowd of suitors and admirers, attracted by
her double charms as the handsomest yirl in the
district, an* the heiress, not merely of Thoracas-
PORTLAND,
tle's s fertile acres, but of a goodly s store of Spanish
dollars beside.
All this time the party.on the platform. have
been standing as silent as we left them, looking at
the long stretch of quiet woods which lay sleeping
so calmly in the moonlight. It was a sweet, still
scene, full of repose and beauty to the eye, but all
were thinking of far other scenes which the next
night might look wpon.. For some twenty miles
away in that direction stood, on a round. hill, a
larger and stronger fort, beneath the protection of
whose guns a village had hitherto rested in, secu-
rity.
But, w'thin the last hour, a messenger had been
captured, bearing a letter from the commander of
an American force in the neighborhood of Moore’s
Fort, to bis superior officer encamped on the Ohio,
and this letter boasted that the next night would
make the fort their own.
A British officer’s servant, (an American, who
bad introduced himself into the.place for that pur-
pose,) bad engaged to admit them the following
night into the fort, which thus taken! by surprise,
must fall easily into their hands. , And though the
writer added, his strength in white troops was not
a hundred men, he depended confidently on the as-
sistance of their Indian allies, who occupied the
woods, and whom a night attack of this. sort was
the very thing to delight.
More was not required to pictare to Thorncastle
and his companions the, terrible events sure to en-
sue. They know at once that the lives of the gar-
rison of Moore’s Fort, and the helpless inhabitants
of Moore’s village, would lay alike at the merey of
a horde of savages, whom the sight of blood was
certain to inflame, and whose fury the handful of
‘Americans could not restrain, even supposing they
were incjined to try.
“What is to be done ?” remarked Mark Thorn-
castle, crushing in his hand the intercepted dis-
patch, as though it could destroy, the evil of its
contents, which he had made known. to. his. little
band.” “If leading you all to their relief could do
any good, I would give the word to start. ) But it
seems that the Indians form a broad living belt in
the woods between us and Moore’s: Fort, so that it
woull be, only throwing away every one of your
lives, without doing them one particle of servi
men, women and children to the, thirsty knives of
a pack of Indian wolves, without making a single
effort to save them. That does not—no my friends
—I feel it does not look like men.”
‘There was again a brief silence. It was not but
what many,a deed of daring had been performed
by those present, who were not accustomed to be
backward’ when duty or danger called, But their
very knowledge of forest warfare served to’ teach
them the almost impossibility of bearing any intel-
ligence to Moore’s Fort... And in that wild. bush-
fighting, the white settlers and hunters had learned
from the red men to regard as foolishness the idea
of any one sacrificing himself without, at least. a
prospect of seeomplishing the object for which his
life was give
“What can we do?” inquired at last ‘Phorneas-
tle’s lieutenant, a brave man, but a prudent onea—
‘It is true, a solitary man might chance to thread
his way through those wily savages, yet. the odds
are a hundred to one against him. «,. {+
. “I ask no one to do what I cannot do myself.”
replied Thorncastle, but if I was as young and as
light of foot as I was once, Moore’s Fort | should
not full without an effort for its safety.” +!" ¢
“And Moore’s village. also,” said a soft, clear
voice at old Mark’s side, for Willa Thorncastle had
stood there all the time, with the light from the
block house windows pouring full‘ upon her, and
helping the moon's rays to show distinct her slen-
der and graceful form, beautiful features, and deep
blue eyes, through which looked. forth a spirit’ as
noble and fearless as her father’s, And appealing-
ly those eyes glanced around as she continued—
“Think not that it is merely men ‘accnstomed to
face danger, and combat it, over whom this dread-
jal doom is hanging. Think that ‘childhood and
old age, and weak, helpless women, are ‘resting in
false security amid those quict woods. “You ‘have.
mothers, and you have sisters, Think if those dear
ones were in like peri!, and some hour they may
And yet, to leave them there unwarned, to give up,
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1652.
be, Oh, do nc now as you would other men . should,
in such an hour, do for them. You will not aban-
don them to their fate unwarned?» No, I feel—I
know you will not leave those helpless ones tv the
knife, the tomahawk and the flames, which, if you
stand idly by, will tomorrow night. be wreaking
their merciless fury upon them.”
‘The last tones of Willa’s earnest appeal had not
died away, when a tall form, which had been lean-
ing against one of the guns, stepped forward eager
ly, as if to speak. But the loud voice of Captain
Thorneastle was heard at once, and with an em-
phasis which forbade all thought of interruption.
“It is a service too dangerous and doubtful for
me to order any, man. upon. - It must be a volun-
tary scrvice, the more honorable from its danger—
don't fancy I underrate, that, because I can’t share
it. ' But you all know that old’ Mark Thorneastie
has saved a good round sum, and many of you've
said I had something you liked much better than
land or silver.’ Well, then, to whichever among
you shall be brave and skilful enough to bear this
news to Moore’s Fort in time for the treachery to
be defeated, I will give my daughter and all that I
possess. What say you, girl, fur the sake of the
women and children of yonder village, will you
not ratify your father’s promise ?”
A murmar of suppressed delight arose from’ the
assembled young men, while the blood rushed vio-
lently to Willa’s temples, and for one moment she
shrank back in girlish timidity, but in the next a
more powerful and generous emotion swelled high
within her bosom, and she replied in a yorce which
low as it was, was heard distinct all over the, plat-
form amid the deep hush which had succeeded.
“If he prize my hand it shall be given him checr-
fally—gratefully. What nobler destiny could. I
desire than to devote all my life to him who haz-
ards his ia such a cause ?”
+ A loud cheer followed the words of the enthasi-
astie girl, and befure it had concluded, she had
glided away, and stood gazing from a window of
the blockhouse on the moonlit torest, where slept
alike the Indian wolves and their prey,
In a few minutes, the stir of preparation was per-
ceptible throughout the fort. |, Here was one seeking
afresh supply of ammunition, there one’ fixing a
now flint into his rifle, and anotherexamining with
care if his knife’s edge was ready for a close grap-
pling with his expected foe. ‘And in less than an
hour fifteen young men had left the fort. How
many would return alive? Would even one reach
the goal, girded as it was with Indian eyes and In-
dian weapons ? These questions Willa asked her-
self often during that night, as she sat alone watch-
ing the moonbeams give place to starlight on the
woors; and sometimes she felt as though on her
all the weight of their blood would fall: But then
she remembered with what noble and holy purpose
she had sent them forth, even though it should be
to die. And then her brow would sink’ on her
hands, and she would muse long and deeply how,
by all woman’s tenderness and sclf-devotion, she
might redeem her plighted word to the winner—if
winner there should be of her promised hand.
Brightly the sun rose over the green forest, which
veiled jealously from all anxious eyes what, was
passing beneath the shadow of its branches. But
with the tidings that they could nowhere pierce the
line of Indians ; and a couple of hour's afterwards,
a third was chased so ‘near the clearing by several
warriors, that old Thorneastle puta match to one
of the cannon, and swept half ot them at once from
sight and from the world, thus giving the fugitive
opportunity to gain the fort. And between this
and nightfall, others came dropping in one by one
—some wounded, some worn out, being hunted like
wild beasts, throngh the woods,” until ‘at lengi
there remained only five anaccounted for... ,,.
“Jr's no use shutting our eyes to the truth,” said
the lieutenant Stephenson, as he sat at supper with
Thorneastle and his daughter, “There is not.a
chance that the warning will reach them at Moore's
‘ort.”
m
“You're right, Ym afraid. Bat never, “mind,
gil, "added old Mark, turning to Walla; “we have
done our duty in the sight of God and man; and
whatever happens, we | have nothing to. blame. our-
selves with.”
at noon, two of the past night's volunteers retarned | °
NUMBER 27.
| ~ “Nothing, indeed !” echoed Stephenson. “Thavo
a wife and children myself—thank God!—they are
in Detroit! But had I been a frecer and a young:
er man, Miss Willa’s words would have sent mo—
aye, into the Indians’ very torture fires,” *
But Willa, who had already risen and gon
the window, heard nothing of this compliment, for
such it was in all sincerity intended. She was
watching the moonbeams struggling with the fad-
ing daylight, and thinking how soon a redder glow *
might come to flush the sky.
“As soon as the moon sets,” was the time men-
tioned in the intercepted letter.
hour, many eyes were gazing from the flat roof of.
Thorneastle’s » blockhouse, in the direction of
Moore’s Fort.
sank below the horizon, and her light passed from
earth and sky, the suspense grew more and more
painful.
Willa Thorncastle Ieaned over the parapet, her °
hands folded, her gaze fixed intently on the woods : *
but time still went on, and the countless stars alone
brightened the deep blue heavens: yet at moments
she could almost fancy that a faint distant cry, as ‘
of savage triumph or mortal agony, came through
the death-like stillness to her ear.
But who, so listening, has not fancied they hear -
voices of the night ?. Willa knew it must be but a
cheat of her own senses, yet a shudder ‘came over’.
her at every imagined sound.
At length a red light flashed suddenly from’ the
distant woods. A ery of horror burst from Willa’s
lips as she shut the sight out with her hands, and
sank upon her knecs. “But in another* minute, a
cheer from those around her was echoed from the
platform below, and made her start iu wonder to
her feet. .
“Courage, Willa!” cried ber futher, ‘those are
bat gun flashes yonder. Our countrymen are fight-
ing gallantly.; There it is again! Fire on, my
boys—give it to them well! Oh, what wouldn't 1
give that old Mark Thorncastle was there to help .¥t 4 =
you!” aad the veteran rubbed his hands with’ de.’ »
light as, he watched the only faint indication of the:
progress of the struggle. :
Again and again, for many @ a time, the distant
flashes shot forth like red sparks, and died on the
midnight air, Then they were seen no longer—
Who could tell why Umy ceased? Every one be-
gan to talk together, but all were ananimous in de-:’
claring , that the garrison had conquered. Willa
alone was silent. She was wondering whether any
had conveyed a warding to the fr and if so, did
he yet live. 5. :
A few. minutes only had pase. before Stophen-
son exclaimed ‘
something 1 new, by George r and alt
looked instantly to see a broader light, not ia fiiful
Aashes as before, bat burning steadily before their *
e
“Here
That sight checked ‘all their proud assump‘ions |
of victory. , Rapidly the light grew and widened.
It was impossible to doubt the truth to which Wil-
la’s sweet, sad voice was the first one to give atter-
ance— . Dor
“They have fired the village ro. ‘
“May God pardon them !~—I cannot!” was be
brief and biter response of Stephenson.
No more was said. unless we include the mutter-
ed curses which broke at times from many a lip.—
.There was nought to tell what scene those flames ’
were lighting, but the spectators knew too much’
of Indian warfare to doubt. And men ground their
teeth, and grasped their rifles tightly as they gazed
on the fire reddening ari casting up its glow into
the, calm blue sky. At length i it sank, and faded
into a dull red spot in the distance. ‘Then it be-
came too faint for notice, and every sign of strife
disappeared from the starlit woods,
. Then men stood together, breathing vengeance,
which they could not even plan. Willa went into
her room to shudder and to ReCp.
, We must now follow one of the "messengers, one
whom the previous night we saw set out from the®
blockhouse, as Thorncastle’s Fort was always call-
ed: He was the first to start, and choosing a star
for his guide, had traversed with a light, Grm stop
many miles of ground before his guiding star paled
‘in warning that the night was done. Daylight was
now come, and with it the worst part of his jourr~
Long before that")
As time went on, and the moon _
