Page images
PDF
EPUB

tionary, and led Colter out on the prairie three or four hundred yards, and released him, bidding him save himself if he could At that instant, the war whoop sounded in the ears of poor Colter, who, urged with a hope of preserving life, ran with a speed at which he was himself surprised.

He proceeded towards the Jefferson's Fork, having to traverse a plain six miles in breadth, abounding with the prickly pear, on which he was every instant treading with his naked feet. He ran nearly half way across the plain, before he ventured to look over his shoulder, when he perceived that the Indians were very much scattered, and that he had gained ground to a considerable distance from the main body; but one Indian, who carried a spear, was much before all the rest, and not more than a hundred yards from him.

A faint gleam of hope now cheered the heart of Colter; he derived confidence from the belief that escape was in the bounds of possibility, but that confidence was nearly fatal to him; for he exerted himself to such a degree, that the blood gushed from his nostrils, and soon almost covered the fore part of his body. He had now arrived within a mile of the river, when he distinctly heard the appalling sound of footsteps behind him, and every instant expected to feel the spear of his pursuer.

Again he turned his head, and saw the savage not twenty yards from him. Determined, if possible, to avoid the expected blow, he suddenly stopped, turned round, and spread out his arms. The Indian, surprised by the suddenness of the action, and, perhaps, at the bloody appearance of Colter, also attempted to stop; but, exhausted with running, he fell, whilst endeavoring to throw his spear, which stuck in the ground, and broke in his hand. Colter instantly snatched up the pointed part, with which he pinned him to the earth, and then continued his flight.

The foremost of the Indians, on arriving at the place, stopped till others came up to join them, when they set up a hideous yell. Every moment of this time was improved by Colter, who, although fainting and exhausted, succeeded in gaining the skirting of the cotton wood trees, on the border of the Fork, to which he ran, and plunged into the river. Fortunately for him, a little below this place there was an island, against the upper point of which a raft of drift timber had lodged; he dived under the raft, and, after several efforts, got his head above water, amongst the trunks of trees, covered over with smaller wood to the depth of several feet.

Scarcely had he secured himself, when the Indians arrived on the river, screeching and yelling in a most frightful manner. They were frequently on the raft during the day, and were seen through the chinks by Colter, who was congratulating himself on his escape, till the idea arose that they might set the raft on fire. In horrible suspense, he remained until night; when, hearing no more of the Indians, he dived from under the raft, and swam instantly down the river to a considerable distance, when he landed, and travelled all night.

Although happy in having escaped from the Indians, his situation was still dreadful; he was completely naked, under a burning sun; the soles of his feet were filled with the thorns of the prickly pear; he was hungry, and had no means of killing game, although he saw abundance around him, and was at a great distance from the nearest settlement.

Almost any man but an American hunter would have despaired under such circumstances. The fortitude of Colter continued unshaken. After seven days sore travel, during which he had no other subsistence than the root known by naturalists under the name of psoralea esculenta, he at length arrived in safety at Lisa's fort, on the Bighorn branch of the Roche Jaune river

LESSON EIGHTY-SIXTHI.

Tenderness of Heart.

There is a little fragile flower
That, low bending on its stem,
Is scarcely known beyond the bower,
Where, all unconscious of its power,
It ever glows in dewy gem.

It once arose in tow'ring pride,
And courted every passing gale,
Exulting threw its odors wide,
Alluring to its gaudy side

The dwellers of its native vale.

But while it showed its tinsel glare,
At early dawn, or pensive even,
Not thinking that the world could bear
Another flower so sweet and fair-

'T was withered by the "breath of Heaven.'

Now, from its root this flow'ret grows,
But, trembling at the gentlest breeze,
It scarce around a fragrance throws,
Unlike the lily or the rose,

With not a tint to charm or please.

Yet when by tempests, gath'ring gloom,
Its leaflets from its stalk are riven,

Oh! then it shows a varied bloom,
And breathes abroad a rich perfume-

'Tis nourished by the "breath of Heaven."

For then it feels, with grateful glow,
The same Almighty Power,

That sunk its earlier beauties low,
But suffered from its root to grow

An humbler, sweeter flower.

And oft it droops its lowly head,

And breathes a fragrance to the sky,
When those its former beauties led

Το gaze upon its tints of red,

Pass now neglectful by.

But what's this renovated flower,
That heavenward can its sweets impart?
And yet, confined in lonely bower,
Is sweetest in the darkest hour?
Oh! it is Tenderness of Heart.

LESSON EIGHTY-SEVENTH.

Columbus in Jamaica.

Columbus having attempted, in the year 1503, to plant a colony in America, but having failed in the enterprise, in consequence of the hostility of the Indians, he left that region and sailed for Hispaniola. But, by the violence of a storm, he was obliged to run his ships ashore at Jamaica. In his distress at this island, he sent some of the hardiest of his men to Hispaniola, to represent his calamitous situation to the governor, and to solicit vessels to carry him and his people away.

He remained, however, at Jamaica eight months, without the least intelligence from his messengers, or assistance from the governor. The natives becoming exasperated at the delay of the Spaniards, the burden of whose support was intolerable, the inventive genius of Columbus had recourse to an admirable device to regain his authority.

Assembling the principal Indians around him, he caused them to understand, that the God whom he served, provoked at their refusal to support the objects of his favorite regard, intended to inflict on them a

speedy and severe judgment, of which they would soon see manifest tokens in the heavens; for, on that night, the moon would withhold her light, and appear of a bloody hue, as an omen oftheir approaching destructior.

His menacing prediction was ridiculed; but its actual accomplishment, at the precise time foretold, struck the barbarians with terror. This eclipse of the moon, which he had happily foreseen by his skill in astronomy, established his character as a prophet. The affrighted Indians brought him instantly a plenty of provisions; they fell at his feet, and besought him, in the most suppliant manner, to intercede with the Great Spirit, to avert the threatened calamity.

Apparently moved by their entreaties, he consoled them; but charged them to atone for their past transgressions by their future generosity. The eclipse went off; and from that day the natives were superstitiously cautious of giving offence to the Spaniards.

LESSON EIGHTY-EIGHTH.

Spirit of Man

Who knoweth the spirit of man, that goeth upward? Eccl. iii. 21.

Say'st thou, that, when this light has fled,
The spring of mental life is dead?
Say'st thou, that, when this cheek is pale,
The spirit's ardent glow shall fail?
Say'st thou, the soul returns to clay,
When these poor pulses cease to play?

Then let us mourn, if hope expires
When this frail lamp resigns its fires;
If man, so fashioned like a god,
Must never burst the prisoning sod,
With maniac sorrow let us rave,
And, shrinking, rend his marble grave

« PreviousContinue »