SMALL | MEDIUM
And yet, poor Edwin was no vulgar boy.
Beattie.
The close of Christmas day, A. D. 1793, was tempestuous, but comparatively warm. When darkness had again hid the objects in the village from the gaze of Elizabeth, she turned from the window, where she had remained while the least vestige of light lingered over the tops of the dark pines, with a curiosity that was rather excited than appeased by the passing glimpses of wood- land scenery that she had caught during the day.
With her arm locked in that of Miss Grant, the
young mistress of the mansion walked slowly up
and down the hall, musing on scenes that were
rapidly recurring to her memory, and possibly
dwelling, at times, in the sanctuary of her
thoughts, on the strange occurrences that had led
to the introduction to her father's family, of one,
whose manners so singularly contradicted the in-
ferences to be drawn from his situation. The
expiring heat of the apartment, for its great size
required a day to reduce its temperature, had
given to her cheeks a richness of bloom that ex-
The eyes of the gentlemen, who were yet seat-
ed around the rich wines of Judge Temple, fre-
quently wandered from the table, that was placed
at one end of the hall, to the lovely forms that
were silently moving over its length. Much
mirth, and that, at times, of a boisterous kind,
proceeded from the mouth of Richard; but Major
Hartmann was not yet excited to his pitch of
merriment, and Marmaduke respected the pre-
sence of his clerical guest too much, to indulge in
even the innocent humour that formed no small
ingredient in his character.
Such were, and such continued to be, the pur-
suits of the party, for half an hour after the shut-
ters were closed, and candles were placed in va-
rious parts of the hall, as substitutes for the depart-
ing daylight. The appearance of Benjamin stag-
gering under the burthen of an armful of wood,
was the first interruption to the scene.
"How now, Master Pump!" roared the newly
appointed Sheriff; "is there not warmth enough
in 'duke's best Madeira, to keep up the animal
heat through this thaw? Remember, old boy,
that the Judge is particular with his beech and
maple, beginning to dread, already, a scarcity of
the precious articles. Ha! ha! ha! 'duke, you
are a good, warm-hearted relation, I will own, as
in duty bound, but you have some queer notions
about you, after all. `Come let us be jolly, and
cast away folly!' " --
The notes gradually sunk into a hum, while
the Major-domo threw down his load, and turning
to his interrogator with an air of great earnestness,
he replied --
"Why, look you, Squire Dickens, mayhap
there's a warm latitude round about the table
there, thof it's not the stuff to raise the heat in
my body, neither; the raal Jamaiky being the
only thing to do that, beside good wood, or some
such matter as Newcastle coal. But if I know
any thing of weather, d'ye see, it's time to be get-
ting all snug, and for putting the ports in, and
stirring the fires abit. Mayhap I've not follow-
ed the seas twenty-seven years, and lived another
seven in these here woods, for nothing, gemmen."
"Why, does it bid fair for a change in the
weather, Benjamin?" inquired the master of the
house.
"There's a shift of wind, your honour," re-
turned the steward; "and when there's a shift of
wind, you may look for a change, in this here
climate. I was aboard of one of Rodney's fleet,
d'ye see, about the time we licked De Grasse,
Mounsheer Ler Quaw's countryman, there; and
the wind was here at the south'ard and east'ard;
and I was below, mixing a toothful of hot-stuff for
the Captain of marines, who dined, d'ye see, in
the cabin, that there very same day; and I sup-
pose he wanted to put out the Captain's fire with
a gun-room ingyne: and so, just as I got it to
my own liking, after tasting pretty often, for the
soldier was difficult to please, slap, come the
fore-sail ag'in the mast, and whiz, went the ship
round on her heel, like a whirlygig. And a
lucky thing was it that our helm was down; for
as she gathered starnway she payed off, which
was more than every ship in the fleet did, or could
do. But she strained herself in the trough of the
sea, and she shipped a deal of water over her
quarter. I never swallowed so much clear water
at a time, in my life, as I did then, for I was look-
ing up the after-hatch at the instant."
"I wonder, Benjamin, that you did not die with
a dropsy!" said Marmaduke.
"I mought, Judge," said the old tar, with a
broad grin; "but there was no need of the med'-
cine chest for a cure; for, as I thought the brew
was spoilt for the marine's taste, and there was no
telling when another sea might come and spoil it
for mine, I finished the mug on the spot. So then
all hands was called to the pumps, and there we
began to ply the pumps -- "
"Well, but the weather?" interrupted Marma-
duke; "what of the weather without doors?"
"Why, here the wind has been all day at the
south, and now there's a lull, as if the last blast
was out of the bellows; and there's a streak along
the mountain, to the north'ard, that, just now,
wasn't wider than the bigness of your hand; and
then the clouds drive afore it as you'd brail a
mainsail, and the stars are heaving in sight, like
so many lights and beacons, put there to warn us
to pile on the wood; and, if-so-be that I'm a
judge of weather, it's getting to be time to build
on a fire; or you'll have half of them there por-
ter-bottles, and them dimmy-johns of wine, in the
locker here, breaking with the frost, afore the
morning watch is called."
"Thou art a prudent sentinel," said the Judge.
"Act thy pleasure with the forests, for this night
at least."
Benjamin did as he was ordered; nor had two
hours elapsed, before the prudence of his precau-
tions became very visible. The south wind had,
indeed, blown itself out, and it was succeeded by
the calmness that usually gave warning of a se-
rious change in the weather. Long before the
family retired to rest, the cold had become cut-
tingly sever; and when Monsieur Le Quoi salli-
ed forth, under a bright moon, to seek his own
Elizabeth and her friend had not yet lost their
senses in sleep, when the howlings of the north-
west wind were heard around the buildings, and
brought with them that exquisite sense of comfort,
that is ever excited under such circumstances, in
an apartment where the fire has not yet ceased to
glimmer; and curtains, and shutters, and feathers,
unite to preserve the desired temperature in the
air. Once, just as her eyes had opened, appa-
rently in the last stage of drowsiness, the roaring
winds brought with them a long and plaintive
howl, that seemed too wild for a dog, and yet
strongly resembled the cries of that faithful ani-
mal, when night awakens his vigilance, and gives
sweetness and solemnity to his alarms. The form
of Louisa Grant instinctively pressed nearer to
that of the young heiress, who, finding her com-
panion was yet awake, said, in a low tone, as if
afraid to break a charm with her voice --
"Those distant cries are plaintive, and even
beautiful. Can they be the hounds from the hut
of Leather-stocking?"
"They are wolves, who have ventured from the
mountain, on the lake," whispered Louisa, "and
who are only kept from the village by the lights.
One night since we have been here, hunger drove
them to our very doors. Oh! what a dreadful
night it was! But the riches of Judge Temple
"The enterprise of Judge Temple is taming
the very forests!" exclaimed Elizabeth, proudly,
throwing off the covering, and partly rising in
the bed. "How rapidly is civilization treading
on the footsteps of nature!" she continued, as her
eye glanced over, not only the comforts, but the
luxuries of her apartment, and her ear again lis-
tened to distant, but often repeated howls
from the lake. Finding, however, that the timid-
ity of her companion rendered the sounds painful
to her, Elizabeth resumed her place by her side,
and soon forgot the changes in the country, with
those in her own condition, in a deep sleep.
The following morning, the noise of the female
servant, who entered the apartment to light their
fire, awoke the young maidens, who form such
conspicuous subjects in our tale. They arose,
and finished the slight preparations of their toi-
lettes in a clear, cold atmosphere, that penetra-
ted through all the defences of even Miss Temple's
warm room. When Elizabeth was attried, she
approached a window and drew its curtain, and,
throwing open its shutters, she endeavoured to
look abroad on the village and the lake. But a
thick covering of frost, on the panes of glass,
while it admitted the light, hid the view. She
raised the sash, and then, indeed, a most glorious
scene met her delighted eye.
The lake had exchanged its covering of unspot-
ed snow, for a face of dark ice, that reflected the
rays of the rising sun, like a polished mirror.
The houses were clothed in a dress of the same
description, but which, owing to its position,
shone like bright steel; while the enormous icicles
that were pendent from every roof, caught the
"See!" cried Elizabeth -- "see, Louisa; has-
ten to the window, and observe the miraculous
change."
Miss Grant complied; and, after bending for a
moment in silence from the opening, she observ-
"The change is indeed wonderful! I am sur-
prised that he should be able to effect it so soon."
Elizabeth turned in amazement, to hear such a
sceptical sentiment from one educated like her
companion; but was surprised to find that, in-
stead of looking at the view, the mild, blue eyes
of Miss Grant were dwelling on the form of a well-
dressed young man, who was standing before the
door of the building, in earnest conversation with
her father. A second look was necessary, before
she was able to recognise the person of the young
hunter, in a plain, but, assuredly; the ordinary
garb of a gentleman.
"Every thing in this magical country seems to
border on the marvellous," said Elizabeth; "and
among all the changes, this is certainly not the
least wonderful. I am not surprised, that your
eye caught this transformation, without noticing
the changes in the view. The actors are as unique
as the scenery."
Miss Grant coloured highly, and drew in her
head, as she answered --
"I am a simple girl, Miss Temple, and I am
afraid you will find me but a poor companion. --
I -- I am not sure that I understand all that you
say. But I really thought that you wished me to
notice the alteration in Mr. Edwards. Is it not
more wonderful, when we recollect his origin?
They say he is part Indian."
"He is certainly a genteel savage," returned
the smiling Elizabeth. "But let us go down, and
give the Sachem his tea; -- for I suppose he is a
descendant of King Philip, if not a grandson of
Pocahontas."
The ladies were met in the hall by Judge Tem-
ple, who took his daughter aside, to apprise her
"He appears reluctant to converse on his for-
mer situation," continued Marmaduke; "but I
gather from his discourse, as is apparent from his
manner, that he has seen better days; and I real-
ly am inclining to the opinion of Richard, as to
his origin; for it was no unusual thing for the In-
dian Agents to rear their children in a laudable
manner, and -- "
"Very well, my dear sir," interrupted his
daughter, laughing, and averting her eyes; "it is
all well enough, I dare say; but as I do not
understand a word of the Mohawk language, he
must be content to speak English; and as for his
behaviour, I trust to your discernment to control
it."
"Ay! but, Bess," said the Judge, detaining
her gently, with his hand, "nothing must be said
to him of his past life. This he has begged par-
ticularly of me, as a favour. He is, perhaps, a
little soured, just now, with his wounded arm;
but the injury seems very light, and another time
he may be more communicative."
"Oh! I am not much troubled, sir, with that
laudable thirst after knowledge, that is called cu-
riosity. I shall believe him to be the child of
Corn-stalk, or Corn-planter, or some other re-
nowned chieftain; possibly of the Big Snake
himself; and shall treat him as such, until he
sees fit to shave his good-looking head, borrow
some half-dozen pair of my best ear-rings, shoul-
der his rifle again, and disappear as suddenly as
he made his entrance. So come, my dear sir,
and let us not forget the rites of hospitality, for
the short time he is to remain with us."
Judge Temple smiled, at the graceful playful-
ness of his child, and taking her arm, they enter-
Such were the incidents that led to this extra-
ordinary increase in the family of Judge Temple,
where, having once established the youth, the sub-
ject of our tale requires us to leave him, for a time,
to pursue with diligence and intelligence the em-
ployments that were assigned him by Marmaduke.
Major Hartmann made his customary visit, and
took his leave of the party, for the next three
months. Mr. Grant was compelled to be absent
much of his time, in remote parts of the country,
and his daughter became almost a constant visiter
at the Mansion-house. Richard entered, with his
constitutional eagerness, on the duties of his new
office; and, as Marmaduke was much employed,
with the constant applications of adventurers, for
farms, the winter passed swiftly away. The lake
was a principal scene for the amusements of the
young people; where the ladies, in their one-horse
cutter, driven by Richard, and attended, when
the snow would admit of it, by young Edwards,
on his skates, spent many hours, taking the bene-
fit of exercise in the clear air of the hills. The
reserve of the youth gradually gave way to time
and his situation, though it was still evident, to a
close observer, that he had frequent moments of
bitter and intense feeling.
Elizabeth saw many large openings appear in
the sides of the mountains, during the three suc-
ceeding months, where different settlers had, in the
language of the country, "made their pitch;"
while the numberless sleighs that passed through
the village, loaded with wheat and barrels of pot-
ashes, afforded a clear demonstration that all these
labours were not undertaken in vain. In short,
The village was alive with business; the arti-
sans increasing in wealth with the prosperity of
the country, and each day witnessing some nearer
approach to the manners and usages of an old-
settled town. The man who carried the mail, or
"the post," as he was called, talked much of run-
ning a stage, and once or twice, during the winter,
he was seen taking a single passenger in his cut-
ter, through the snow-banks towards the Mohawk,
along which a regular vehicle glided, semi-week-
ly, with the velocity of lightning, and under the
direction of a knowing whip from the "down
countries." Towards spring, divers families, who
had been into the "old states," to see their rela-
tives, returned, in time to save the snow, frequent-
ly bringing with them whole neighbourhoods, who
were tempted by their representations to leave the
farms of Connecticut and Massachusetts, and make
a trial in the woods for fortune.
During all this time, Oliver Edwards, whose
sudden elevation excited no surprise in that
changeful country, was earnestly engaged in the
service of Marmaduke, during the days; but his
nights were often spent in the hut of Leather-
stocking. The intercourse between the three
hunters was maintained with a certain air of mys-
tery, it is true, but with much zeal and apparent
interest to all the parties. Even Mohegan seldom
"It is not at all remarkable; -- a half-breed can
never be weaned from the savage ways, any more
than a full-blooded Indian."