Faggots for the fireside, or, Fact and fancy

Front matter

site!

Typ. BnicslMeyci

;::.:: : THE WOLVES.

Introduction

Come, Girls and Boys — Black Eyes and Blue - And hear a story told for you.

Lay down your books, John, Tom, and Rob — Be seated, if you please. No laughing, Bob ! Just stir the fire, Ben. Steady — steady ! Hand me my specs, Jane. So — all's ready! There go the tongs again, slam bang, And pussy's tail has got a whang ! Poor puss — be wise — of boys beware, And keep your tail with better care. Sit still now, all, and hear the story Old Parley's rhyme would set before ye.

The bright New Year has come ; and though The night is dark, and chill winds blow;

Though icy fetters bind the river; Though in the blast the stern oaks shiver; Though the lone wolf with cold is howling, And the starved fox abroad is prowling; Still by the fireside warm we sit, And crack our nuts, or crack our wit; Tell of the past, the future scan, And laugh or sing, as suits our plan. Well — let us not the hour abuse — We listen to the New Year's Muse !

His days are fled — Old Fifty-Four ! And nought is left save memory's store : A mingled heap of bread and honey, Of sweet and bitter, sad and funny!

These things we pass, and ask you, Jane, What you have done this year. Speak plain ! Nay, do not snicker, boys — your turn Will come in time — nor spurn The simple question; for 'tis wise That each should backward cast his eyes, Noting his track, its means and ends, And where his beaten pathway tends. No answer, Jane? Well, we must try These boys. — Come, Robert! No reply? Why, all can smile while other backs Feel the keen lash that satire cracks ; But when to your own case we come, Why, every little mouth is mum!

INTRODUCTION. 9

Well, well, fair friends, we will not ply it : We leave the question — but you'll try it. In some still hour, look well within, And if you find some cherished sin, Drive out the monster, and let virtue in!

The Past year scanned, we turn to view The promise given by the New.

Winter, spring, summer, autumn, rise, In lengthened vision to our eyes, And, hiding every thorn, disclose, Each one, some favorite wreath or rose.

Winter, stern winter, hides the tear That tells of tingling nose and car; O'er starving groups it throws a veil, Drowns the lost traveller's dying wail ; And only brings to mind the sleigh, Its merry bells and trappings gay; The sportive skater lightly gliding; The hoiden schoolboy fondly sliding; The coaster down the hill-side plying; The snow-balls thick as hailstones flying. And when the joyous day is o'er, The crafty showman shuts the door, And brings to view the fireside scene, Where Old Bob Merry's Magazine Tells tales of many lands, and wiles From grave and gay their choicest smiles!

Spring, fickle Spring, as keen as Blitz*, Says nought of March — its. stormy fits,— How oft the morning comes like May, Giving fair promise of the day, While yet, ere night, the wild winds roar. And down the myriad snow-flakes pour. Nothing she says of mud like paste, Nothing of freshet laying waste; But much she talks of April showers, That bring, or ought to bring, May flowers,- Which boys and girls, on May-day morn, Oft seek in vain 'mid bush and thorn!

Summer, as wily as the rest, Hides half its tale, but tells the best. It speaks of meadows blooming fair, Of new mown hay that scents the air, Of singing birds and murmuring bees, But nothing says of bugs and fleas, Of serpents gliding where you tread, Of sly mosquitoes round your bed, Of parching heat that melts by day, And keeps at night sweet sleep away! —

Autumn advances, decked in smiles, Bringing us fruit in ample piles —

* All our readers will understand that signer Blitz, the famous con uror, in here alluded to.

INTRODUCTION. 11

Grapes, apples, peaches, pears, all mellow And luscious. What a charming fellow! And now the forest, like a queen, He robes in yellow, red, and green ; But soon he changes, and his breath Strews the torn leaves in beds of death ; The forests tremble in the fray, And the earth yields to Winter's sway.

Such are the seasons as they pass; Yet, mirrored in youth's magic glass, The good alone is brought to light, And evil's hidden from the sight. As distant mountains, robed in blue, Rise soft and rounded to the view. Their blasted peaks with azure crowned, All turned to seeming fairy ground : So life — a land of promise — lies Outspread to youth's believing eyes.

0 happy morn of life ! sweet spring Of coming years ! Say, who shall fling A cloud across so fair a sky?

Nay — not on New Year's day shall I Chafe your blithe hearts — your humor chide — So put the chairs and stools aside. We'll have a game of blind-man's buff, Then nuts and apples, till you say " Enough ! " Well, fun and feast are o'er; but ere We part, Old Parley's counsel hear !

FAGGOTS FOR THE FIRESIDE.

I spoke of Youth, when all seems bright,

And seasons fly on wings of light;

When Hope and Love, with magic art,

Turn all to beauty in the heart.

So be your lives — a path of flowers ;

So be your souls — bright as the hours :

The evil shun, the good pursue ;

Be happy — but be pure and true !

Have you not seen the bee that plies

His wing? From flower to flower he flies;

The nightshade, and the foxglove gay

He visits, for they throng his way :

Yet such his art, he shuns the ill,

And only gathers honey, still.

Do the you same; from mingled shade and light

Draw good alone.— And now, sweet friends, good night!

Typ. Ernesl{Mcy<

THE L0(i CAHLN HI It NT.

OR

JUMPING RABBIT'S STORY.

Chapter I

The beginning. — My earliest recollections. — My home. — My parents. — A fearful scene.

Kind Reader, as you and I are about to take a ramble together, I beg leave to settle one or two points at the outset.

In the first place, then, I shall tell you my story in a very simple, plain way; for the circumstances of my life have qualified me to speak in no other fashion. In the next place,! shall endeavour to make my story the means of giving you some useful infor mation. I have been a wanderer over the Far West; have seen the rivers, the mountains, the valleys, the wild animals, the tribes of Indians that are

•it**44: * AFAGGOTS FOR THE FIRESIDE

there; I have crossed the Rocky Mountains, and stood upon the shore of the broad Pacific; and I have thus picked up a good deal of information.

While, therefore, I shall give you an account of my adventures, I shall endeavour to make you ac quainted with some matters relating to the geogra phy, the natural history, and the manners and cus toms of the great West. Thus, while I try to amuse you, I shall try also to give you some little know ledge. I hope this arrangement will suit you; for if I give you cake, to which I compare tales of ad venture, you should be content to take, now and then, a slice of solid bread and butter, to which I compare such useful matters as geography and na tural history.

And now to begin. At the period of my earliest recollection, I must have been about six years old. My father was then living on the White river, nearly one hundred miles west of the Mississippi river, and in what is now the state of Arkansas. His house, which was only a log cabin, was four or five miles from any other white man's dwelling. There was no town or village in that quarter; excepting a few scattered settlers here and there, the country was still uninhabited, save by native wild animals, or roving tribes of Indians.

The latter were at peace with the whites for a long period, and therefore we had no fear of them. We frequently saw parties of Indian hunters, and occasionally considerable numbers came into the region where we dwelt. They often visited our cabin, but never gave us any annoyance. But the time arrived when a change took place. We heard fearful stories of Indian massacres, and more than one family, in the region where we lived, were en tirely cut off.

I remember that one night my father came home, and told my mother that a party of Kickapoos had been in the neighborhood, and killed every member of the family which lived nearest to us. He, of course, expected they would be upon us before morn ing! What was now to be done? The number of the savages was over a dozen, and it seemed quite hopeless to attempt either resistance or escape. If we were to fortify the house, we might make a brief defence, and kill a few of the enemy, but we must yield at last, and fall into the hands of our exaspera ted foe. If we were to fly, the savages, keen as bloodhounds in following their prey, would soon track us out, and we should become their easy vic tims.

People who are brought up in quiet and secure towns, free from the dangers of the wilderness, and who only hear of adventures with the Indians, can hardly appreciate the feelings of those who are inu red to every species of danger and trial. I remem ber the looks of my father and mother upon that fear ful night, when they expected the savages to be upon their dwelling in a few hours, and to see themselves and their children become the victims of their bloody vengeance. They were brave people, and, though their countenances looked troubled, there was more of courage than fear in their faces.

There were four of us children : my brother Dick, about fourteen years old; my sister Jane, two years younger, and little Harry, a year younger than my self. The decision of our parents being to fortify the house and make the best defence in their power, we were all, except Harry, employed in the prepa rations. The latter was the only one who did not comprehend what was going on. While the rest of us were busy in bringing in the axes, hoes, spades, and other implements capable of being used for a deadly encounter, Harry was running about, seeming to enjoy the flurry and rejoice in the spirit of activity that animated the scene.

Everything that could be done for defence was at last accomplished. The windows were strongly bar red; the door was barricadoed; the wide-mouthed chimney, down which an Indian might easily have slid, was defended by large sticks crossed and jam med into the crevices of the stone work of the fire place. Near the door sat our dog, Tiger; he was stretched upon his belly at full length on the floor, with his chin between his extended fore-legs. He was not asleep, for it was evident that he understood that something fearful was in the wind. An erect fore-corner of his ear showed that he was listening intently; and his eye, steadily bent toward the door, betokened the expectation of danger in that direction.

My father loaded the old gun, now our chief hope, with care; he picked the flint, examined the priming, looked at his stock of powder and ball; and now, as if everything was prepared, he sat down. I re member how he looked , when he turned round and glanced at my mother and us children. I remember how she looked too. My father's lips trembled , and his eyes seemed to grow dim, for he lifted his hand and brushed it across his brow; but in a moment he looked again at his priming, glanced at old Tiger, fixed his eye on the door and sat still. His face now became as stern as marble. My mother sat on a bench in one corner, and we children be hind her upon the floor. By her side was an axe. She was very pale, and her eye turned often, first on father and then up to Heaven. Once in a while , she looked round on us, and especially upon little Harry, with a long gaze, as if it might be her last , and then a kind of shudder came over her. I think my mother was a very beautiful woman, for never in any dream has anything so like an angel visited my fancy, as my faint remembrances of my mother in that fearful hour. Her eyes were blue, her hair light, and her whole appearance soft and gentle. Never did she seem so gentle as when she looked around on us; yet, as she gazed on the axe at her side, and stole a glance around upon the defences of our little fort, her look changed, and she had the aspect of a hero.

We sat for more than an hour in breathless silence. Every ear was stretched to catch the slightest sound , until the effort bacame painful. At last, Tiger lifted his head and uttered a low growl. In an instant af ter, he sprang to his feet, his eye glittering like fire, every muscle of his body being stretched for action. My father looked through a crevice he had left for ob servation. It was a clear moonlight night, and soon he saw four dusky figures gliding through the edge of the adjacent forest. He turned to mother, and said, in a firm tone, " They are coming!" She reached for the axe ; I saw her fingers tremble as she grasped it. Dick, with a stout club, moved forward and stood by my father. He was a noble fellow; black-eyed, black-haired, and daring as a wild-cat. His look gave tone and courage to us all. He was stout for his years, and as he turned round to look at the group in the corner, there was something in his manner which seemed to say, — < ' You shall have a brave defence ! " I saw the tears come in mother's eyes; but it was not from fear.

There was silence for some time , when suddenly the most fearful yell burst upon our ears ! It seemed to come from a hundred voices, and filled the forest with its terrific echoes. The scream of the panther is not so terrible as the war-cry of the savage, espe-

20 FAGGOTS FOR THE FIUESIDE.

cially when heard at night, and by those who are ex posed to his fury. Nearer and nearer came the yell, and at last we heard the enemy around our dwelling.

My father, who kept his eye steady at the crevice, now slowly thrust the muzzle of his gun through the hole, and taking a deliberate aim, he fired. There was one wild shriek, a heavy fall, a brisk scampering, and then a death-like silence. This continued for some time, when again the war-whoop burst from the forest, and at least a dozen savages immediately surrounded our dwelling. They encompassed it with dry leaves and branches, and set them on fire. In a few minutes the smoke began to fill the room, and shortly the outside of our little cabin was wrapped in a sheet of flame!

Up to this time, my remembrance of the scene is very distinct; but what immediately followed, I can not clearly recall. I have a faint recollection, or fancy, of my father, rushing out through the blaze, and struggling with a tall Indian in the flames, till they both fell exhausted and involved in the confla gration. I have a dim remembrance of my mother, bursting out through the falling timbers, carrying little Harry on her back, and leading Jane and myself through the flames. But I was suffocated with smoke and overwhelmed with the terrors of the scene. From this point my memory of that dreadful night is a blank — save one incident alone. Old Tiger and Dick went before my mother, as if they were her pe culiar guard. The poor dog was dreadfully singed, for he had already had one or two deadly tussles with the Indians in the flames. The long silken hair of his ears and tail was burnt off, and the latter stuck out straight and stiff, looking actually as if it had been a cooked sausage. In that fearful hour, I re member to have thought that it had quite a ludicrous appearance.

The poor dog, howercr, had his senses about him, and kept with my mother and Dick, till we had proceeded a considerable distance. We were concealed from the view of the Indians by a dense cloud of smoke, that rolled between us and them. We had not gone far, however, before we were discovered, and two savages immediately pursued us. Coming up with us, they fell upon Dick, who defended himself for a time, but receiving a blow upon the head, he was laid prostrate on the earth. Tiger, half dead as he was, sprang upon his body,

FAGGOTS FOU THE FIRESIDE.

and stood erect for his defence. One of the savages struck him over the head, and, with a sad moan, the poor creature lay dead by the side of his master. A sickness now came over me. I tottered, and fell unconscious to the ground.

Chapter II

I am carried to an Indian village. — The scene described. — Am insulted by the young Indians.— They get well punished. Painful thoughts.

I no not know how long it was after the scene I have described, when I so far recovered my senses as to notice the objects around me. When my con sciousness returned, I was lying on the ground, and no one appeared to be near me. I attempted to rise , and nearly got upon my feet, when I became giddy, and was obliged to sit down. I was distressed with a pain in the head and a burning thirst.

I now saw at a little distance a group of Indians, and about the same time one of them noticed me. He spoke and pointed to me, upon which an Indian woman and two children ran towards me. I held out my hands and begged them to have pity on me. The woman spoke to me, but I could not understand her. The children, who were Indians, and fiercelooking creatures, stood at a little distance for a time, as if afraid of me. Pretty soon they came nearer, and in order to discover what kind of an animal I might be, one of them took a stick and gave me a pretty sharp poke in my back.

I writhed and groaned, for it hurt me; but this only made the young Indians laugh. The woman scolded them, however, and as the youngsters gave me another poke, she flew toward them, and aimed a blow with her hand at the head of the ag gressor. It missed, howerer, and the two imps ran langhing to a distance. There, in safety, they stood gibbering and jeering, like two monkeys, till the wo man, in a rage, set out after them; but diving into a thicket, the young rogues easily escaped and disap peared.

The woman now helped me upon my legs, and took me to a tent, around which were several In dians, mostly women and children. I noticed also several other tents, and knew that I was in an Inclian village, or encampment. How I had been brought hither, I did not know, nor did I ever after wards ascertain. It is probable, howerer, that it was by the care of the Indian woman, in whose charge I now was. She took me into a tent, and procured me some water. This refreshed me greatly, and I was soon able to take notice of the things around me.

The tent was made of dried deerskins , and was supported by poles about twelve feet long. The whole tent was about fourteen feet across. There were in it, a few skins of bears and buffaloes , a bow and some arrows, two or three gourd-shells, a small brass kettle, a buffalo's pate with the horns attached, a bunch of long, crooked bear's claws, and a bundle of human scalps. These were all the articles I no ticed.

After a white I felt very sleepy, and lying down, I had a long nap. When I awoke, I felt nearly well, and went to look out of the tent. There were, at least, fifty tents around, occupying a space of several acres, upon the edge of a small prairie, bordered by forests. The scene was quite lively ; for two or three hundred Indians were before me, nearly all, however,

THE BOY CAPTIVE.

being women, children, and old men. I was afraid to go forth, and was about to creep back into the tent, when the woman before mentioned came , and taking me by the arm, led me out.

I was very soon surrounded by a host of people, and such a chattering I never heard before. A ring was formed around me, and every one seemed to have something to say. If I had been a new monster un der the sun, there could not have been more wonder expressed. I imagine that they treated me very much as a parcel of Boston boys would treat a young alligator, should they happen to catch one I looked in the faces of many of these persons, but I saw not one look of kindness. At lasi a boy about my own age, who had a small bow in his hand, shot an arrow at me, which, being pointed with a bit of sharp iron, entered the flesh of my arm. A moment after, two or three of the little savages set upon me, and began to tear off my clothes. They pulled me hither and thither, and in a short space I was entirely na ked.

For a time, I made no resistance, for I had an idea that natural pity would teach even these creatures to spare one so helpless as myself. But finding that

^O FAGGOTS FOR THE FIRESIDE.

they had no pity, my anger began to rise ; and when the boy who had shot his arrow into my arm , came up and began to pinch me, I struck him by the side of his head, and he went reeling and tumbling, like a smitten nine-pin, upon the ground. This caused a loud laugh, and I saw that a feeling of interest and respect was instantly created in my behalf by my re sistance. This taught me a lesson, and instead of waiting for Indian pity and sympathy, I determined to obtain the regard of my captors by my spirit. When, therefore, the little imps set upon me again, as they very soon did, they paid dearly for it. I was very strong and active for my age, and when, at last, an Indian lad, much larger than myself, came softly behind me, and gave my hair a twich, I turned to punish him.

The fellow fled and I pursued. The ring opened to give him space, and he struck into the littlo plain encircled by the tents. I hung close at his heels. It was a tight race, and such yells broke from the congregation of Indians as I had never imagined. The fellow went nearly across the plain, and, dod ging this way and that, sought to throw me off. A* length he passed round one of the tents, and retur ned toward the point from which we started. I follo wed, and finally, just as he reached the ring, I seized his hair, and gave it a jerk which made him yell like a catamount. This completely sealed my triumph. The looks of contempt around, were exchanged for those of admiration, and I was borne back to my tent with shouts of praise and exultation.

It was but a few weeks before I was at home among the Indians. I was adopted as the son of the wo man who had taken care of me, in the place of one she had lost. By degrees I became accustomed to Indian sports and pastimes, and gradually learned their language. I was generally well treated after the fashion of savage life. There is little family go vernment among these people ; everything between the children is settled by strength ; those principles of kindness, justice, pity and tenderness for the weak, which are so strongly incultated among civilized peo ple, being unknown to them. Matters are regulated very much as between animals — a herd of bisons for instance, or a pack of wolves. I had, therefore, to fight my way, and being very strong, I not only fared pretty well, but I obtained no little applause. At first, I was taunted and sneered at for being white, but I always punished such impudence, and at last these gibes ceased.

I often thought of my father and mother, my sister and brother, and longed to know their fate — for I was uncertain whether they had escaped or had per ished, on that fearful night in which pur house had been reduced to ashes. 'Of these things, however, I could obtain no information. I knew too little of the Indian language to ask questions, which often arose in my own mind. Sometimes, and especially at night, the thoughts of home and my kindred stole over me, and the tears would come into my eyes; but in the morning these painful thoughts would sub side, and perhaps be fergotten in the pursuit of pre sent objects.

Chapter III

The return of the war party. — Sports and festivities.

After I had been about a month in the village, a swift Indian, despatched by the varriors who had been absent on an expedition against some distant tribes , came in and announced that the whole party were near at hand, and would enter the village the folloving morning. Preparations were therefore made to receive them.

All was bustle and activity, though this seemed to consist more in running about, and chattering like a set of magpies, than anything else. The children leaped, frolicked, shouted, and fought mi mic battles as well as real ones, in which they bit, scratched, kicked and pulled hair, in honor of the coming celebration. The women went about from tent to tent, talking with great animation and kee ping up the hum, which might be heard at the far ther extremity of the village.

Evening at last came, but there was no cessation of the excitement. The greater part of the night was spent in talking, squabbling, dancing, jumping, leaping and yelling. At length the morning came, and just as the sun was rising, an Indian, painted blue and red, carrying on his head the skin taken from the pate of a grizzly bear, was seen creeping along in the edge of the adjacent wood. He was soon followed by another, painted in a similar man ner, with the horns and pate of a buffaloe upon his head. Others succeeded, all of them painted and dressed in the most wild and fantastic manner, until about a hundred warriors had gathered in the thic kets of the forest, close to the village.

A pause of at least half an hour ensued. All within the wood was silent, and not a trace of the savages that lurked in its bosom, could be discove red. The women, children and old men of the village had gathered in the open space encircled by the tents, where they awaited the coming spectacle in breathless expectation.

At last, a wild yell, as if a thousand demons filled the air, broke from the forest. In an instant after, the warriors started from their cover and ran toward the village with the greatest swiftness. Approaching the group of women and children, they formed themselves in a circle and began to dance in a most violent manner. They leaped, jumped, ran, bran dished their weapons, screamed, chattered, and ap peared more like infernal spirits than human crea tures. They were all on foot except about a dozen, who were on horseback, and attired in the most fantastic manner. These rode round the circle with great swiftness, flourishing their long spears, and performing a sort of wild mimic battle.

Nothing could be more fierce and frightful than the whole scene, yet the women and children were greatly delighted, and evinced their ecstacy by uproarious acclamations. The warriors were excited by the applause to greater feats, and for about an hour they kept up their savage revel. They seemed to be as proud of their greasy paint and their sa vage foppery , as a well-dressed company of militia marching on a muster-day through one of our vil lages. A bear's or buffalo's pate was fully equal to a cocked hat; a rackoon's or oppossum's hide was equivalent to a pair of epaulettes; the bow and arrow were an offset to the sword.

But the Indian warriors had one advantage over our training-day soldiers. They had been in actual service, and carried with them evidences of their victory. Several of them bore in their hands large bundles of bloody scalps, which they had taken from their enemies , and these they flourished in the faces of the admiring spectators. It is obvious that the same vanity and foppery which are found in the fairweather soldiers of towns and cities, belong to the savage warriors of the wilderness.