Laconia : or, Legends of the White Mountains and Merry Meeting Bay

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Preface

The principal scenes in the following legends are based for the most part on authenticated historical facts- The chief aim of the author has been to exhibit Nature in her wildest and most startling developments as well as in her tamer and more civilized features. All nations, whether civilized or savage, have some choice spirits who excel their fellows in natural and intrinsic worth and goodness, as well as others of a character diametrically the opposite. Yet, as a whole, every nation seems to exhibit the same general traits of oppression, cruelty, and injustice, especially when holding another and a feebler race under its despotic sway.

The treatment of the red man by the first settlers of our own country forms no exception to this general rule ; and in this case the difficulties which arose between them were aggravated by the wide and marked contrast between the contending races. "While the white man is most attached to the living, the red man cherishes with the deepest affection the memory of the departed dead ; and while the former prizes more highly the costly houses

6 PREFACE.

and cultivated fields of civilization, the latter loves the rude wigwam, the lands unbroken by the plough, and the wild forests as yet unspoiled by the woodman's axe.

To show how unjustly he has been cheated of his possessions and driven from the graves of his fathers, to which he was attached by a feeling the depth and intensity of which the white man has little conception, how he strove to avenge his wrongs by taking the lives of his oppressors, has been one of the ends which the author has had in view while writing the following pages. He does not claim to have succeeded in his undertaking to any extraordinary degree ; but the world is welcome to the work, such as it is, until it can get a better, when, as Marine Lee would say, " The little craft may be taken into dock for repairs, or sent adrift as unseaworthy."

I. W. S.

Lowell, Massachusetts, July, 1854.

Chapter I

Description of Laconia. — May Day at Merry Meeting Bay. — Elsie Tufton is chosen May Queen. — Appearance of Itozella Langdell and her Father. — Elsie abdicates in Favor of Rozella. — Jack Taurus resolves to win the Hand of Rozella. — He encounters a Rival in Britton Waldron 13

Chapter IX

Scenery of Norridgewock. — Another Interview between Rozella, the Priest, and Mogg Hegon. — Arrival of the Soldiers at Norridgewock. — Interview between Squire Langdell and Waldron, and the Squire's Pledge of Rozella. — Dreadful Slaughter of the Indians. — Death of Father Ralle and Recapture of Rozella 87

Chapter X

Rozella's Return and Interview with Elsie Tuf ton. — Elsie Tufton's Recovery and Rozella's Christian Admonition. . . . . . 103

CHAPTER XL

Meeting of Mrs. Langdell with the returned Captives and Friends. — Phantom Marine and the Ghost at Buck's Horn Inn. . . . 108

Chapter XII

Social Meeting at the House of Squire Langdell. — Story of the Phantom Ship by Marine. — The Widow Lee full in Love with the Narrator. — First Appearance of the Man with the twinkle Eye. . . . .116

CHAPTER XIIL

Paugus Battle so called. —Death of Paugus and Black Fish. — Chocorua made Chief. . 128

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIV

Dolly Plot has another Interview with her Associates. — The Dutchman of the Buck's Horn Inn and the Traveller 141

Chapter XV

Laconia at early Spring Time. — Peace. — The nervous Man turns out to be the famous John Puddington, the Witch Hunter. — His Application to Squire Langdell for a Warrant for Dolly Plot. — George Whitefield appears in Laconia 147

The Hunt for Taurus and Janus.— The Flight of Taurus. — Capture of Janus and Dolly Plot, and their Banishment 208

Chapter XXIII

Appearance of Chocorua at the Squire's House for Rozella. — Wenane's Sickness increases. — Rozella visits Wenane. — Sad Interview between them. — Song of the Spirit Huntsman, and sung by Rozella to the dying Wenane. — "Wenane's Death 211

Chapter XXIV

.'3uiial of Wenane. — Chocorua digs up the Battle Axe. — The Chief accompanies Rozella Home. — Pike's Interview with the Chief. . . 224

Chapter XXV

Burning of Grovenor's House by Chocorua. — Capture of the Tufton Family. — The Settlers rally and depart for their Recapture and to destroy Chocorua. — Fairy Scene in the Woods. — The Enchanted Wolf or wild Spirit of the Mountains. — Some Smart 233

Chapter XXVI

Interview between Rozella and Chocorua. — Battle at Bear Camp Stream. — Capture of Chocorua . 246

Chapter XXVII

Chocorua's dying Speech. — His Death. — Speeches of his Captors, each after his own peculiar Style of Oratory. 264

Chapter XXVIII

Attack by the Wolves upon the English in the Lodge. — Invocation of the Enchanted Wolf. — He disperses the genuine Species. — Return of the English, and their Determination and Appointment of a Meeting to raise the Enchanted Wolf themselves

Departure from St. Francis for Laconia. — Skirmish with the Indians and other Incidents by the Wayside. — They leave for Home. — Charles Cutts and Elsie Tufton's Route 442

Chapter XL

The Mountain Rangers and Captives reach Winnipiseogee Lake. — Depression of Spirits in Consequence of Cutts and Elsie's Absence. — Home again. — Wedding of Britton Waldron and Rozella Langdon. . 455

CHAPTER XLL

Fate of Charles Cutts and Elsie Tufton. — Little Benedict and Split Rock. — Rozella's new Trouble 463

Chapter XLII

Confession and Death of Taurus. — His Letter. — Sickness of Rozella. — Her Restoration. — State of Laconia. — Waldron and Rozella visit the Graves of their dear departed ones, and their Remarks there. . . 479

Chapter I

Description op Laconia. — May Day at Merry Meeting Bay. — Elsie TUFTON IS CHOSEN MAY QUEEN. — APPEABANCE OF B,OZELLA LANG-

dell and her father. — elsie abdicates in favor of rozella. — Jack Taurus resolves to win the Hand of Kozella. — He encounters a Rival in Britton Waldron.

Laconia, the original appellation of New Hampshire, of which we now purpose to speak, lies in an inclined slope from the seaboard on the east to where the Great Spirit smiles in combined loveliness and grandeur upon the glittering surface of the Winnipiseogee on the west.

To the north she stretches away through the brave old woods and forests until her head is lost in the clouds upon the summits of the White Mountains, which stand like monstrous haystacks tumbled together, and still stretching upward and onward until their bald heads are capped and concealed by encircling mists. But when the air is clear and the sun has dispersed the overhanging vapors, they stand out in all their awful majesty, and seem the very pillars of heaven.

Still the romantic Laconia sighs restlessly with the burden of her secret mysteries, her untold legends, and her heroic deeds of valor, which have been long buried deep within her silent bosom ; so that, heretofore, neither the 2 (13)

ocean that breaks at her feet nor the thunders that burst in her ears have caused her to divulge her locked-up secrets.

But as the sun strikes his rays upon the frosty locks of winter, and turns its frozen bolts until the cemented earth yields, and the roots of plant and tree send forth their offerings in shooting stalks, and buds, and blossoms, so the rays of the spirit of inquisitiveness have dissolved the icy mantle upon the hidden bosom of Laconia, and she offers to our gaze her most secret mysteries. Her rural page is now thrown open for the recording pen to inscribe her chivalrous deeds and marvellous history.

In the early settlement of this portion of New Hampshire, if one locality might have been selected above another for its picturesque beauty, that district lying between a small bay of Winnipiseogee Lake and a pond some miles distant, and a lively, bounding river which connected the two last, would have received the preference. These three portions of the same brilliant waters had received the happy appellation of " Merry Meeting."

Some years previous to the time of which we write this section of country had been holden under a grant from King James, through his appointed council of forty noblemen, knights, and gentlemen, by Sir Ferdinand Gorges and Captain John Mason. Mason obtained of Gorges full possession of the lands, and at his death gave the same, by will, to his grandson, Robert Tufton, on condition that he took upon himself the surname of Mason. Tufton, having complied with the condition of the bequest, had his title disputed by the stern yeomanry who had taken up the land and were living upon and improving the same. But after years of dispute and numerous harassing lawsuits, a com pany, formed for that purpose, purchased, for a nominal sum, Mason's title, and gave out deeds to the first settlers.

In addition to this, the Masonian proprietors sent out a committee of their body, who visited the land for the purpose of exploration, and at the pond before named became so exhilarated at the scenery and prospect, and enjoyed themselves so highly, as to christen it " Merry Meeting ; " which name it retains to the present day.

But a more merry meeting than that held by the Masonian proprietors was assembled upon the same enchanting spot at a subsequent day. The river, or outlet of the pond, runs from its shore so as to form a right angle with its white, sandy beach. In that angle, Nature, as though she was proud of her artistic skill in laying out secluded parks and grounds, had wisely reserved, and the woodman's axe as prudently spared, one of the most picturesque groves in all the fairyland of Laconia.

This spot, by reason of its appropriate name and desirable location, was selected by the older settlers, the previous autumn, for a meeting, in the spring, of the younger members of the community, to revive, for the first time in all Laconia, the long-missed and mourned holiday they had so dearly cherished in Old England. Therefore, for months previous, May day had been the theme and topic of discourse for young and old. Such as were lovers had long been planning in what way to best advance the interest each of his own particular favorite, that he might be successful in his scheme of cupidity, and elevate her to the sylvan throne as May Queen, where she would wear the imperial crown, and be the toast and bear the sway for a " twelvemonth " to come ; and on the other hand, the loved and lovely had been no less anxious to anticipate whose fair brow was to receive the blossoming coronal of Flora.

The May pole had been previously prepared, and on the morning of the first of May was lying, appropriately decorated, upon the soft bed of creeping evergreen in the centre of the grove. The grove itself had for some days previous given indications of the speedy approach of warmer weather, and its buds had been swollen nearly to bursting. They now peered out through their velvet lashes at the unwonted scene below them, and finally opened wide their eyelids, as if in utter astonishment at the novel spectacle.

Merry voices were heard in all directions ; and joyous bursts of laughter, peal on peal, rung through the grove ; while the tread of pattering feet announced that the grove was fast filling with the young, the gay, and the beautiful.

Many of the company were from towns so distant as to have made it necessary for them to travel half of the night ; and their restless horses kept up a continual neighing and stamping, which, mingling with the loud and cheerful voices of their riders, gave additional life and animation to the exciting scene. Even animated Nature herself seemed to partake in the festive occasion : the robin poured forth his loudest notes upon the topmost branches of the swaying trees ; the bluebird piped high his spring-reminding strain ; and the blue jay chattered his noisiest response and turned his most surprising somersets among the waving limbs ; while above the open spaces of the grove the swallow whirled and twittered, and cut a thousand fantastic figures in the air.

In the midst of this unbounded excitement, and as if to add a still higher zest to the general delight, the sun and the May pole rose at one and the same time ; at which events the youthful portion of the assembly broke out in higher cheers and wilder strains. The glorious old sun shot his golden beams and enlivening rays through the woodland ; and the sparkling eyes of twenty expectant damsels reflected rays, if not as lustrous and diffusive, certainly, to those upon whom they chanced to fall, as welcome and exhilarating.

Upon their way through the fields and woods, every green sprig and shoot, together with all the early spring flowers, had been gathered for the wreath or crown for the May Queen. The garland was now woven, and the evergreen and myrtle, the dewdrop, and violet, and wakerobin, with such other flowers as had yet blossomed, were charmingly and tastefully intwined therein.

But, now came the question of questions — who should be the favored and fortunate nymph who should wear it, and bear off the chief prize of the day to celebrate which they had assembled. And as the young men were engaged in canvassing the exciting question, many a fair one overheard the mention of her name ; and as the sound fell upon her attentive ear it caused the blood to course quicker through her veins, deepening the warm flush upon the cheek, and imparting an added brilliancy to the flashing eye. But a brief discussion sufficed to convince the young men that, in order to make a selection, each must yield something of his claim in behalf of his favorite, and, as only one could be chosen, they would (dropping their personal preferences) cast their votes for the loveliest and purest — not, however, but all were equally worthy.

They now proceeded to ballot ; and when all had voted, Britton Waldron, who was selected to sort and count the votes, declared that Miss Elsie Tufton was chosen to bear the honors of the day by a majority of three over all others. The woods now rang wilder than ever ; the lads threw up their hats, and the lasses waved their handkerchiefs, in token of their unanimous concurrence. A committee was now appointed to wait upon Miss Elsie and conduct her to her seat on the throne, and place the flowery diadem upon her pure, white brow. The committee consisted of three young men, who were to select three of the fairer sex as assistants. The names of those selected for this duty were Britton Waldron, John Bull, and Richard Underbill, who, selecting each a companion, escorted the fair Elsie to her exalted seat.

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Each one of the crowning committee was to take hold upon the crown, and, dancing three times around the queen before placing the regal coronet on her polished brow, to sing in time this stanza : —

" This lovely lass around we pass, And crown her Queen of May ; Nor fairer form could wreaths adorn, This merry-meeting day."

All eyes were upon Elsie, who occupied the throne with such grace and dignity, that, to the eyes of all, she looked " every inch a queen." They had danced but once around their lovely sovereign, and once sung their crowning stanza, when Elsie suddenly inquired, in a low but distinct tone, —

" Who can that lady be yonder, riding through the grove in this direction?"

All eyes were at once turned towards her, and as they caught sight of her high-mettled steed, upon which she sat with unusual grace, their attention was immediately arrested, chained, and riveted upon their unexpected visitant. Her horse, as she rode up to them, looked white, so completely frosted was he with his own perspiration ; but, on a closer inspection, proved to be of a jet black, of the deepest polish. At some little distance behind her rode two men, the eldest of whom was a noble-looking man, about the age, apparently, of fifty. He was dressed L: the style of a gentleman of that day, and had an air and bearing slightly aristocratic and unmistakably English. He was seated on a large, powerful horse, of a dark roan color, and in his rear rode a footman. He was apparelled in the quaint style not uncommon at the period of which we write. He wore velvet tight breeches, with a short doublet, and a cocked hat, in the ribbon or band of which was stuck his tobacco pipe.

His hair was long, and braided behind in a cue, and tied with eelskin, to which was attached a broad ribbon that reached to his waist. His legs were cased in tight black hose, that met his still tighter breeches at the knee, and passed under them, where the hose were fastened up and the breeches fastened down by a long, silver knee buckle. His high-heeled shoes were also fastened with silver buckles about the size of a turtle's back.

The young lady upon the black bloodhorse was clad in a green broadcloth spencer, with tight sleeves, buttoned nearly to the elbow ; a black worsted skirt, and neat shoes, fastened with buckles : a jocky riding cap, with a small plume of black, completed her costume. But so surpassing was her beauty that no one of the numerous throng of observers noticed her dress for a moment. Her hair was as black as the horse on which she rode, and hung in thick, glossy curls over her neck to her shoulders. Her eyes, also, as well as her eyebrows and lashes, were of the deepest black. Her skin had not the dark, yellow tinge so common in most blackhaired persons ; neither was it of a repulsive, chalky whiteness ; but was perfectly clear and transparent, and betrayed, by its sudden paleness or quickly-deepening glow, every mutation of feeling.

Beautiful in feature and buoyant in form, she looked the very personification of health and the imbodiment of grace and accomplishment. As she rode up to the crowd, she bowed most gracefully and smiled ; which salutation was instantly returned by all assembled. Her footman, together with his older companion, now came forward and assisted her to dismount ; and she now stood before them a little above the medium height, and of form and mould which seemed perfection itself.

As she alighted from her horse, Elsie Tufton, who, as the reader will remember, at the time the stranger appeared in sight was in the midst of her coronation, now walked deliberately down from her rude throne, and taking up the garland, which, in the astonishment and admiration caused by the lovely stranger's approach, had dropped from the hands of those around her, sung aloud, to the evident surprise of^her whom she addressed, —

" Nor fairer form could wreaths adorn, This merry-meeting day."

The English gentleman — for such evidently he was — now came forward and very earnestly protested against their making other arrangements than those previously in progress, in which they seemed so happily and (he would add, as an Englishman) so appropriately engaged.

He said he had been in the country but a few years, and had, until the last autumn, resided at Boston, but now lived some ten miles from the enchanting spot in which he now found himself.

When he came to America, he remarked, he had left his two only daughters to finish their education in the old country ; that this one, but a week previous, had landed at Portsmouth ; and that they had been informed, much to their gratification, of the " merry-meeting n holiday by a friend, whom they expected to have met here, and who was to have given him a suitable introduction to those before him ; but as he did not recognize him among those present, he would, by their leave, introduce himself and companion as Matthew Langdell, Esq., and his daughter Rozella.

Elsie, who had walked down from her sylvan throne, now sprang forward to the Englishman's daughter, and was the first to give her hand and a cordial welcome to the glorious grove of " Merry Meeting." Britton Waldron followed next ; and in quick succession every one present had grasped the hand of Squire Langdell and welcomed himself and his lovely daughter to the new land of their adoption. So perfectly fascinated were some of the young men, particularly Waldron and Bull, that they were completely disqualified for further proceedings in the way of general gallantry, and, by their absent-minded air and utter indifference to any save the fair stranger, laid themselves open to the keen remarks of their former favorites, who rallied them most unmercifully.

" Now," said Elsie, smiling, " I abdicate the throne in favor and in honor of the fair Rozella Langdell."

At this manifestation of generosity on the part of Elsie repeated cheers went up from all assembled.

" Noble girl ! " said one. " Generous creature ! " said another.

" Ladies and gentlemen," said Squire Langdell, " I thank you all for the kind reception of myself and daughter, but particularly you, Miss Tufton, for your generous proposal to abdicate in her favor ; but it would be infringing too much upon the rights of others, and presuming too far upon your own generous impulses, besides breaking up your previously concerted order of arrangements, to allow any change. Therefore, thanking you kindly for the honor shown Rozella, I must, in her behalf, decline the high post of honor to which your partiality would elevate her, and entreat you to go on in the original order of exercises under your present worthy queen."

" And I," said Rozella, " must add my request to that of my dear father. I will assist in any post of duty your kind partiality may assign me, which shall enable me to aid in the coronation of the lady you had selected for your queen ; but the wreath was not woven for my brow, and I must decline it."

" The garland," said Elsie, " was woven for the brow of the fairest ; therefore, in the presence of Miss Langdell, I peremptorily refuse to receive or wear it."

So strong was the demonstration in approbation of the sentiments of Elsie that Rozella saw it was of no avail to refuse further ; so, with her father's consent, she went forward and yielded a gracious assent to their solicitations. The former committee, with the addition of Elsie, now surrounded Rozella, and, taking her by both hands, led her in triumph to the throne.

" Well," said Rozella, taking off her cap as she spoke, — at which act a dozen young men sprang forward, eager to secure the honor of holding it, — " here, if it is not a worthy brow, is an honest one ; and I promise you it shall never disgrace the crown you are pleased to place upon it."

Each one now took hold upon the crown and danced around the throne as before, singing, —

" This lovely lass," &c, —

and then placed the flowery crown upon Rozella's brow, while the old woods rang with the shouts of the young and old in such wild peals of joy as they had never experienced since the morning stars sang at their creation. After the coronation Rozella arose, and in a clear, musical voice, of surpassing and peculiar sweetness, sung as follows : —

How glorious the scene, and how joyful the day, In the old woods of green, in the young month of May ! So in hearts that are spotless, on earth though they stay, And old bosoms hold them, 'tis May — always May.

Our lives, like the garland we weave for the queen, With evergreens twining, 'mid blossoms are seen ; But a crown that ne'er withers let all wear each day ; Then, when autumn surrounds us, 'tis May — always May.

A thorn unobserved may perchance join the rose, And a hand press it deep in the brow that she loves ; But the brow only wounded, the sting ne'er can stay ; Where the heart feels no sorrow, 'tis May — always May.

Though strangers we meet, and our friendship is new, The joys we are tasting we'll long keep in view ; Till each wreath is woven for the great crowning day, 'Mid garlands immortal, 'tis May — always May.

After the singing of the above, the effect that had been produced upon the company, more by the voice and manner of the fair vocalist than by the words, manifested itself in their long and repeated cheers.

" Now," said Robert Vaughan, after the applause had subsided, " I propose, as ours is no common queen, that we give her an additional title — that we add to her present designation of " Queen of May " that of " Queen of the Forest." For she has put new life and animation into these green old woods, so as to cause every leaf to vibrate and dance with joy from pond to bay and lake. " Why," said he, with kindling enthusiasm, " the old ' merry meeting,' once held upon this sacred ground, was no more to be compared with this than a district school meeting in one of our new settlements can be put in comparison with commencement at Old Cambridge."

" Agreed ! " shouted all ; and Robert Vaughan was selected to present her the additional badge of honor. He accordingly broke a bough from a young spruce, and on bended knee presented it to the lovely Forest Queen, who graciously accepted the same with courteous words and acknowledging smiles.

At the close of the coronation ceremonies the ladies amused themselves as best suited their individual tastes — some ranging through the grove gathering what flowers were still unplucked, while others strolled upon the shore of the pond and amused themselves by watching the gambols of its finny denizens, or by casting pebbles into its placid bosom to observe the wavy rings which would encircle the place where the surface was disturbed.

Of the other sex both old and young were engaged in the more athletic exercises of climbing the May pole or the surrounding trees ; jumping, or trying to do so, in the tiedup bag ; and finally in the laughable feat of catching and holding the soaped pig, which a jolly old farmer had brought, as he said, to remind the older part of the company of the May-day sports of Old England. This last performance had for its delighted spectators the fairer portion of the company, who, while they pitied the pig, could not but rejoice at the failures and mishaps of his pursuers. Peals of laughter and all sorts of ironical compliments and cutting jokes and jests greeted the unfortunate wight who was obliged to " forego his hold," and all were convulsed with merriment except, perhaps, the poor pig, who probably could " see nothing to laugh at," but who, we are happy to say, finally left the ground with his ears still safely attached, though perhaps a trifle elongated.

After these sports were over, and as the company were again strolling hither and thither through the grove, Elsie, who had been standing with Rozella on the throne, cast her eyes about her to ascertain the whereabouts of one Charles Cutts, who had been very attentive to her for several months, and who had exerted himself more than any other one to advance her interest and secure her election to the throne. She finally discovered him sitting on a little hillock at the foot of a tree, against which his back rested, while over his right knee was thrown his left leg, around which were clasped both his hands in a grasp as firm as a vice. He held in his mouth one end of a long piece of bark that had been stripped from the May pole, and which he was chewing violently.

"Well, Charles," said Elsie, approaching him, "we are having a nice time for our first May day."

" Nice time ! " said Cutts, rather tartly ; " the nice time was entirely spoiled when you resigned your honors and placed that young Englishwoman upon the throne to which I had exerted myself to the utmost to place you."

" I am well aware," replied Elsie, " that you have used all your influence in my behalf, and I assure you I shall always be grateful for the same. The kind favor of your advocacy will never be forgotten. But, in the first place, she is a stranger, and can but consider it a mark of respect on our part, and one, too, by which we signify our willingness to receive her into our warmest friendship. Besides, we shall be gainers by the act, inasmuch as the influence and example of one so accomplished and well bred as she evidently is will do much in smoothing off our sharp corners and improving our awkward habits."

" We should be just before we are generous," replied Cutts ; " and as to your improving by her example, you, Elsie, exhibit in your own person a truer model of the real accomplishments of woman as she should be than that boarding-school girl yonder or all the other ladies of London like her, with their affected airs and false ideas of all that is truly womanly."