“They manifested much love towards me in their way, as they did mostly to upright, plain-dealing Friends; and whilst I was amongst them my spirit was very easy: nor did I feel that power of darkness to oppress me, as I had done in many places amongst people calling themselves _Christians_.”--_Journal of John Richardson, one of the early Friends._ * * * * * They read of rapine, war, and woe, A party by an English fire,-- Of Indian warfare in the wood, Of stern and ruthless ire. They read of torture worse than death-- Of treachery dark--of natures base-- Of women savage as the beast-- Of the red Indian race. “Hold!” said the matron of the hearth, A woman beautiful in age; “And let me of the Indian speak; Close, close that faithless page! “My father was the youngest born In an old rural English hall; The youngest out of five stout sons, With patrimony small. “His boyhood was in greenwood spent; His youth was all a sylvan dream; He tracked the game upon the hills; He angled in the stream. “Quiet was he, and well content, With naught to fret, and none to chide; For all that his young heart desired The woods and streams supplied. “Small knowledge had a youth so trained, College or school ne’er knew his face; And yet as he grew up, he grew Superior to his race. “His brethren were of sordid sort, Men with coarse minds, and without range; He grew adventurous and bold, Inquisitive of change. “And, as he grew, he took to books, And read what’er the hall supplied; Histories of admirals, voyages old, And travels far and wide. “He read of settlers, who went forth To the far west, and pitched their tent Within the woods, and grew, ere long, To a great, prosperous settlement. “He read of the bold lives they led, Full of adventure, hardy, free; Of the wild creatures they pursued, Of game in every tree. “And how the Indians, quaintly gay, Came down in wampum-belt and feather, To welcome them with courteous grace; How they and the free forest race Hunted and dwelt together. “And how they and their chosen mates Led lives so sweet and primitive: Oh! in such land, with one dear heart, What joy it were to live! “So thought he, and such life it were As suited well his turn of mind; For what within his father’s house Was there to lure or bind? “Four needy brothers, coarse and dull; A patrimony, quite outspent; A mother, long since in her grave; A father, weak and indolent! “At twenty he had ta’en a mate, A creature gentle, kind, and fair; Poor, like himself, but well content The forest-life to share.