Wild Western Scenes: A Narrative of Adventures in the Western Wilderness, Wherein the Exploits of Daniel Boone, the Great American Pioneer are Particularly DescribedJones, J. B. (John Beauchamp)
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Wild Western Scenes: A Narrative of Adventures in the Western Wilderness, Wherein the Exploits of Daniel Boone, the Great American Pioneer are Particularly Described
Jones, J. B. (John Beauchamp)
Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820 -- Fiction; Western stories; Wilderness areas -- Fiction
“Your brother, then, has been lost thirteen years. He may yet be
restored to you—re-taught our manners and speech—bless his aged
father’s declining years, and merit sister’s affection.”
“Oh! Mr. Glenn! is he then alive? is this he?” cried Mary.
“No, child!” said Roughgrove, “do not think of such a thing, for you
will be most bitterly disappointed. Your brother was _white_—look at
this Indian’s dark face!”
Glenn approached the chief, extending his hand in a friendly manner. It
was frankly grasped. He then gently drew the furs aside and exposed the
young man’s shoulder. It was as white as his own! Roughgrove, Mary, and
all, looked on in wonder. The young chief regarded it with singular
emotions himself. He seemed to associate it in some manner with the
ring he held, for he glanced from one to the other alternately.
“Did Mary wear that ring before the child was lost?” asked Glenn.
“No,” replied Roughgrove, “but her mother did.”
“I believe he is your son!” said Glenn. “Mary,” he continued, “have you
any trinkets or toys you used to play with?”
“Yes. Oh, let me get them!” she replied, and running to a corner of the
room where her father’s chests and trunks had been placed, she produced
a small drum and a brass toy cannon. “He used to play with these from
morning till night,” she continued, placing them on the floor. She had
not taken her hand away from them, before the young chief sprang to her
side and cried out—
“They’re mine! they’re mine! they’re William’s!”
“What was the child’s name?” asked Glenn, quickly.
“William! William!” cried Mary. “It is my brother! it is my poor
brother William!” and without a moment’s hesitation she threw her arms
round his neck, and sobbed upon his breast!
“The poor, poor child!” said Roughgrove, in tremulous tones, embracing
them both, his eyes filled with tears.
“Sister! sister!” said the youth, gazing in partial bewilderment at
Mary.
“Brother, brother! I am your sister!” said Mary, in tones of thrilling
tenderness.
“But mother! where’s mother?” asked the youth. The father and sister
bowed their heads in silence. The youth, after clinging fondly to Mary
a few minutes, started up abruptly and looked amazed, as if waking from
a sweet dream to the reality of his recent dreadful condition.
“Brother, why do you look so coldly at us? Why don’t you press us to
your heart?” said Mary, still clinging to him. The youth’s features
gradually assumed a grave and haughty cast, and, turning away, he
walked to the stool he had occupied, and sat down in silence.
“I will win him from the Indians,” said Mary, running after him, and
sitting down at his side.
“Ugh!” exclaimed the youth in displeasure, and moved a short distance
away.
“He’s not true grit—I ’most wish I had killed him,” said Sneak.
“Yes, and pinch me if I don’t burn him again, if I get a chance,” said
Joe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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