Oonomoo the Huron

worship-fel

fe which warm

savage mids

portraitu

woods and bou

asting wild

ll throb-the

pulse of the

large creek, which ran through one of the wildest and most desolate regions of Ohio. In some portions the banks were nothing more than a continuous swamp, the creek spreading out like a lake among the reeds and underg

king the length of some fallen tree, so decayed and water-eaten that it mashed to a pulp beneath his feet, and then leaping

halted. While picking his way through the swamp he had carried his rifle lightly balanced in his left hand, and he now simply changed it to his right, grasping it by the muzzle, so that the stock was before him. He saw the cavernous mouth of the snake opened to an amazing width; the thin to

a sharp, cracking noise, like the explosion of a percussion-cap, and the head of the rattlesnake spun twenty feet or more out over the swamp. It struck the branch of a tree, and, dropping to the water, sunk out of sight. The headless body of the reptile now writhed and doubled over itself, and smo

numerous trees, like thin, dark columns, here and there twisted round and round, and, seemingly, smothered by some luxuriant vine; others prostrate, the roots sunk out of sight, and the trunk protruding upward, as if a giant had used them for spears and hurled them into the sw

erminated almost in a mathematical line, and a lake of water, something less than a quarter of a mile in width, stretched out before him, perfectly clear of every obstruction. The Indian stood a long time, looking about in every direction. What was unusual, there was an ex

rom sight. When he came to the surface, he brought something with him, which proved to be a canoe. With this he swam to the tree, where he righted and

tly of disappointment at not discovering some person or object for whom he was looking. Waiting a moment, he placed his thumb on his mouth, and gave utterance to a low, tremulous whistle, an exact imitation of a bird often found in the American

its appearance, carefully approaching that of the Huron. In it was seated an Indian boy, not more t

" said the latter, sternly,

"Niniotan, my

nd was carried further in the woods t

Niniotan two tongues that he shou

" said the son, in a humble

ree-top he would be waiting for his boy Nini

r perhaps a quarter of a mile further, when the ground became so solid that they landed and walked upon it. The grass was green and luxuriant, the trees stood close together, and in some places the

the retreat and home of Oonomoo, the friendly Huron, where his wife, Fluellina, and son, Niniotan, dwelt, which was regularly visited by him, and where he frequently spent days, enjoying the sweets of home. No living person besides these three knew of its existence. It stood upon this vast island in the midst of this swamp, almost inaccessible to appro

ents, such as rifles, knives, pistols, beads and picture-books which had been given Oonomoo by his numerous white friends. In addition there was a magnificent gold watch-a gift from a wealthy lady, whose life the Huron had

ve-eyed creature, a number of years younger than her husband, whom she loved almost to adoration, and for whom she would not have hesitated to lay down her life at any moment. Sh

er, Colonel Williamson, murdered the one hundred Moravian Indians-a crime for which it seems a just God would have smitten him and his followers to the earth. Here this faithful Huron woman and her son received instruction in holy things from the aged missionary-a white man who alo

ever could love the Shawnees-they who had first caused his father to be broken of his chiefdom, and then had murdered his mother. He had sworn eternal hatred against them, and in the interior of his lodge hung such an incredible number of their scalps that we decline

felt his spirit expanding within him, until his eyes overflowed, and he, the mighty, scarred warrior, wept like a child. The sweet instruction, too, of the gentle Fluellina had not been lost entirely upon him. It w

s, we will now return to the present

stake to suppose that he is wanting either in the ordinary affections of humanity, or in those little demonstrations of love so peculiar to our own race. Deep in the woods, when alone with their families, they throw off restraint and are warriors no more-but men. The little child is dandl

nd placed himself beside her. A glance at the two would have shown that there was no considerable difference in their ages. The wife could not have been over thirty at the most, and she looked much younger, while the husband was perhaps thirty-five. His squar

till her young and ardent lover. They sat thus, gazing into each other's face for several moments without speaking, so full seemed their hearts. Finally Oonomoo seated himself upon the ground at the feet of Fluellina

h it until it glistened like satin. She did not speak, for she had no desire to disturb the languor which sh

time, and reseated himsel

an?" he asked, l

the deer which he slew thi

yet tired of

ing her warm cheek against his

said she, raising her head and l

as been i

hang at h

ll ever hang

calp of th

a voice as deep and solemn a

mination impressed upon his countenance, and knew the sacredness with which he regarded his pledged word, she sunk

irit, I t

ted up as he gazed down upon her as if the long obscured sun had once more struggled from behind the clouds-the

g through his very being, as he uttered this vow, and felt within him the consciousness that never, never aga

avian missionary?" he asked, as

e since. He inqu

ill visit

go with Flue

e which it would reach in about half an hour, "he must go, and

l he retu

iend the white man and maid who

and will pray for O

and his arm will be strong, fo

will be a brave warrior who, I pray, wil

he missionary

burns, and his breast pants when he hears of the great deeds his father

is feet are like those of the deer. He shall be a man whose

or?" asked Fluellina, looking

in rightful combat, and no scalp shall ever adorn his lodg

be valiant and merciful, but he longs to

late what Oonomoo will d

crease. He gazes long and often upon those which you tore years ago from the

choicest food these

n is sure, and his

erpowered by the Shawnees or Miamis. They would know he was the s

d," she added, reverentially raising her eyes to

ounds beyond the sun, he and Fluellina and Niniotan will again live together on some

Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Huron, and the white man sha

ry tribe that had lived since the foundation of the world-those who were now the most implacable enemies to each other, the French, English and Americans-th

ewa, Miami, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Shawnee,

nderstood and believed. He sat a few moments, as if rumina

f Good Book

rious descriptions of that most wonderful of all books thrilled her soul to its center with emotions unutterable; and she knew that the same effect, though perhaps in a lesser degree, was produced upon her husband. T

nd high mountain, and showed me the great city, the

was like unto a stone most precious, ev

and at the gates twelve angels, and names written ther

it was of jasper; and the city was

all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; th

olite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a ch

everal gate was of one pearl; and the street of th

for the Lord God Almighty and

t be shut at all by day; for t

Day, the New Jerusalem, and the great white Throne, threw a spell over him which remained long after the words

n the western sky, an

pproach. He had scarce uttered the call, when Niniotan came bounding from the wood eager to obey the slightest wish of his father. Seeing from his acti

ame to where his own canoe was moored, into which the Huron stepped. As he was about to dip the paddl

t it almost to breaking. Without noticing him further, Oonomoo sent his canoe spinning among the trees, and was soon in the broad sheet of water, crossing which, he reached the spot where he had brought up his boat. Stepping out upon the log, he se

n, the Huron struck into his peculiar rapid trot, which was continued until sunset, by which time he reached the clearing. Approaching it in his usual cautious manner, he saw the Sh