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mote in the settlement; and Squando knew that some of the remote families had not got into the fort, for his men had brought in several scalps, and told him that the Presumpscut and Casco Indians had carried away a number of prisoners. Squando spake not a word; but motioning to two of his warriors to follow, he started at full speed for Allen's opening. When they reached the spot, the smouldering ruins of the house still sent up a sickly smoke, that at once convinced Squando that human flesh was burning. He hastened to scrutinize the embers. There was one skeleton, and but one, still broiling in the ashes. The flesh was nearly consumed, and the experienced eye of Squando told him the bones were too large for the maiden he was seeking. They were probably the bones of Mr. Allen, who might have been killed and scalped in the onset, and perhaps his wife, with her cousin Elizabeth, had been carried away captive.

Squando soon found the trail of the Presumpscut warriors, and followed them through the woods.

After a rapid journey of six or seven miles, on ascending a small hill, he discovered them in the valley before him, where they had made a halt to rest and refresh themselves, and rejoice over the achievements of the night. They had made a large fire of brush, and were dancing round it, and sing. ing a wild song which Squando at once recognized as the usual song preceeding the offering of a human sacrifice to the spirit of fire, and he knew that a captive was about to be committed to the flames. He rushed down the hill like a leaping torrent, and dashed into the circle of the warriors. A captive

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was lying before him, bound hand and foot, and two stout warriors were just laying hands upon her to cast her into the flames. The first glance told Squando, the captive was the fair maiden whom he sought.

He sprang between her and the fire, and raising his tomahawk, commanded the warriors to leave the captive. The warriors, supposing it to be some sudden spiritual movement of Squando, released their hold. He cut the bands that bound her, raised her to her feet, and conducted her in safety back to her father's dwelling.

It only remains to be added here, that Squando continued the inveterate enemy of the whites, till a general peace was effected with the tribes the following year. The settlement of Saco Falls in the mean time was entirely broken up; the people at the fort, fearing to remain in the neighborhood of Squando, removed immediately and joined the settlement at Winter Harbor.

NOTE. The principal incidents of this story, and particularly those relating to the child, are historically true.

THE MAIDEN'S PRAYER.

BY J. G. WHITTIER.

SHE rose from her delicious sleep,
And put away her soft brown hair,
And in a tone as low and deep

As love's first whisper, breathed a prayer,
Her snow-white hands together pressed,
Her blue eyes sheltered in the lid,
The folded linen on her breast,

Just swelling with the charms it hid, And from her long and flowing dress Escaped a bare and snowy foot, Whose step upon the earth did press

Like a new snow-flake, white and mute: And then from slumbers soft and warm, Like a young spirit fresh from Heaven, She bowed that slight and matchless form, And humbly prayed to be forgiven. O, God, if souls unsoiled as these, Need daily mercy from thy throne; If she upon her bended knees

Our holiest and our purest one;

She with a face so clear and bright,
We deem her some stray child of night;
If she with those soft eyes in tears,
Day after day, in her young years,
Must kneel and pray for grace from thee,
What far, far deeper need have we!
How hardly, if she win not Heaven,
Will our wild errors be forgiven !

A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.

BY MRS. M. L. CHILD.

ONE of my father's brothers, residing in Boston at that time, became a victim to the pestilence. When the first symptoms appeared his wife sent the children into the country, and herself remained to attend upon him. Her friends warned her against such rashness. They told her it would be death to her, and no benefit to him; for he would soon be too ill to know who attended upon him. These arguments made no impression on her affectionate heart. She felt that it would be a long-life satisfaction to her to know who attended upon him, if he did not. She accordingly stayed and watched him with unremitting care. This, however, did not avail to save him. He grew worse and worse, and finally died. Those who went around with the death-carts had visited the chamber; and seen that the end was near. They now came to take the body. His wife refused to let it go. She told me that she never knew how to account for it, but though he was perfectly cold and rigid, and to every appearance quite dead, there was a powerful impression on her mind that life was not quite extinct. The men were overborne by the strength of her conviction; though their own reason was opposed to it.

The half-hour again came round, and again was heard the solemn words, "Bring out your dead."

The wife again resisted their importunities; but this time the men were more resolute. They said the duty assigned to them was a painful one; but the health of the city required punctual obedience to the orders they received; if they ever expected the pestilence to abate, it must be by a prompt removal of the dead, and immediate fumigation of the infected apartments.

She

She pleaded and pleaded, and even knelt to them in an agony of tears, continually saying, "I am sure he is not dead." The men represented the utter absurdity of such an idea; but finally, overcome by her tears again departed. With trembling haste she renewed her efforts to restore him. raised his head, rolled his limbs in hot flannel, and placed hot onions on his feet. The dreaded halfhour again came round, and found him as cold and rigid as ever. She renewed her entreaties so desperately, that the messengers began to think a little gentle force would be necessary. They accordingly attempted to remove the body against her will; but she threw herself upon it, and clung to it with such frantic strength, that they could not easily loosen her grasp. Impressed by this remarkable energy of her will, they relaxed their efforts. To all their remonstrances she answered, "If you bury him, you shall bury me with him." At last, by dint of reasoning on the necessity of the case, they obtained from her a promise, that, if he showed no signs of life before they again came round, she would make no further opposition to the removal..

Having gained this respite, she hung the watch up on the bed-post, and renewed her efforts with re

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