Mary Gertrude

Philip Randolph Mary Gertrude

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1844 Excerpt: ... absorbed by the yet distant party. At length they moved towards the centre of the green before the council lodge, and then Meahmee turned and said, abruptly, "My son is not with the warriors; why does he stay with the women? Oneyda's enemy is at the stake; my son must go." "No, my mother! my heart is a white man's; I love not the torture fires, and those poor men are not my enemies." A sigh escaped her as she replied, "When the warriors came back from battle, Meahmee was a swift fawn, she ran to the prisoners, she made their hearts pale, they were afraid when she looked at them; but now her heart is white too, and she stays with her white children;" and Meahmee looked down, as if ashamed of her confession. Philip smiled. "Oh my mother is wise; it is not for women to be with the warriors at the council fire. Let her heart soften towards the prisoners; see, they are taking them to the council lodge." Meahmee's eye rested once more compassionately upon the prisoners, and Philip continued, "They have wives in their wig-wams and a baby like our own baby, my mother; they will never go to them again; and their wives will weep for them, as Meahmee would if Oneyda were to go and not return. I know that my mother's heart weeps for these men, though there are no tears in her eyes." Meahmee hastily retreated within the shade of her dwelling. She was ashamed to shew so much sympathy for her husband's enemies, and this last appeal had affected her anew to tears. Who can tell what was the luxury of these dawnings of compassionate feeling towards those she had been taught to detest! But the council was held, and the captives were condemned, and their torture-fires lighted. They were tied to separate stakes, and each seemed to emulate the example of the other, so undauntedl...