"3 



It however, fell far fliort of the fancied charms of fociety, heightened 

 by privation, and alnioft prefent to her fenfes. The cheerful buzz of the 

 village, the labours of the field fvveetenr-d by the couverfe of her com- 

 panions, love, friendfhip, the endearing domef:ic ties, the Iports, the paf- 

 times, the thoufand delights of focial life, all ruflied upon her mind, 

 now relieved from the preflure of urgent fufferine;; and rendered the 

 uniformity of her mode of living at firft irkfome, and in the end infup- 

 portable. She could not conceal her diftraftions from her quick-fighted 

 companion. He endeavoured to amufe her by varied converfation, by 

 recitals of adventures real or imagined ; he furnifhed her with the moft 

 palatable food ; made her drink from the fweeteil fprings ; and led her 

 through the faired: trafts of the foreft ; but all was in vain. Did he 

 fliew her the beauties of the wildernefs, flie was blind ; did he warn 

 her of the dangers of the frequented village, he fpoke to the winds. 

 Pinding her thoughts diftrafted almoft to the pitch of alienation, he re- 

 folved to indulge her in her wifhes. And bending their courfe towards a 

 jjlace of human refort, (which they did under his guidance,) he found 

 by degrees her ufual compofure return. He availed himfelf of the change 

 to imprefs her mind with what he deemed three neceffary truths, that 

 his councils were efTential to extricate her from the perils which might 

 await her; that (he fliould avoid too ftrift a connexion with fceming 

 but untried friends ; and above all, that flie fhould conceal his head 

 from the view of all mortals ; upon the obfei-vance of which laft in- 

 jun<ftion more efpecially, the fate of both depended. She clafped the 

 friendly head flill clofer to her bofom ; and affociating it with her heart, 

 proceeded firfl; by doubtful, and then beaten paths, through opening 

 forefts of fweet maples, ending in cultivated fields covered with com, 

 to the centre of a fpacious village, where every thing ftie had dreamt 

 of feemed to be realized. She was accofted with kindnefs by the in- 

 habitants ; flie was oifered refrefliment, and accepted it ; the kindnefs 

 of her cementing manners engaged the affeftions of fome of her own 

 fex ; who, after forae moments repofe, led her to a numerous affembly, 

 before one of the war-chief's houfes, where the women were engaged 

 Vol. IX. P in 



