SOLON ROBINSON, 1841 191 



locks, (which sometimes create confidence and respect in 

 a stranger,) stream to the wind, and devoutly crossing 

 myself, I motioned her to approach. She no longer hesi- 

 tated, but come and knelt down opposite to me, and, as I 

 judged, murmured a prayer to the Great Spirit, in which, 

 from my imperfect knowledge of the language, I supposed 

 she was thanking him for his goodness in sending me to 

 my brother's grave. This I subsequently ascertained was 

 the fact. For from the striking resemblance in form and 

 feature to him who was there buried, such she supposed 

 me to be. When she arose she took me by the hand and 

 motioned towards the canoe, but until we had left this 

 sacred spot, she deigned not to open her lips except in 

 prayer. 



Then by sign and speech, I understood that she wished 

 me to cross the lake with her to her wigwam; and not- 

 withstanding the utter dread I have had since one dread- 

 ful night in youth, to all witchcraft, and particularly an 

 Indian canoe, my curiosity overcame my fears, and I 

 permitted myself to be guided entirely at her pleasure. 

 When we arrived at the wigwam, a few words from her 

 to the Indian, called forth expressions of marked re- 

 spect, surprise and joy, at my arrival ; I saw that I was 

 enveloped in mystery, and determined patiently to await 

 coming events, to clear it up. After sundry unfoldings 

 of cloth and twine, the old squaw produced a small sil- 

 ver snuffbox, on the lid of which was engraved "A. A. 

 Hartford, 1796," and in the inside, carefully packed in 

 fur, was a much worn gold finger ring, on one side of 

 which "two hearts and two hands were joined;" and on 

 the inside were engraved, "A. A. to P. W.," and a date 

 which was so much worn I could not make it out. The 

 initials, time, and place, on the box, instantly called to 

 mind one whom I had known while a lad, and had not 

 known or heard of since a short time after the death of 

 her who might have worn that ring upon her wedding 

 day. That day or her maiden name, I knew nothing of, 

 but her death scene could never be blotted from my mind 



