The Hidden Children Read online

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  The Hidden Children

  by

  Robert W. Chambers, 1914

  TO MY MOTHER

  Whatever merit may lie in this book is due to her wisdom, her sympathy and her teaching

  AUTHOR'S PREFACE

  No undue liberties with history have been attempted in this romance.Few characters in the story are purely imaginary. Doubtless thefastidious reader will distinguish these intruders at a glance, andvery properly ignore them. For they, and what they never were, and whatthey never did, merely sugar-coat a dose disguised, and gild the solidpill of fact with tinselled fiction.

  But from the flames of Poundridge town ablaze, to the rolling smoke ofCatharines-town, Romance but limps along a trail hewed out for her moredainty feet by History, and measured inch by inch across the bloodyarchives of the nation.

  The milestones that once marked that dark and dreadful trail were deadmen, red and white. Today a spider-web of highways spreads over thatDark Empire of the League, enmeshing half a thousand towns now alla-buzz by day and all a-glow by night.

  Empire, League, forest, are vanished; of the nations which formed theConfederacy only altered fragments now remain. But their memory andtheir great traditions have not perished; cities, mountains, valleys,rivers, lakes, and ponds are endowed with added beauty from the lovelynames they wear--a tragic yet a charming legacy from Kanonsis andKanonsionni, the brave and mighty people of the Long House, and thoseoutside its walls who helped to prop or undermine it, Huron andAlgonquin.

  Perhaps of all national alliances ever formed, the Great Peace, whichis called the League of the Iroquois, was as noble as any. For it was aleague formed solely to impose peace. Those who took up arms againstthe Long House were received as allies when conquered--save only thetreacherous Cat Nation, or Eries, who were utterly annihilated by theknife and hatchet or by adoption and ultimate absorption in the SenecaNation.

  As for the Lenni-Lenape, when they kept faith with the League theyremained undisturbed as one of the "props" of the Long House, and theirrole in the Confederacy was embassadorial, diplomatic and advisory--inother words, the role of the Iroquois married women. And in theConfederacy the position of women was one of importance and dignity,and they exercised a franchise which no white nation has ever yetaccorded to its women.

  But when the Delawares broke faith, then the lash fell and the term"women" as applied to them carried a very different meaning when spatout by Canienga lips or snarled by Senecas.

  Yet, of the Lenape, certain tribes, offshoots, and clans remainedimpassive either to Iroquois threats or proffered friendship. They,like certain lithe, proud forest animals to whom restriction meansdeath, were untamable. Their necks could endure no yoke, political orpurely ornamental. And so they perished far from the Onondagafirelight, far from the open doors of the Long House, self-exiled,self-sufficient, irreconcilable, and foredoomed. And of these theMohicans were the noblest.

  In the four romances--of which, though written last of all, this is thethird, chronologically speaking--the author is very conscious of errorand shortcoming. But the theme was surely worth attempting; and if thefailure to convince be only partial then is the writer grateful to theFates, and well content to leave it to the next and better man.

  BROADALBIN,

  Early Spring, 1913. __________________________________________________________________

  NOTE

  During the serial publication of "The Hidden Children" the authorreceived the following interesting letters relating to the authorshipof the patriotic verses quoted in Chapter X., These letters arepublished herewith for the general reader as well as for students ofAmerican history.

  R. W. C.

  149 WEST EIGHTY-EIGHTH STREET,

  NEW YORK CITY.

  MRS. HELEN DODGE KNEELAND:

  DEAR MADAM: Some time ago I accidentally came across the verses writtenby Samuel Dodge and used by R. W. Chambers in story "Hidden Children."I wrote to him, inviting him to come and look at the originalmanuscript, which has come down to me from my mother, whose maiden namewas Helen Dodge Cocks, a great-granddaughter of Samuel Dodge, ofPoughkeepsie, the author of them.

  So far Mr. Chambers has not come, but he answered my note, inclosingyour note to him. I have written to him, suggesting that he insert afootnote giving the authorship of the verses, that it would gratify thedescendants of Samuel Dodge, as well as be a tribute to a patrioticcitizen.

  These verses have been published a number of times. About three yearsago by chance I read them in the December National Magazine, p. 247(Boston), entitled "A Revolutionary Puzzle," and stating that theauthor was unknown. Considering it my duty to place the honor where itbelonged, I wrote to the editor, giving the facts, which he courteouslypublished in the September number, 1911, p. 876.

  Should you be in New York any time, I will take pleasure in showing youthe original manuscripts.

  Very truly yours,

  ROBERT S. MORRIS, M.D.

  MR. ROBERT CHAMBERS,

  New York.

  DEAR SIR: I have not replied to your gracious letter, as I relied uponDr. Morris to prove to you the authorship of the verses you used inyour story of "The Hidden Children." I now inclose a letter from him,hoping that you will carry out his suggestion. Is it asking too muchfor you to insert a footnote in the next magazine or in the story whenit comes out in book form? I think with Dr. Morris that this should bedone as a "tribute to a patriotic citizen."

  Trusting that you will appreciate the interest we have shown in thismatter, I am

  Sincerely yours,

  HELEN DODGE KNEELAND.

  May 21st, 1914.

  Ann Arbor, Michigan.

  MRS. FRANK G. KNEELAND,

  727 E. University Avenue. __________________________________________________________________

  THE LONG HOUSE

  "Onenh jatthondek sewarih-wisa-anongh-kwe kaya-renh-kowah! Onenh wa-karigh-wa-kayon-ne. Onenh ne okne joska-wayendon. Yetsi-siwan-enyadanion ne Sewari-wisa-anonqueh."

  "_Now listen, ye who established the Great League! Now it has become old. Now there is nothing but wilderness. Ye are in your graves who established it._"

  "At the Wood's Edge." __________________________________________________________________

  NENE KARENNA

  When the West kindles red and low, Across the sunset's sombre glow, The black crows fly--the black crows fly! High pines are swaying to and fro In evil winds that blow and blow. The stealthy dusk draws nigh--draws nigh, Till the sly sun at last goes down, And shadows fall on Catharines-town.

  _Oswaya swaying to and fro._

  By the Dark Empire's Western gate Eight stately, painted Sachems wait For Amochol--for Amochol! Hazel and samphire consecrate The magic blaze that burns like Hate, While the deep witch-drums roll--and roll. Sorceress, shake thy dark hair down! The Red Priest comes from Catharines-town.

  _Ha-ai! Karenna! Fate is Fate._

  Now let the Giants clothed in stone Stalk from Biskoonah; while, new grown, The Severed Heads fly high--fly high! White-throat, White-throat, thy doom is known! O Blazing Soul that soars alone Like a Swift Arrow to the sky, High wi
nging--fling thy Wampum down, Lest the sky fall on Catharines-town.

  _White-throat, White-throat, thy course is flown._

  R. W. C. __________________________________________________________________

  CONTENTS

  I THE BEDFORD ROAD II POUNDRIDGE III VIEW HALLOO! IV A TRYST V THE GATHERING VI THE SPRING WAIONTHA VII LOIS VIII OLD FRIENDS IX MID-SUMMER X IN GARRISON XI A SCOUT OF SIX XII AT THE FORD XIII THE HIDDEN CHILDREN XIV NAI TIOGA! XV BLOCK-HOUSE NO. 2 XVI LANA HELMER XVII THE BATTLE OF CHEMUNG XVIII THE RITE OF THE HIDDEN CHILDREN XIX AMOCHOL XX YNDAIA XXI CHINISEE CASTLE XXII MES ADIEUX

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