I've knew the f'ercest warriors with the gentlest wives of any in
the tribe, and awful scolds fall to the lot of Injins fit to be
missionaries."
"That was not it, Deerslayer; that was not it. Oh! if it should
prove that -no; I cannot wish she should not have been his wife at
all. That no daughter can wish for her own mother! Go on, now,
and let us see what the square looking bundle holds."
Deerslayer complied, and he found that it contained a small trunk
of pretty workmanship, but fastened. The next point was to find
a key; but, search proving ineffectual, it was determined to force
the lock. This Deerslayer soon effected by the aid of an iron
instrument, and it was found that the interior was nearly filled
with papers. Many were letters; some fragments of manuscripts,
memorandums, accounts, and other similar documents. The hawk does
not pounce upon the chicken with a more sudden swoop than Judith
sprang forward to seize this mine of hitherto concealed knowledge.
Her education, as the reader will have perceived, was far superior
to her situation in life, and her eye glanced over page after page
of the letters with a readiness that her schooling supplied, and
with an avidity that found its origin in her feelings.
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