emory recalls
The beaming joys of her life's early day,
Forever fled. Her spirit, palled with gloom,
Anticipates sweet rest but in the tomb--
White winged Faith, her guardian one, alway
There hovering nigh. 'Tis morn; dreams she no more;
On Fotheringay's black scaffold now she stands,
Clasping her cherished croslet in her hands,
Anon to die. Her fate the loves deplore;
The angel-loves, eke, waft her soul to heaven;
Her faults, her follies, to her faith forgiven.

* * * * *

THE PIONEER MOTHERS OF THE WEST.

BY MRS. E. F. ELLET.

MARY BLEDSOE.

The history of the early settlers of the West, a large portion of which has
never been recorded in any published work, is full of personal adventure.
No power of imagination could create materials more replete with romantic
interest than their simple experience afforded. The early training of those
hardy pioneers in their frontier life; the daring with Which they
penetrated the wilderness, plunging into trackless forests, and
encountering the savage tribes whose hunting-grounds they had invaded; and
the sturdy perseverance with which they overcame all difficulties, compel
our wondering admiration. But far less attention has been given to their
exploits and sufferings than they deserve, because the accounts we have
received are too vague and general; the picture is not brought near us, nor
exhibited With life-like proportions and coloring; and our sympathy is
denied to what we are unable to appreciate. It will, I am sure, be
rendering a service to those interested in our American story to collect
such traditionary information as can be fully relied upon, and thus show
something of the daily life of those heroic adventurers.

The kindness of a descendant of one of those noble patriots who, after
having won distinction in the struggle for Independence, sought new homes
in the free and growing West,[1] enables me to present some brief notice of
one family associated with the early history of Tennessee. The name of
Bledsoe is distinguished among the pioneers of the Cumberland Valley. The
brothers of this name--Englishmen by birth--were living in 1769 upon the
extreme border of civilization, near Fort Chipel, a military post in Wyth
County, Virginia. It was not long before they removed further into the
wild, being probably the earliest pioneers in the valley of the Holston, in
what is now called Sullivan County, Tenness