Being now my own master, having money in my pocket, and all other necessaries, I employed my-self in jobbing about the country, working for any-one that would employ me, for near seven years', when thinking I had money sufficient to follow some better way of life, I resolved to settle, but thought one step necessary thereto was to be married, for which purpose I applied to the daughter of a substantial planter, and found my suit was not un- acceptable to her or her father, so that matters were soon concluded upon, and we married.

My father-in-law, in order to establish us in the world in an easy, if not affluent manner, made me a deed of gift of a track of land, that lay (unhappily for me as it has since proved) on the frontiers of the province of Pennsylvania, near the forks of Delaware, in Berks County, containing about 200 acres, 30 of which were well cleared, and fit for immediate use, whereon was a good house and barn. The place pleasing me well, I settled on it, though it cost me the major part of my money in buying stock, house- hold furniture, and implements for out-door work; and happy as I was in a good wife, yet did my felicity last me not long; for about the year 1754, the Indians in the French interest, who had for a long time before ravaged and destroyed other parts of America unmolested, I may very properly say, began to be very troublesome on the frontiers of our province, where they generally appeared in small skulking parties, with yellings, shoutings, and antic postures, instead of trumpets and drums, committing great devastations.

The Pennsylvanians little imagined at first that the Indians, guilty of such outrages and violence, were some of those who pretended to be in the English interest; which, alas! proved to be too true to many of us; for, like the

French in Europe, without regard to faith or treaties, they suddenly break out into furious, rapid outrages and devastations, but soon retire precipitately, having no stores or provisions but what they meet with in their incursions; some indeed carry a bag with biscuit or Indian corn therein, but not unless they have a long march to their destined place of action.

And those French, who were sent to dispossess us in that part of the world, being indefatigable in their duty, and continually contriving and using all manner of ways and means to win the Indians to their interest, many of whom had been too negligent, and sometimes, I may say, cruelly treated by those who pretend to be their protectors and friends, found it no very difficult matter to get over to their interest many who belonged to those nations in amity with us, especially as the rewards they gave them were so great, they paying for every scalp of an English person £15 sterling.

Terrible and shocking to human nature were the barbarities daily committed by the savages, and are not to be paralleled in all the volumes of history! Scarce did a day pass but some unhappy family or other fell victims to French chicanery and savage cruelty. Terrible indeed it proved to me as well as to many others; I that was now happy in an easy state of life, blessed with an affectionate and tender wife, who was possessed of all amiable qualities, to enable me to go through the world with that peace and serenity of mind which every Christian wishes to possess, became on a sudden one of the most unhappy and deplorable of mankind; scarce can I sustain the shock which for ever recoils on me, at thinking on the last time of seeing that good woman.