About the year 1754 when war was raging between the French and the English in Canada, and when the Indians took the part of the French, it happened one day that a party of Indians surrounded the house of a poor family from Germany, at a time when the mother and one of the sons were absent. The father, however, was at home, also the eldest son and two little girls named Barbara and Regina.
The Indians burst into the house, killed the man, and carried off the little girls. What became of Barbara was never known, but Regina was given to an old widow, who was very harsh and cruel to the little captive. Here she remained till she was about 19 years old. But she did not forget her early home training. She said her prayers night and morning, often repeated the verses from the Bible, and sang little hymns, which she had learned at home. Especially would she often sing —
It was her one hope and constant prayer that our dear Lord would in His own time restore her to her friends.
In the year 1764 the hope was at last realised. An English Colonel discovered the Indian encampment, attacked and took it by storm. It was published in the newspapers that all parents who had had children carried off by the Indians might come and reclaim them. Amongst others, there came poor Regina's sorrowing mother. She searched up and down the ranks of the recovered captives, but nowhere could she discover her daughters. So great was her disappointment that she burst into tears. The Colonel asked her "Do you remember nothing by which your children might be discovered?" She answered that she only remembered a hymn which she used to sing to them when babies. The Colonel told her to sing this hymn —
Scarcely had she began to sing when Regina rushed from the crowd and threw herself into her mother's arms.
How good it was, boys and girls that she had kept in her mind all those things her mother had taught her.
