Indian Captive (Jemison)

Lois Lenski brings us the story of Mary Jemison, affectionately referred to as Molly. Molly spent the first 12 years of her life with her white family in Marsh Creek Hollow, New York. When the story begins, it is the night before Pa plans on sowing the corn. The family is seated around the dinner table when a neighbor comes to warn them of the danger of the Indians. He encourages the Jemison family to flee and avoid attack. Stubborn Pa does not listen, saying he intends to stay where he is and arise the next day to plant his corn. However, when the next day comes, Molly and her family are taken from their home and quickly led away by the Seneca. A short time into the journey, Molly is forced to go on while her family is left behind. Her mother tells her to never forget her family name, the language that they speak, and her faith. Molly does not find out that her family was killed until 2 years later. Her first year among the Seneca proves to be difficult and heartbreaking. She is renamed, "Corn Tassel" because of her beautiful yellow hair. Every day she mourns the loss of her family and goes into the woods to cry. There is no hope to escape, for she can't navigate the treacherous way home by herself. She learns the Indian ways and comes to love the Seneca. After two years, she is given the difficult decision to be sold to an Englishman and live with her kind again. She is torn because she has learned so much and has gained so much strength because of the Indians and she now loves them as family.