The morning being come, they prepared to go on their way. One of the
Indians got up upon a horse, and they set me up behind him, with my
poor sick babe in my lap. A very wearisome and tedious day I had of
it; what with my own wound and my child’s being so exceeding sick, and
in a lamentable condition with her wound. It may be easily judged what
a poor feeble condition we were in, there being not the least crumb of
refreshing that came within either of our mouths from Wednesday night
to Saturday night, except only a little cold water....
Thus nine days I sat upon my knees with my babe in my lap, till my
flesh was raw again; my child being even ready to depart this
sorrowful world, they bade me carry it out to another wigwam (I
suppose because they would not be troubled with such spectacles)
whither I went with a very heavy heart, and down I sat with the
picture of death in my lap. About two hours in the night my sweet babe
like a lamb departed this life, on February 18, 1675, it being about
six years and five months old. It was nine days from the first
wounding, in this miserable condition, without any refreshing of one
nature or other, except a little cold water.... In the morning, when
they understood that my child was dead they sent for me home to my
master’s wigwam.... I went to take up my dead child in my arms to
carry it with me, but they bid me let it alone. There was no
resisting, but go I must and leave it. When I had been at my master’s
wigwam, I took the first opportunity I could get to go look after my
dead child. When I came I asked them what they had done with it? Then
they told me it was upon the hill. Then they went and showed me where
it was, where I saw the ground was newly digged, and there they told
me they had buried it. There I left that child in the wilderness and
must commit it and myself also in this wilderness condition to Him who
is above all.
Mrs. Rowlandson’s ordeal lasted twelve weeks, after which she was
ransomed and allowed to return home to her husband, who had survived
the attack. Her two other children, also captured with her, were
rescued and reunited with their parents.