Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-12-28
TIE Roy HEROES.

| THE BOY HEROES.
Sketch of Early Western Life.
When Kentucky was an infant State.
and before the foot of civilization had
trodden her giant forests. there lived up
on branch of Green River. in the west
ern part of that State, an old hunter by
the name ofJohn Slater. His hut was
upon the southern bank of the stream,
and save a small patch of some dozen
acres that had been cleared by his axe.
he was shut in by dense forests. Slater
had but two children at home with him
two sons, Philip and Daniel, the form er
| fourteen and the latter Twelve wears OF
age. His older children had gone South.
His wife was with him, but she hal been
for several years an almost helpless Grip
pie from the effects of severe rheumatiS Il.
| 1t was early in the spring, and the old
hunter had just returned from Columbia,
wIlere he had been 10 carry the product
OF his winters labor, which consisted
mostly of furS. lie had received quile
Il SUN of money. AMI he had brought il
| home with him. The old man for several
years had been accumulatins money. for
civilization was gradually approaching :
him and he meant that his chilLren
should start with fair terms with the world.
One evening, Just as the family were
sitting down to their frugal supper. they
were attracted by the sudden bowling "f
the dogs. and as Slater went to the door
to see what was the matter. he saw three
men approaching his hut.
He quickly quie;ed the dogs. and the
strangers approached the door. They
asked for something to ent. and also
lod sinys for the nj sht. JOHN Slater was
not the man - refuse \ request of that
kind, and he kindly asked the strnn gers
in. They set their rides behind the door,
and unsluny their packs, and room vas
made for them at the table. Tney re-
presented themselves as travellers bound
| further west. intending to cross the Miss
sissippi in search of a settlement.
The new comcrS were far from being
agreeable. or prepasse ssing in their looks.
bat Slater took NO notice OF the circum-
stance. for it WAS not his nature to doubt
any man. The boys, however. did not
like their appearance at all. and the quick
glances which they gave each other, told
of their feelings. The hunters wife was
not at the table, but she sat in her great
easy chair by the FIRE.
Slater entered into conversation with
the guests, but they were not very free,
and after a while the talk dwindled away
to mere occasional questions. Philip.
the elder of the boys noticed that the
men cast uneasy glances about the room
and he watched them narrowly. His
fears had become excited, and he could
not rest. He knew that his father had
large sum OF money in the house. and his
first thought was that these men were
ther's for the purpose of robbery.
After supper was finished, the two
boys quickly cleared off the table, and
then they went out of doors. 1t had be-
come dark-or, rather night had fairly
set in, but there was bright moon. 'two-
thirds full shining down upon the dense
fores,.
Daniel" said Philip. in low whis-
per, at the same time casting a look over
his shoulder, "whatd do you think OF these
three men -
I'm afraid they re bad ones" ;" return
ed the younger boy.
$50 do /. l believe they mean to
steal fathers money. Didn't you notice
how they looked around 20
Yes"
$50 did 1. If we should tell father
what we think, he would laugh at US,
and tell US We are scare-crows."
'' But we can watch 'em."
Yes, returned the other; "and we
will watch 'em but don't let them know
It."
The boys held some further consulta-
ton and then going to the dog house.
they set the small door back so that the
hounds might spring forth if they were
wanted. Soon afterwards they re-enter-
ed the house. Ii they had desired to
speak with their father about their suSpi-
cious they had no chance, for the stran
gers sat by him during the whole of the
evening.
At length. however, the old man sig
nified his intention of retiring. and arose
to 90 OUT of doors to see the state of af-
fairs without. The three men followed
him. but they did not take their weap-
ons. The old lady was asleep in her
chair.
Now whispered Philip. let's take
two of fathers rifles up to our bed. We
may want 'em. We are as good as men
with the rifle. -
Daniel sprang to obey. and quickly as