The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-09-27
n - From the Flag Of Our Union
THE BOY HEROES.
A Sketch Of Early Western Life,
I. nv sYJvANus conn IN

a Sketch Of Early Western Life,
alm BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR. lii47
When Kentucky was an infant State, ant
before tho foot of Civilization had trodder
down her giant forest, there lived upon .
branch of Groen River, in tho western part oi
that State, an old hunter, by the name of Johr
Slater. His hut was upon the southern bank
of the stream, and, save a small patch Of some
dozen acres that had boon cleared by his axe
he was shut in by the dense forest Slater
had but two children at homo with hlm-two
sons, Philip and Daniel, the former fourteen
and the latter twelve years of age. His older
children had gone south. His wife was with
him, but she had been for several years an al.
most helpless cripple from the effects of Sc.
vero rheumatism.
| 1t was early in tho spring. and the old hun
ter had just returned from Colombo, whcrc he
had been to carry the products Of his wioter's
labor, which consisted mostly of furs. lie
had received quite sum of money, and he
had brought 1t home with him. Tie old ina y
had been for several years accumulating
money, for civilization wa gradually APP
proachiDg him, and he meant that his chill
dren should start nn fair terms with the world.
One evening, just us the family were sitting
down TO their frugal supper, they were .trac-
tod by sudden bowling of the dogs and as
Slater went to the door to see what was tho
matter, ho saw three men approaching his hut.
He quickly quie.ed the dogs, and the strari-
gers approached the door. They asked for
SIM cthing to eat, and also for lodgings for the
night
John Slater was not the man to roftse re-
quest of that kind and he kindly sskedthe strar-
gers in They set their rifles behind the door and
unslung their packs; and room was made for
them at the table. They represented them.
selves as travellers bound further west intending
to cross the Mississippi in search of a settle
ment.
The new comers were far from being agreo
able or prepossessng in their looks, but Slater
took no notice of the circumstance, for il
was not his nature to doubt any man. The
boys, however, did not like their appearance
at AL, aud tho quick glances which ttey gave
each other, told of their feelings. The hun
ter's wife was not at tho table, but she sat in
her great easy chair by the fire.
Slater entered into conversation with his
guests but they were not very free, and aitor
awhile tie talk dwindled away to mere ques-
tionins. Philip, the elder of tho boys, no
ticod that the men east 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 a large
sum of money in the house, and his first tho t
was, that these men were thore for the pur-
pose Of robbery.
After the supper was finished tho two boys
quickly cleared off the table, and then won't
out of doors. prfu n ta
1t had become dark-or, rather, night had
fairly set in, for there was bright moon, two
thirds full" shining down upon the forest
Daniel, said Philip in low whisper, at
tho same time casting look back over his
eh s,vhu do L Of "A Al.
men?
I'm afraid they're bad ones returned the
so do l. believe they moan to steal faith
ers money. Didn't you notice how they look
cd aroundr
'Yes.' Hna- ws y,i .tff
so did I. IL we should tell father what we
think he would only laugh at US, and tell US
we were scare crows.
But we can watah EN- -l1 -.rt
yes returned the other; 'and we will watch
'em; bot don't let them knowit.
Tho boys held some further consultation,
and then going to the dog house they sot the
small door hack so that the hounds might
spring forth if they were wanted. Soon af-
forwards they re-entered the house. If they had
desired to speak with their father about their
suspicious, they had no chance, for the
strangers sat close by him oil the evening
AZ length, however, the old man signifiod
his intention of retiring, and bo arose to go
out Of doors 30 sec to the state Of affairs with
out. The three men followed him, but they
did not take their weapons. .r ana
The old lady was asleep in her chair.
Now whispered Philip, let's take two Of
fathers ies up to our bed. We may want
ON. We are as good as mon with the rife
Daniel sprang TO obey; and quickly as pos.
sible the boys slipped two rifles from their pock-
cts behind the great stove chimney, and car
ried them up to their sleeping place, and thon
thoy hastened back and emptied the priming
from tho s,angers rifles, and when their father
and tho strangers returned they had resumed
their seats. f.silri .ngs .go.fa .vss
The hunters cabin was divided into two a.
partments on the ground floor, one of them, in
the end of tho building, being tho old mans
sleeping room, while the other was the large
living room in which tho company at present
sat. Overhead, there was short scaffoldmg,
reaching only half way over the room below il,
and in the opposite end of the building from
tho little sleeping apartment of the hunter -
A rough ladder lod up to the scaifold, and on
it close up to the gable end, was the boys bed
There was no partition at the edge of this scsf-
folding, but it was all open to the room below.
Spare bedding was spread upon Tho floor Of
the kitchen for the three travellers. and after
everything had been arranged for their COM
fort, tho boys went up to their b, d, and the
old man retired to his little room. s,,i II i..l
. Tho two boys thought not Of sleep. or If
they did, il was only to avoid il. Half an hour
passed away, and they could hear their father
snore. Thon they heard a movement from
those below. Philip crawled silently to where
no could peep down through a crack, and he
saw one Of the men open bis pack, from which
he took several large pieces of raw meat
The man examined the meat by tho rays of
tho moon, and moving t,wards tho end window
he showed the sash back and threw the pieces