Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1853-08-18
MISC Bill N Y !
a SKETCH OF EARLY WESTERN LIE
THE BOY HEROES.

A SKETCH OF EARLY WESTERN LIFE.
When Kentucky was an infant State ana
before the fost Of civilization had tredden her
giant forests, there lived upon q branch Of
Green River, in thewestern part Of that State
AZ cid hunter, By the name Of John Slater.
His hut was upon the southern baak Of the
stream, and save small patch Of some dsztn
acres that had been cleared BY bis axe, be
was shut ip by dense forests. Slater had
but two children IL hsme with him-two
sonsl Philip and lapiel. the former fourteen.
and the latter twelve years Of age His
elder children had gene South. His wife
was With him, but she had been for several
years an almost helpless cripple from the
effects Of severe rheunaiism.
u was early I'M the spring and ths old
huRter had just return1 from Colun bia,
where he had been to q y tie product ii
bis winters labor, who, visited mostly Of
furs. He had rscsiva sum of mon
.ey, and be had brar Di1h,him,-
The Cd lgTrssokad -
his children sbeufsS - ems
with the werla. Sd,C
One evening just as lny were SIT
ting down ID their frugal per, they were
attracted BY sudden ho1gmg Of the dogs,
and Is Slater went to the dor to see what
was the matter, he saw, three men approach
ing:A his hut
III quickly quoted the dogs, and the
strSngers approached the door. They asked
fer somsthing to eat, aud alse lodgings for
the night. John Slater was not the man 70
refsse request Of that kind. and he kindly
asked the strangers H. They set their ri.
hes behind the door, and unslung their packs,
and roem was made for them at the table,
They represented themselves as travellers
bopnd further west, intending to cross the
Mississippi in search Of = settlement.
The new oemers we're far frem being agree
aba or proposing il their locks, but HSlater
took no notice Of the circumstance for it was
net his nature to doubt any man. The beys,
however did not like their appearance At all,
and the quick glances which they gave each
otksr told Of their feelings The hunters
wifs was not at the table, but she sat IN her
great easy chair By TIE fire.
Slater entered int conversation with the
guests, but they were net very free, aud after
while the talk dwindled away, t. mere %
easisnal questions Philip, the elderof the
boys Noticed that the nsl east uneasy CLAN
ces about the reom and he watched then
narrowly His fears had became excited
4 and be csuld net rest He knew that hi
father hadialarge sum Of meney in the hous'
and his first thought was that these mel
were there for the purpose ofrcbbery.
| After the supper was finished, the tw'
Boys quickly cleared off the table, and thel
they vent cut Of dosrs I, had become darl
OR, rather, night had fairly etiu, fsr thei
was bright moon, two-thirds full shininl
dstn upeu the forest
r. Daniel said Philip, il lev whisper :
The same time casting lsok over his Should
4 Ell, What de zen think Of those three men y
SIN afraid they're bad ones, rsturns
the younger Boy.
\ sSs del. l bslisve they mean q stss
fathers nsney. Didn'tyou ns,ice hox the
q licked around p
Yes
Sc aid /. five sheuld tell father wh'
We think be uould snly laugh At Us, md e
rs We ere sdare-ssrsHs'
But us can watch EN-
Yea returned The ether; and We vi
kstek ZEN but doa'k let them knswit,
The bsys hsld ssne further csnsultktie
and thea going = he deg house tkeJ ss. Il
small desr hack - that the hsunds migl
spring forth II thet we're wanted. Seen !
tertsr1s thsy - entered The house. n th,
Nd desired e speak with their fzlhsr absl
Z thcir s1spicisns they had - ehz6ts, fsr Il
: slrknrsfs s1i clsss b him an he evening
Al length. h,Nsfer the cid nan sikniG'
! he i1tensio. 4 retiring, and Be arose. y 6
.us e l,srE n sse e he state of .ffzi
J. Nilh11t The dire, men lsIIoued hin, b
: sk9y lid ~, i.k, tksir nsspon4 The .
: la1I uas ssIstt il Ter chair
7 NeT Whispered Rhli1, flsPs Ike Il
!. = nlAss's li1es up to our b>i. We u
{ ~, ~ We .ss as gssl = nsn xish
. D..i,isPr.nr ID obsy, and quickly a )
1iIIs q. teJs slipped TO ri1ss lr5A 81
I.cLsIs 1>1irl i1s great slsfs c1;on<1. 8
Carried den ~ q iheir sleeping plscs. q
. t1ln i1eI h.a'sr>I hack and 19rli.l
& prin'11 (r,1 .1t z.1sr.rs ri1s1. ,11 Va
3 f,>'f l.,..r and I1> >trs1rsrs returned a
~ <..o4.I their .>1It
Itt hunter. r.l'a M divided into .
&, - 4 s, welding. }..- 5.