The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-06-17
The Boy Heroes.
A Sketch of Early Western Life.

her giant forests, there lived on "a branch of
the Green river, an Old hunter by the name
of John Slater His hut was upon the
Southern bank Of the stream, and save
small patch of some dozen acres that had
been cleared by his own axe, he was shut up
by dense forests. Slater had two children
at home with him-two sons, Philip and
Daniel-the former fourteen and the latter
twelve years of age. His elder children had
gone South. His wife was with him, but
she had been for several years an almost
helpless cripple from ;he effects of severe
rheumatism.
1t was early in the spring, and the old
hunter had just returned from Columbia.
where he had been to carry the produce of
the winters labor, which consisted mostly of
turs. He had received quite a sum of mon
cy, and had brought it home with him. The
old man had for several years been accumu-
lating money, for civilization was gradually
approaching him, and he meant that his chill
dren should start on fair terms with the
world.
One evening, just as the family were sit
ting down to their frugal supper they were
attracted by the sudden bowling of the dogs,
and as Slater went to the door TO see what
was the matter, he saw three men approach
ing his hut
He quickly quieted the dogs, and the
strangers approached the door. They asked
for something to eat, and also for lodgings
for the night John Slater was not the man
10 refuse d request Of that kind, and he asked
the strangers in. They set their rifles behind
the door, unslung their packs, and room was
made for them at the supper table. They
represented themselves as travellers bound
farther West, intending to cross the Missis-
sippi in search of a settlement.
The new comers were far from being
agreeable or prepossessing in their looks, but
Slater took no notice of the circumstance,
ior he was not one to doubt any man. The
boys however, did not like theE appearance
at all, and quick glanceS which they gave
each other told 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
Il while the talk dwindled TO occasional
questions. Philip, the elder of the two boys,
noticed that the men cast uneasy glances
about the room, and he watched them mar
rowly. 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 We're
there for the purpose of robbery.
After the supper was over, the boys quick
ly cleared off the table, and then went out
Of doors. It had become dark, or rather the
night had fairly set in, for there was a bright
moon, two-thirds full, shining down upon
the forest.
Daniel" said Philip, in low whisper,
at the same time casting a look over his
shoulder, what do you think Of these ere
men ?"
Pm afraid they're bad ones, returned the
younger boy.
$50 am |. believe they mean to steal
fathers money. Didn'tyou notice how they
looked around?'
"Yes."
$50 did |. If we should tell father what
we think, he would only laugh at us, and
tell us we were perfect scare crows
"But we can watch EN-"
eyes, we will watch 'em, but do not let
them know it,
The boys held some further consultation,
and then going to the dog-house, they set the
small door back, so that the hounds might
spring forth if they We're wanted. If they
had desired to speak with their father about
their suspicious, they had no chance, for