Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1855-09-20


darkened nv FIRE on a night like this
Once or twice did he arouse himsel
from the slum her that in spite of his aw
of the storm would steal over his senses
and renew the blaze that was dying away
but then, as the rain ceased its dashine
and fell only on the rough roof with
lullab by tone, and the wind hushed it
howls and only moaned ina weary lik
way, he suffered himself to sink into tha
calm, deep sleep which comes only Il
those who have labored with hands tha
were clean and hearts that were pure.
An hour passed on, and still he slept
and the blazing brands died in the ashes
and the old backlog cleft with the even
ing's flame. dropped slowly its crimson
flakes giving out no longer a brilliant
flash. but only a steady ruddy glare.
Just then, wesried. footsore und sick
there leaned against the rough door a
poor Indian hunter. brave spd right 10y
al descendant of those red men who. ere
the pioneer girdled his trees. was king OF
this wild old wool. Many long. weary
mile had he travelled since dawn. audwhe n
the dark night had set in so stormy and
cold, he had crawn his torn blanket abou,
him and sought only to find in the grove
some hollow in which TO lio down and
chant the death.song that had rung oil
day in his ears. A long time he wander
ed. entangling himself yet deeper in the
intricate windings of the dense old wood &.
But just when mis- feet Jagged mos: and
his heart was sorsst. beam from the old
woodlands fire lit on his path, and lit too.
a hope i'm his bosom. He followed the
ray, and ere the last brand had fallen. was
SO near the rude home that his Indian eye
could track the path which its owner had
made in the forest. and follow it 10 his
door,
But there he paused awhile. Would
the white man be kind TO his red faced
brother. and give him the food he craved
and skin TO lie on by the FIRE.
ME try him." said he. as he pushed
against the door. "ms try him-he good
TO me. me no forget" and the wooden
bar ratified and ihe woodsman awoke-
startled. but not afraid. One bound bro't
him TO the door. and with one hand OH lis
guard and one on his rife, he called
Who's there-what want you?"
ME Indian: me sick and me hungry:
me" but ere he could speak more the
door flew open AM he was bid 10 come
in and be welcome.
"Friend nor foe stands outside my door
on a night like this" said the sturdy hos.
as he throw on generous nrmful oil his
light wood. and raksd out the Goals till
they were all of glow.
"Me your friend. and me no forget"
said the Indian. in voice emphatic but
weak, rs he sank on the hearth stone, and
tore off his blanket that was dripping and
cold, and suffered the warm rosy light TO
creep over his great brawny limbs and
reddsn the cheek that had never been pale
before.
"And I'm your friend; for God knows
by your looks you need One," responded
the brave pioneer; land The best that
have shall be yours to-nieht:" and suit
ing action TO words. he set en- the table
the remains Of the evening meal. and then
drawing oJt clear bed Of Goals, laid
over them q generous slice of a noble
deer he had slaughtered himself and had
soon a smoking meal to tempt the hun.
CRY palate of his guest. Then casting
bundle Of skins on the floor close to the
hearth stone. and taking off from the bed
whereon lay his wife. trembling with ST.
lent terror. a heavy blanket. he told the
poor Indian 20 rest himself there till NOR.
ming. and longer il he choose. And then
with heart lighter and happier than
when he arose. he lay down again, draw
ing his pale companion closely to his
breast, and quieting her fears with endear-
ments as gentle and soothing as those q
mother 5es,ows on frightened child.
When they awoke in tie morning their
Indian guest ley still upon the floor in
sound. refreshing sleep. When he rose
from his rustic couch. they asked him
not whence he had come and whittier ne
was going, but only to partake of their
hospitality SO long ss he thought fit
With Indian tnciturnity. he said nothing.
but ate with them and lay down ogain.
and in this way passed two days. On the
the morning of the third. when the hear.
,y breakfast had been disposed Of. he drew
his blanket around him and went 10 the
door. As he crossed the threshold. he
turned his face TO the still seated husband
and wife. and said. emphaticslly. Pale
face good to Indian-me no forget" and
as an arrow darts from the bow when the
strong arm draws. he sped from the shell
tering roof and was lost almost instantly
in the mazes of the dense old wood.
For some weeks tho incident was
frequently dwell, upon BY the family. but
gradually il faded from their memories,
and as years passed on. it was once in a
while recalled at the request Of two buoy
ant lads, that father would tell them an
Injun story-a true story about lire In
jun Then taking him on his knees, he
would relate te them what has just been
written, and they would draw his arms
yet closer around their trembling forms,
and wonder if they would dare 20 to sleep
while live injun' lay stretched before
the fire: and they would say. weren't
YOU afraid. fatherf and cuddle up to his
heart. seeming to feel their hair stand
s,raight.
Alas. they. nor he. nor that still beau.
t;ful wife thought then Of the SORROW the