Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-03-15
The Boy Heroes.

1 -
When Kentucky was an infan
State, and before the foot Of civil
zation had trodden her giant forest
there lived upon the branch Of The
Green River, an old hunter by the
name Of John Slater. His hut Was
upon the Southern bank Of thestfeam
and save small patch of some dog
en- acres that had been cleared by bis
own axe, he was shut up by d dense
forest. Slater had two children al
home With him-two sens, Philip and
Daniel-the former fourteen and the
latter twelve years of age. The Ell.
der children had gone south. His
wife was with him, but she had been
for several years an almost helpless
cripple from the effect Of severe
rheumatism. - = go z.
1t was early in the spring, and the
old hunter rhad just returned from
Columbia, where be had been to car
ry the produce of the winter 8 labor,
which consisted mostly Of. fnrs. he
had received quite sum Of money,
for civilization, was gradually APP
preaching him, and he meant that
his children. should start on fair
terms with the world. s - "ss's -
One evening just as the family
were sitting down to their frugal sup
per, they were attracted by a 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. ...-.s - .si.--...
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 to. re-
fuse request of that kind, and be
asked the strangers in. They put
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 Mississippi in search Of a
settlement. 49,
The new comers, were far from
being agreeable or prepossessing in
their looks, but Slater took no no-
tice of the circumstance, for he was
not one to doubt any man. The
boys, however, did not like their ap-
pearance at all, and quick glances
which they gave each other told their
feelings. The hunter . 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 we're not
very free, and after a while the talk
dwindled to occasional questions.-
Philip, the elder of the two, noticed
that the men cast uneasy glances
about the room, and be watched them
His fears had become ex-
cited and be could not rest. He
knew that his father had large sum
of money in the house, and bis first
thought was that these men were
there for the purpose Of robbery.
After the supper was over, the
boys quickly cleared off the table, and
then they went out Of doors. 1t
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 whis-
per, at the same time casting 3 look
over his shoulder, what do You think
Of these ere meni' 80; :. - ',r8 !
ii m afraid they are bad ones, re-
turned the younger boy. bass-Lac .gll
SO am, /. j believe they mean to
steal fathers money. Didn' ) you no-4
tice how they looked sr0upd7 aA ! d
sYes.',s .ssa Ms,Is fos q, I esceI.I
So didsI. >. If We should tell father
what We think, he would only laugh