Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-12-16
M MlsGtIlantGus.
THE BOY HER OES.
Ask 5TUH OF EARLY WESTERN LIFE

and before the foot of civilization had
trodden her giant forests, there lived up-
on branch of the Green River, an old
hunter by the name Of John Slater. His
nut was upon the Southern bank of the
stream, and save a small patch of some
dozen acres that had been cleared by his
own axe, he was shut up by dense for
ests. Slater had two children at home
with him-two soEs, 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 al
most helpless cripple from the 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 furs. He had received quite
sum of money, and had brought it home
with him. The old man had for several
years been accumulaung money, for CIV
lhzatlon was gradually approaching him,
and be meant that his children should
start on far terms with the world.
One evening, just as the family were
sitting down to their frugal supper, they
were attracted by a sudden howling Of
the dogs, and as Slater went to the door
TO see what was the matter, he saw three
men approaching his hut
lie quickly quoted the dogs, and the
strangers approached the door They
asked Tor something to eat, and also for
lodging for the night. Slater was not the
man to refuse request of that kind, and
ne asked the strangers in. They sat
their rifles behind the door, unslung their
packs, and room was made for them at
the supper table.
They represented themselves as trav-
elIers bound further West, intending to
cross the Mississippi in search of set
tlement.
The new corners were far from being
agreeable or prepossessing III their ap-
pearance, but Slater tool, no notice of the
any man. The boys, however, did not
like their appearance at all, and quick
gIances which they gave each other told
their feelings. The hunters wife was
not at the table, but she sa. IN her great
easy chair by the fire.
Slater entered into conversation with
the guests, but they were not very free,
and after a while the talk dwindled 10 oc-
casiondi questions. Philip, the elder o.
the tlyo, noticed that the men cast uneasy
Llancas 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 thought was that these men
were there for the purpose of robbery.
After the supper was over, the boys
quickly cleared oil the table, and th-n
lney went out of doors. 1t had become
dark, or rather the night had fairly Set
in, for there was bright moon, two
thirds full, shining down upon the forest.
Daniel said Philip, III low whisper
at the same time casting a look over ms
shoulder, what doyou think of these meuf'
I'm afraid they're bad ones, returned
the younger boy.
So am |. believe they mean to steal
fathers money. Didn't you notice how
they looked roundE
Yes
So did I. 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-
Yes, we will watch EN-, bat do notlet
them know It,
The boys held some further consulta-
ton, and then going 10 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 the strangers sat
close by him al the evening.
At length, however, the old man sig
nifed his intention of retiring, and arose
to 90 out of doors, to see the state of at
fairs without. The three followed him
but they did not take their weapons. The
old lady was asleep IN the chair.
Now whispered Philip, let's take
two OF fathers rifles up TO our bed,-we
may want them. We are as good as men
with the rifles
Daniel sprang to obey, and quickly as
possible the boys slipped two rifles from
their pockets behind the great stove chin
nev, and then hastened back and empued
the priming from the Strangers rifles,
and when their father and the strangers
returned, they had resumed their seats.
The hunters cabin was divided into two
apartments on the ground Aoor, one Of
them in the end Of the building being the
old mans sleeping room, and the other,
the room in which the company at pres
ent sat. Overhead there was a sort Of
scafiolding, reaching only halfway over
the large room below it, and IL the oppo-
site end of the building from the nttle
sleeping apartment Of the hunter. a
rough ladder led ua to the scafiold, and
OH ii, close up to the gable end, was the
bows bed. There was 40 partition at the
edge of the scatfolding, but II was open
10 the room below.