The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-24

The linen was the worst 10 lose, out you are
both young and healthy and can look forward
to many years of work, and in time you'll be
as well off as ever Bot if this little fellow
and she tenderly caressed their child the little
blue-eyed first born.-sand if he had been
scalped there'd been sorrow in your hearts
till you lay down to die. Nothing could have
made his place good H
-. You said they brought off your horses
Nick she continued, after deep pause, in
which she seemed to be in deep thought.
Yes, grandmother; they stand just outside
bere' sseif
And your sled; did they burn that up toof
No; L saw it standing by the edge of the
road as we came along. Why
Because. Nick. these dead heathens haveE
got to be carried of. 1t won't do to leave
them anywhere about here, because you see
all the wolves in creation will be here by an /
other night, aud then, too, the redskins up
north viii be looking alter them. and there'll
be trouble If they fnd them dead 2
.Pve been thinking of that grandmother,
and l guess I'd better start. as soon as it's
light, for the nelghbors ~
Well, then, gness you hadn't, Nick, for
as sure as you do. they'll think we ought TO
divide the spoils, and I shouldn't wonder ifI
We found enough on those fellows to make upl
what we've both lost. They got their money
from the agent only last month, and just as
like as not itslon them. You go home and
get the sled. and hitch the horses on, and we'll
load them up and put them where their own
mothers couldn't find them.'
Daylight was just breaking, but it was too
dark to see clearly, SO the old woman took
her lantern and went out. It was hideous
sight, and wonld have shook the nerves of any
but a frontier woman. for the agony of the
death hour had left the faces and forms of the
Indians horribly coEvulsed. Nick declared
he couldn't touch them. So ~
Now don't be fool Nick, or supersti-
tieus. Dead men aru't to be feared, Just
help me to unstrap their pouches = they're
heavy with silver
4 4 can't grandmother I'd rather be beg
J gar all my days
Well, go then, fool, and get the Sled and
let me tend to them =
And unaided she proceeded to her unwo-
manly work; aud when Nick returned. stood
all hooded and icloaked. pair of buffalo shoes
on her feet. and buckskin mitteps on hel
hands. ready to assist him in his fearful task.
: why. grandmother he exclaimed, .yot
! have not even left them their leggings ant
blankets!'
: Did they leave me my bed?' said she
; sharply. No, indeed! I. And shall trea
their dead bodies better than they did my liy
: J. ing one, and me an old woman of sixty p
y But what will you do with them 2 =
: Do with them. Nickf III make mittens fo
: Ed out of the leggins. and clothes for him OF
I ofihese blankets, for they're ali the first qua
: ity of broadcloth.'
4 don't believe he'll wear them. woul
'e :, not - se
mo. because you're only half-witted. Br
Ed. is no such fool We amt afraid of dea
: mems shoes. Perhaps you wouldn't touc
: any of these either and she shook a leath,
:. :. bag till it jugled merrily. Two hundred 81
yer dollars found on these wretches. and s.
/" tsplendid rifles tool know good rifle, if
=. am woman, for I've kept garrison many
:. day, when / was girl, in Indiana-and s
hunting knives, and lots of powder and she
and bullets. But come-we've no time
GO Iose.'
With ayerted eyes, and trembling in eve
!. joint-for he was superstitious, and feared OF
''' corpse more than dozen live men-young E
lnonds assisted the old frontier woman TO Il
,s ',s the dead men on to his sled. -
~ Now drive on she said,' and I'll follow
as foot. Take the road to the river, and VIII
VI you've reached that, run down the ice till y,
come where the creek joins it'll be SC
| there ~ tss
~ He obeyed her, and when they had reacl
:" ed the designated spot, the two broke the i
We with their axes. and sunk one after another
ct The still, cold Indians deep under the Gle
an blue waves that rippled beneath. s5a
There, Nick said the old women, in to
the that expressed entire sef.satisfaction, we
the done it for them, and for ourselves too,
she water washes out blood. And their red bro
the up north may come on as fast as they Piles
as to seek them-they1l II never find Them
oor But our trail, grandmother. The load '
,th. heavy, and the sled cut in Deep
ner, Don't you see it's going to snow, Nick
led. There's fake now. Before night it'll all
nth smooth and white here. and the keenest In
rav an will suffer if he tries te scent our track.
ndi. She was right. Long ere evening the 8
drs white snow had obIiterated every footms
,ble and even invested the ruins of Edmor
pon homestead with a picturesque lock. A
ne, when at twilight the young husband return
I'd he found everything SO pleasant and easy in
little cabin, that he exclaimed inyoluptaril,
,en,, Thank God for his kindness. You're all
atb. and sound -.
Yes said his good mother. and the b
,o,o has laughed twice to-day g4sl
Then you've had a good time,' he cont
,a,d ttued, as he and their neighbors-for Edmo
and his family were yet there-gathered ab
:, the tea table, laden with frontier delicacies.
.na. Yes, indeed. child; Ill tell you all abor
a"q when YOU'RE through
,;na Very white was the young mans face as
.hn. I heard the story, and passionately did he %
,ohs and again. clap to his heart his fair 20
wife and tiny babe, and over and over a,
- did he bless the old mother for her daring
10 @ forts to save those so near and dear t. hin
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