The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-24
for tbt Donle Circle,
A Frontier Sketch,
By MRS. CAROLINE 4. soULE.

- May r t
The name was spoken with startling em-l
phasis but the sleeper was sound in her first
nap, and instead of awakening merely moved
ber head neryously on her pillow.
Mary Maryl Wake up child, I've some
thing dreadful TO tell you. and the speaker.
an aged woman in nightcap and shert gown.
shook the girliah figure very tenderly it is true,
yet so thoroughly as to cause her to open her
eyes and look wildly around.
What is it, mother, Edward-' E
Is safe trust, but we ourselves are in great
peril. Don't turn SO pale, my daughter, don't
faint, if yon do we shall all be lost. Be the
brave frontier woman you promised Edward
you would E.:-,5as s.#
But what Is it, mother gasped, rather than
asked, the white lips. s,sss z,i. -.
.Indiansi Mary. Don't tremble SO, child.
III save you, yes, you and the baby too. But
you must mind me--do just what tell you.
and above all don't faint away ,asa
But where are they, mother and the
frightened young creature, only three months
/ from civilization. now set upright in her sick
1 bed and looked toward the door as if she ex-
pected every second to see brawny Sioux
leap into the cabin.
/ sOver to Niek's. Mary. Something woke
me, I don't know what it was. and it's no mat
ter anyhow, and just as opened my eyes !
saw a FIRE light on the WALL and heard them
whoop. knew it was Indians. I've heard
, their heathenish shout afore now. aud / owe
them curse, too, the wretches, for didn't they
D scalp my first baby-hang its little brown
/ curls 10 their belt and leave its pretty white
E corpse for the wolves. o. if could only
ul have buried him, the little innocent beauty
ii But it won't do to stand talking. They'll be
: here as soon as they have done up thcr work
}, over there. What rpon earth they were
. made for I never could see.' #
J. Here bringing from chest flannel skiri
ls and new quilt. put most these on over youl
}, every day Clothes and two pair of stockings
IT and my buffalo shoes, aud my old cloth cloak
ID and your hood and blanket shawl. and thel
a. crawl down into the cellar as fast as you can
" It's no use trying to get you away; you ar
III too weak and the baby's too little. I'll g
I'd dowL FIRST and fix you place, and with
le couple of quilts and pillow the old woma
ii let herself down iuto hole which served ther
at as cellar. Gathering up the hay that wa
he spread over the potatoes to keep them froI
all freezing, into the corner of the bin, she laid
of quilt on it, put pillow next the wall and the
RS spread quilt on the ground.
th I'm terrible fraid she'll catch cold and di
re- the babys SO little, she said to herself, .bl
ks its better than being killed by the Indian
and I'll risk their finding us here and scrar
bling up she took up the sick woman as 81
err would young child and tenderly set her dov
re; into the hole ss.t,e F.ss
he - dareI't kindle up the FIRE or I'd mai
err you some tea or warm you some broth, {
eel keep the life in you, but I'll FIX you some VIII
nd, I've little left pet, and you'll never need
es. more than you do at this minute, aud she We
lue soon came down again with bottle and
glass, and an old fashioned tin lantern and
couple of candles.
mt But the baby, mother. Perhaps it will 6
lid and then they'll find ont where we are,' Sc
lad the terrified creature, as she choked down t
'wn draught. s.
arr, I'd smother it .6rst,' thought the old v
rely man as she hassened to the bed where the
nee tie one slept better than his brains dasl
rity. out, but when she had brought it down, s
the said to its mother II give it some laudanu
ling its SO little drop will keep it asleep, bu
and must FIRST make all things quiet up stairs a
ugh returning again to the room which served
lparlor, kitchen, and all, she proceeded to ml
the pthe beds the chairs,lock the tru
neal draw the curtains. and give the place the X
q of Of house that has been deserted some de
sec Then she dressed herself warmly and was
.fter going to LET herself down and drop the TT
boy door which she had already cut off the st
se Of by which it was lifted, when a sudden thou
emf made her quiver.
esex. One monument she stood irresolute. then
eem- locking the little portable desk which she
8, be taken from her sons trunk, and which c
buds, tanned his deeds and notes, she took from
habit small vial filed to the brin with a wi
pines powder. Then going to dry goods /
8 ON which, sat upon end, formed their cupbo
lshe seized the whisky jug. for in those day