The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-12-06

sales, and he saw what was before him.
This was either a decoy or man in dis
guise, whose object was robbery. / could
see that all this was rapidly passing
through my fathers mind, but it did not
bow him the ninth part Of an inch, So
| was still as if | suspected nothing but
war of words The bag had on an old
quilted hood and an old bonn mbazine cloak,
which reached to her feet and was belted
about the waist.
You are a woman p said father
"Of course | am what do ycu ask that
question for ?"
Have you husband?"
Yes"
"Where does he live 2"
"In Truxton"
Well, then. if you have husband
why do you mol live at home, instead of
gadding around on such a night as this,
! fit only for the fends to be abroad p
"Why don't YOU set the North River
on fire ?" said she, leaping from her chair,
and springiug toward my father at the
back side Of my chair, and kissing through
her teeth, "I'll teach you why | am
| here"
Ny mother screamed and run; my fa-
ther made an Intellectual attempt to get
out of the way, but instantly yielded, re-
solved to take what waited him and |
was out of my seat as quick as the hag,
aud as she passed me on her way to crap
pie with my father, / struck her with my
! fist a blow under the ear. which, but for
her cd cotton hood, would have knocked
her down; as it was it staggered her and
gave me time to get the cLairs out OF the
way aud gather for fight.
She recovered, and looking at me for
moment, said as if in solloquy
"Oh, you choose to cross my path do
you i? Well, see if | don settle you pref
ty quickly" and thrusting her tapd in,
to her cloak made motion as if she
would draw a dagger
The intention maddened me and it bro t
foam from my lips | struch her half a
dozen blows as quick as lightning.
She let her dagger 90, and clenched
me, The grip satisfied ne that l had
! found my match. aye, more, III strength,
and that my skill as boxer, aud my al
most unparalleled ability as wrestler,
must save me. | had learned pugilism
of clever English teacher, aud as to
wrestling, to that day | had never been
thrown down. | knew when felt the
grip that | was dealing with a man. l
/ felt that nv father and mother were re-
lying on me, aud grew stronger, as be
! fore said
We tusse,ed, grasped, and let loose,
struck and parried, clinched, and wrest-
led till, after various attempts we found
ourselves to what wrestlers call " side
hold" I got the under arm, and lifted
him (for it was nc longer her) threw nay
leg around his and turned him lie fell
on the floor like log. I intended to
/ break bis bones, but lie unlocked his
cloak (it had been unbuckled in hestrug-
gle) ard ieaped up like cat. | struck
him before he was balanced, staggered
him grappled my left hand into his throat
and struck him again, called on my moth
er to open the door, and as she did SO,
pushed and kicked him out He swore
that be would be the death of me told
him to take himself ont Of the State or
would put the sheriff on bis track, and
shutting the door in his face, walked TO
my father.
Now let your doubter tell me how l
came to see this matter beforehand-this
hooded, cloaked man. had seen and
heard his threats to my father; and strug-
eled with him IN my dream, before be
came to the house, and had awakened
and left my bed to go and see to my fa-
theirs safety, and again to conquer him
in the kitchen. All the main features
of the occurrence we're made known to
me before they took place, and by the
impression they made on me, enabled me
[ doubt not, to save my parents life.
Z