Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-03-04
The sixth Sense

was ayclOse Htudelt at scho0f, young ambi'
tlous lad Of sixteen, somewhat home spun, but
strong In uprightness, and conscious OF power.
NV dear father was sick, and gradually UNDER
going that metempsychosis which the shallow
thinker calls death. It was stormy day 10
January; the snow had fallen two feet deep, and
l started for my home, eight miles distant. My
father had written to me that he wanted to see
me; he wanted to give me injunction after In
junction, not TO forget my duties to him, and the
care of his wife-my mother. He need not
him or her. His desire to see me, growing out
of feeling that he might at any hour "pass
onward" and to give me counsel, was natural,
but not necessary. But his slightest wish was
law to me; and / started for home, as have
said, on foot. Weary walk-this drudging In an
unbroken anow path. Before reached the door,
thought my body would tire out completely;
but 1t did not-I accomplished it.
ate my supper, chatted awhile with my pa
rents, and went to bed in my old bedroom. My
father and mother left In the kitchen, gratified
at my arrival, and proud of me.
fell asleep, awoke, rose and dressed myself,
came into the kitchen, took seat between my
father and mother. They looked surprised,
ard asked why left my bed. .
Said I-"Haa nobody been here since went
to bed2" ~
"No."
"Well," replied |, "there piu somebody
come, and that ia why left my bed-at least
have dreamed there would, and my dream is nc
illusion to me, but fierce reality"
My father smiled, as If incredulous; yet said
he asked no better or braver defender than his
boy. At this instant my mother, very eau
tious woman, heard q rap at the door, and step.
ping to 1t, as supposed, to inquire who was
there, and what was wanted, but instead, open
ed the door, and In came terrible gust of snow
the night was hideous-and with them in
marched woman,
She walked half way from the door to the
fre when she discovered me, and evidently
took her aback by my presence. l saw the
creature of my dream. Iknew that was des-
tined to struggle, and grew in strength as
looked at my dear father and mother. She
took chair, turned her back to the fire, and
seated herself in the shadow. kept my seat
and appeared to give no attention to her.
"Who are your" inquired my father.
"What's that to you7" said she.
"Every thing, IL you are going to stay in my
house, nothing II you are not"
"What If will not tell you2"
"Then you must leave my house."
"Leave the housew exclaimed she; "I should
like to see anybody try to put me out"
"What IL call my men, and throw you out,
neck and heels2"
"You have not got any men; they have all
gone home."
"How do you know2"
II inquired at the last house on the road be.
fore / came here. 1t 10 Saturday night, and
was told that your laborers sllwent home, and
that you lived alone"
glanced at my father. He was pale, but
his courage ebbed not whit. He, helpless, not
able +, get out of his chair, surmised strange
occurrences, for he had received not less than
eighteen hundred dollars that week from large
wheat sales, and he saw what was before him. d.
This bag Was either q decoy, or aman in die
guise, whose object was robbery. I could see
that ell this was rapidly passing through my
fathers mind, but It did not bow him the ninth
part OF ON inch. So was still, as If sus.
pected nothing but war of words. The hag
had an old quilted hood, and an old bombas; ne
cloak, which reached to her feet, and was belted
about the waist.
"You are woman2" said father.
"oi course am; what do you ask that ques-
tion forfp
"Have you husband1"
eyes"
"Where does he liver"
"In Truxton."
"Well, then, IL you have husband, why do
you not live at home, instead Of gadding about
on such night as this, &c only for fsnds to be
abroad2" l..s.,I.
"Why do MT you set the North River on tire7''
said she, leaping from her chair, and springing
to my father at the back side of my chair, and
hisslng through her teeth, "pll teach you why
am here"
My mother screamed and ran; my father
made an Intellectual attempt to get out Of the
way, but instantly yielded, resolved to take
what awaited him; and was out Of my seat as
quick as the bag, and as abe passed me on her
way to grapple with my father, struck her
with my fst blow under the ear, which, but
for her cotton hood, would have knocked her
down; 90 it was, it Gtaggered her, and gave me
time to get the chairs out Of the way, and
gather for q fight.
She recovered, and looking at me for q mo-
ment, said, as II In soliloquy;e ,,ss...
"Oh, you choose 70 cross my path, do you
Well, see II don't settle with you pretty
quickly," and thrusting her hand into her cloak
made motion 90 IL abe would draw dagger.
The intention maddened me, and It brought
foam to my lips. struck her half dozen
blows, as quick as lightning. She let her dag
ger 20, and clsnched me. Her grip satisfied
me that had found my mstch--aye, more, Ia
streneth, and that my skill as boxer, and my
almost unparalleled ability as a,wrestler, musl
save me-. had learned pugilism of o clever
English teacher, and as to wrestling, 10 thai
day had never been thrown down. knew
when felt the grip that was dealing with Q
man. felt that my father and mother were
relying upon me, and as ! said before,,I grew
stronger. g4iAsi1al sil'
| We struggled, gasped, and let loose, struck
and,parriedt clenehed and wrestled I'LL, after
various attempts, We found ourselves at what
wrestleta call O. 'side,hold.' l got the unde
arm and lifted him (ior he-was no slopger her
threw my leg round his, and turned him. H
fell on the floor like logs-I INTENDED to breal
his bones, but he unlocked bis cloak-Ait hal
been unbuckled In the struggle-and leaped u
| like q cat. I struck him befofe he was balanc.
ed, staggered him, grappledmy left hand In hi
throat, and struck him again, called on m