The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-11

shop he was met by the fugitive, who,
graspipg his hand, exclaimed,
"Oh how shall I ever be able to thank
you, Mr.. Bradley?"
This is no time for thanks, Mr.. Peters,
unless it is to the ord; you must fly the
country, and that at once!"
But my wife and children?"
"Mattie and l will attend to them But
you must 60 tonight'
"Tonight ?"
"Yes. In the morning, if not sooner,
they will return with large force and car
ry you of, and probably hang you on the
first tree. You must leave tonight"
"But how 2"
Matte will conduct you to the rendez-
vous of cur friends. There is party made
up who intend to cross the mountains and
join the Union forces in Kentucky. They
were to start tonight. They have provi.
scns for the journey and will gladly share
with you"
cat this moment young girl entered
the shop and burriedIy said,
"Father, what is the trouble tonight 2"
Her eye resting upon the fugitive she ap-
preached him, and in sympatbizlDg tone
continued, "Ah, Mr.. Peters, has your turn
come 60 soon?"
This was Matte. She was fine, rosy
girl, just passed ber eighteenth birthday,
and the sole daughter of Bradley's house
and heart. She vas his all-his wife had
been dead ive years. He turned toward
her and 10 mild but firm tone, said,
"Mattie, you mast conduct Mr.. Peters to
the rendezvous Immediately; then return
and we will call al the parsonage to cheer
Ills family. Quick! No time is to be lost.
The bloOdhounds are upon the track. They
have scented their prey, and will not rest
till they have secured him. They may re-
turn much sooner than we expect. So
haste, daughter and God bless vel"
This was not the first time that Matte
had been called upon to perform such an
office. She had safely conducted several
Union men, who had been hunted from their
homes and sought shelter with her father,
to the place designated, from whence they
made their escape across the mountains into
Kentucky Turning to the fugitive, she
said,
"Come, Mr.. Peters, do rot stand upon
CtTtIuO.y, Uul IOliOW HG.
She left the shop and proceeded but
short distance up the road and turned off
in by path through a strip of woods,
closely followed by the fugitive. A brisk
walk of half an hour brought them to a
small house that stood alon, in secluded
spot. Here Matte was received with O
warm welcome by several nen, some of
whom were engaged in running bullets,
while others were cleaning tleir rifles ard
fowliDg pieces. The lady ofthe house, a
hale woman of forty, was bus, stufing the
wallets of the men with biscuits. She
greeted Matte very kindly. The fugitive,
who was known to two or thee of the par.
ty, was received in bluff, frank spirit OF
kindness by all, saying tht they would
make him chaplain of the Tennessee Union
regiment when they got to Kntucky.
When Matte was about t. return home
two of the party prepared accompany
her; but she protested, waning them of
the danger, as the enemy wee doubtless 10
search of the minister. But notwithstand>
ing, they insist ted, and accompanied her
until she reached the road ashort distance
above her fathers shop. hattie hurried
on, but was somewhat surpried upon reach.
Ing the shop to find it vacant She hasten.
| ed into the house, but her hther was not
there. AS she returned to gointo the shop
she thought she could hea the sound af
| horses hoOfs Gathering downthe road. She
isten:d, but the sound sool died away
Going into the shop she blewthe fire into a
blaze then beheld that the things were in
! great confusion, and that pots of blood
were upon the ground Sht twas now con-
| vinced that her father had ,een seized and
carried of, but not withot a desperate
struggle on his part.
As Matte stood gazing at the pools of
blood wagon containing two persons
drove up, one of whom, an athletic young
man of five and twenty yeas, got out and
entered the shop.
"Good evening, Matte Where is your
father ?" be said Then observing the
strange demeanor of the gr he continued,
"Wby, Matte, what ails ya? What has
happened? 2"
The young girls heart vas: too full for
her tongue to give utterance and throwing
herself upon the shoulder Of be young man,
she sobbingly exclaimed
They Eave carried him Of! Don't you
see the blood 2"
slave they dared to lay hnds upon your
father? The Internal wretfes?
| Matte recovered hersf sufficiently to
narrate the events of the evening. When
she had finished, he exelain,d:
"Oh that should have ived to see the
day that old Tennessee wa, o be thus dis
graced! Here, Joel"
At this the other persm in the wagon
alighted and entered the Ihsp. BE was q
stalwart negro.
"Joe," continued the young man, "you
would like your freedom?' aa
"Well, massa John, I.volldnt like much
to leabe you, but den Use ike to be q free