The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-05-29
The Tenmesse Blacksmith.

! respected, wherever KNOWN Tor ms stern lHteS
/ rity He served God and did not fear mar =
and it might safely be added, nor devil neither,
I His courage was proverbial in the neighbor-
hood and it was a common remark, when wish
ing to pay any person high compliment, to
say, File is brave as Old Bradley One night,
toward the close of September, as he stood al
one by the anvil, ping his labors, his counte-
nance evinced a peculiar satisfaction as he
| brought his hammer down with vigorous stroke
| on the heated iron While blowing the bellows
he would occasionally paue and shake his head,
/ as if communing with himself He was evident
! ly meditating upon something of a serious ma
ture.
/ 1t was during one of these pauses that the
door was thrown open, and pale, trembling
| figure staggered into the shop, and, sinking at
the smiths feet, family CALCULATED
! in the name of Jesus, protect meH
| As Bradley stopped to raise the PROSTATE form
/ three men entered, the foremost one exclaim-
ing
We've freed him at last il! There he is Seize
him ? and as he spoke he pointed at the crouch
/ ing figure.
| The others advanced to obey the order; but
Bradley suddenly arose, seized the sledge ham
mer, and bfandishing it above his head as if it
were sword, exclaimed
Back Touch him not; or, by the grace Of
God, III brain vel
| They hesitated, and stepped backward, not
wishing TO encounter the sturdy smith, for his
countenance plainly told them that he meant
what he said.
DO you give shelter to an Abolitionist -
ferceIy shouted the leader
I give shelter to a weak, defenseiess man,
replied the smith.
''He is an enemy' vociferated the leader.
'Ofthe devil!' calculated Bradley.
'Heis spy an abolition houndn exclaimed
the leader, with incre ased vehemence, and we
must have him. So tell you, Bradley, you had
better not interfere. You know that you are
already suspected, and ifyou insist upon shell
tering him 1T will confirm it.
'Sus.pect-ed Suspected of what = exclaimed
the smith, in firm tone, riveting his gaze up
on the speaker.
why, of adhering to the North was the re-
ply.
'Adhering to the North = calculated Bradley,
as he cast his defiant glarces at the speaker. -
i adhere to no North he continued; 4 adhere
to my countfy-my whole eountry-and will,so
help me God, as long as | have breath, he add
ed, as he brought the sledge-hammer to the
ground with great force.
'You had better let us have him, Bradley,
without further trouble. You are only risking
your own neck BY your interference
Not as long as l have life to defend him. was
the answer. Then pointing toward the door, he
continued, Leave my shop ! and as he spoke
he again raised the sledge-hammer.
They hestated moment, but the firm de-
meanor OF the smith awed them into compliance
with the order.
You'll regret this in the morning, Bradley,
sand the leader, as he retired.
Coz was the reply of the smith as he pointed
toward the door.
Bradley followed them menaeingly to the en-
trance of the shop, and watched them until they
disappeared from sight down the road. When
he turned to go back into the shop he met
by the fugitive, who, grasping his hand, ex-
claimed
oh, how shall ever be able to thank you,
Mr.. B:adley!'
This Is no time for thanks, Mr.. Peters, I'M
less it is to the Lord you must fly the country,
and that at oncen
But my wife aud children.'
Matte and 1 will attend to them. But you
must go tonight
Tonight
yes. In the morning, if not sooner, they
will return with large force and carry you off, |
and probably hang you on the first tree. You
must leave tonight
But how 2
Matte will conduct you 10 the rendezvous of
our friends. There is a party made up who in
tend 10 cross the mountains and join the Union
forces in Kentucky. They have provisions for
the journey, and will gladly share with you.
AT this moment young girl entered the shop, |
and hurriedly said
Father, what is the trouble to-night?' Her
eye resting upon the fugitive she approached |
him, and in sympathizing tone, continued
'Ah, MI. Peters, has your turn come so
soon p
This was Matte She was fine rosy girl, |
just passed her eighteenth birthday, aud the
sole daughter of Bradley's house and heart
She his all-his wife had been dead five
years. He turned toward her, and in mild
but firm tone, said -
Matte, you must conduct Mr.. Peters to the
rendezvous Immediately; then return, and we
will call at the parsonage to cheer his family. -
Quick No time is to be lost The blood hounds
are upon the track. They have scented their
prey, and will not rest until they have secured
him. They may return sooner than we expect.
SO hasten, daughter, and God bless yo -
This was rot the first time that NJ tile had
been called upon to perform such an Office
She had previously safely conducted several I'M
ion men, who had be IN 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 not stand upon cere-
mony, but follow me-
She LETT the shop and proceeded but short
distance up the road, and then turned off in a
by-path through strip of woods, closely fol-
lowed by the fugitive. brisk walk of half an
hour brought them to a small house that stood
alone in secluded spot. Here Matte was re-
ceived with a warm welcome by several men,
some of them were engaged in running bullets,
while others were cleaning their rifles and fowl
ing pieces. The lady of tie house, a hale wo
man of forty, was busy stuffing the wallets of
.6or I, ito Sba faH Volt vary
kindly. The fugitive, who was known to two
or three of the party, was received in bluff,
frank spirit of kindness by ALL saying that they
would make him chaplain of the Tennessee
Union regiment when they got to Kentucky.
When Matte was about to return home, two
of the party prepared to accompany her; but
she protested, warning them of the danger as
the eEemy was doubtless abroad in search OF the
minister, But, notwithstanding, they insisted,
and accompanied her until she reached theroad
short distance above her fathers shop. Mat
tie hurried on, but was somewhat surprised up
on reaching the shop to find it vacant. She
fastened into the house, but her father was not
there. At she returned to go into the shop, she
thought she could hear the noise of horses hoofs
Gathering down the road She listened, but the
sound soon died away. Going into the shop,
she blew the fire into blaze; then beheld that
the things were in great confusion, and that
Spots OF DlOOu were upon the SrodnQ one =" 90
now convinced that her father had been car
ried off, but not without desperate struggle on
his part.
As Matte stood gazing at the pools Of blood,
a wagon containing two persons drove up, one
of whom an athletic young man of fvs-and-
twenty years, got out and entered the shop.
Good evening, Matte Where is your faith
er?' he said. Then, observing the strange de-
meanor of the girl, he continued, Why, Matte,
what ails your What has happened =
The young girls heart was too full for her
tongue to give utteranee, and throwing herself
upon the shoulder of the young man, she sob
bingly exclaimed
They have carried him off Don't you see
the blood 2
Have they dared to lay hands upon your faith
err? The Internal wretches !!
/ Matte recovered herself sufficiently to narraie
! the events of the evening When she had hn
/ ished he exclaimed,
! I "