Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-02
THELAST SHOT.
BIZ WESLEY BRADSHAW


and there with farm houses and cottages, could
scarcely credit the innumerable and fearful
hardships TO which the early settlers, the fore
fathers sf the present generation were subject
ed.
A little over half century ago, and in the
very place which now teens with abundance,
starvation often stared the pioneer and his wife
and little ones in the face.
The following real incident Of wilderness life
will, therefore, serve to show how nfty years
have made the silent, mighty wastes to "blOs-
som as the rose, and become ga land flowing
with milk and honey.
In the month of May, 1899, native of North
sRsssn,. 0oaneeticut, Joel Therp by name,
resolved 70 journey forth into the almost un-
explored tract then known as the Connecticut
Western Reserve. His wife cheerfully assent
ed to the adventure; and accordingly selling
oat what little he was possessed of, Thorp OBJ
tanned those articles Of which he thought he
should be most in need in his future home, and,
loading an ox-team Herewith, shouldered his
rife and set forward, trusting for success in an
all-seeing Providence and his own right arm.
The pioneer, after few hardships and dan-
gers, at last reached what was afterwsrd Mills
ford, in Ashtsbula county, where he deter
mined to settle. A few days later, and he
succeeded in raising q rough, but comparative
IL comfortable log-hut, wherein his wife and
children found shelter. Still, his exertions
were not ended and day after day the silence
blows of his Ak and the land, which was rich
and mellow, began to be cleared. But, in his
esgerness TO accomplish % much In 90 short
space of time, Mr.. Thorp had entirely over.
looked the fact that bis provisions were rapid
ly failing.
As soon, however, as his wife brought the
alarming fact to his knowledge he set of with.
out any guide, save his pocket compass, to the
nearest settlement, which was full twenty
miles distant, to obtain -four. Very shortly
after his departure the remainder Of Mrs.
ThOrp's scanty store was consumed by her
three children-she depriying herself Of any
morsel of it in order that they might have the
more. Soon after, they began to feel the sharp
psngs Of hunger, and asked their mother for
sustenanee, which she of course was unable to
give them
Long and anxiously did she stand in the
cabin door and strain her aching eyes in the
hope Of beholding, through the dfmly lit aisles
OF the forest, the approaching form of her hus-
band. And the hungry little ones-of whom
the eldest, Basil, was but eight years Of age
as though by intuition, followed her example,
standing at her side, watching eagerly for
psps's return. But still he came not and as
the sun went down on the day on which he
was expected, thousand new and fearful emo
Hons swept through the mothers heart . The
wilderness abounded with dangers; and by
turns her fancy led her into the belief that he
was killed by some wild beasts, or murdered,
or taken captive by still wilder men. And q
SCORE Of times after she had succeeded in lull
ing her children to sleep, did she imagine that
she heard him groaning at the cabin door. And
esoh time, impulsiyely, almost unconsciously,
she bounded forward, and throwing open the
door, found that 1t was nothing but the moan
ing Of the wind among the surrounding trees.
Toward morning, the second eldest child, as
though dreaming, exclaimed In its sleep:
Mamma! papa's coming and Dash, toon
And then, awakening from its slumber, Ii
commented to cry and beg piteously Of its
mother for food, even though it were only few
grains Of corn.
With q torn and bleeding heart Mrs Thorp,
while tears Of anguish rolled down her own
pinohed and pallid features, endesvored to
console and quiet the little sufferer with the
rhoPsfal promise that papa would soon come
now. The other two shortly reused up, and,
imPelled by starvation, joined their complaints
and entreaties with these Of the hrst.
Morning at length dawned without q single
cloud, while q soft, pleasant air stirred through
the forest, and the little birds sung blithely.
But all had the same effect on Mrs. Thorp The
bright sun only rendered her inward gloom the
deeper-the wind brought TO her no sound Of
her husbands eoming-and the carols Of the
birds fell on her ear like disoordant music.
Noon came, but with Ii no sign of the absent
one; and Mrs. Thorp now began to despair,
believing ii to be her fate, and that Of her
children, TO be starved TO death in the wilder
ness. But q single glance into the pale, blood
less faces Of her children, terminating her own
sinking frame, and her mothers heart again
grew strong within her.
A few grains of wheat, that the boy Basil re-
meubered having seen IN q crack in one Of the
logs Of which the cabin was built, we're dill
gently but u.suooessfully searched for. Still
Mrs. Thorp's resolution was rot to be oyerturn-
ed; and seixing knife, she ripped open the
bed, which was filed with straw. Carefully
did she and Basil examine every stalk of this
r. - r.. p - - n
might contain and during the course Of the
afternoon they succeeded in obtaining a small
quantity of the- precious treasure. After boil
ing this, Mrs. fhorp, with q mothers solici.
tude for the relief Of her children, reserved but
. few grains for herself, and divided the re-
mainds5 into equal proportions for her little
ones But this partial relief seemed to render
their hunger more acute and, after listening
for the better part Of the night TO their childish
and pitiful entreaties for more, she resumed at
daylight the task Of searching the rest Of the
straw.
This fnished, she boiled and divided the
wheat obtained 90 before. There was now NO
other source that she could see from which she
might obtain sustenanoe; aAd with her heart
fairly bresking, she went 10 the cabin door,
and gased vacsntly away into the forest. net
50 much In the expectation Of seeing her hus-
band, ss from the habit she bad acquired with.
In the last few DAVIS
As abe at last turned her eyes somewh hat up-
ward, doubtless 10 invoke the sid Of Heaven,
she bsheld large bird, that proved 10 be Q
Wild turkey, flying over. Like fssh Of light
ming, q happy thought struck her, and with
her feelings strung TO the highest, she watched
the bird till IL settled among the boughs Of .
tree at some little distance from the cabin.
In former years, Mr. Thorp had instructed
his wife in the use Of the rife, and under his
tuition she had attained considerable skill and
precision. And now, fairly bounding with de-
light to where, upon the horns Of o stag, rested
ride and powder horn, she grasped the for
msr. but found, 70 her ohagrin, that IL was
empty: kssching down the horn, she opened
il, and forming Q csp-like hollow with her
hand, poured into the latter what powder 1t
contained. There was, however, only SUN.
oient for small charge; and again the snx.
ious mother saw disappointment staring her In
the face.
But she soon settled upon her course; and,
setting aside . little Of the powder for priming,
she dstsrmined TO make the remainder do for