The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-04-27
THE MOTHER S DEFENSE.


charging her, if he was not, to secure the
20 horse aid open the door TO no one but
- himself. n -. .
~ In the afternoon Of that day, Mrs.
Wcifs-who, though a small, dtI
y woman, possessed the true spirit Of a
Y border Ahcroine-happened to he doing
something a few rods from her dwelling,
when, chancing TO look towards the
woods surrounding the clearing, she es
pied d couple Of savages cautiously recon
noitering the place She thought Of her
husband away, her helpless little child in
the house, her own lonely and almost de
fenceless situation, and felt ready to sink
with despair but she called on God tor
aid, nerved herself with firm resolve,
ana walked quietly back to the dwelling,
with the air and manner Of one who had
seen nothing to. occasion the slightest
= alarm. v-se * salo sfne " saf s.
No sooner was she in the house, how
ever, out of sight of the Indians than,
catching up her little girl she pressed
her to her heart, with maternal anguish,
andprayed God to preserve her harmless,
even thought her own life should be
e sacrificed 1of
! b1"What for mamma say so?r inquired
the little curly y'Naired pet looking up into
wonder. asssf
You must keep still, Ella, and not make
the least noise, because there are wicked
Indians about, and want to hide you so
they can't find you."
'sOh, mammal"
"Hush, now you must be good little
girl, and not cry, and not even speak to
me, no matter what you hear"
"But Ifraid Indian, mamma"
"Then You must keep still, and they
won't find you
"Whcrc papa"
'.Oh, would to God he were here -
cried the poor wife and mother, with a
wild burst of emotion.
She then hastned to hide the child
among the straw Of the bed, strongly
,impressing it with the idea that its own
constant silence, and nothing else could
sav6 II from the hands of the wicked
1ndjanA y This done, she turned to the
sIn4pw that looked in the direction
Il x44e59 skH had seen the Indians, and per-
8h1 fouRDfs them leasurely, but some
'swhat Cautiously approaching the house.
What was she to do Leave the door
open and let them enter, trusting to her
own peaceful intentions to effect a like
result in them? or, close and bar the
house, and make the best warlike defence
she could? For few moments she was
undecided which course to pursue, for
there were about equally strong argu-
ments in favor of either. Should she
let them in peacefully, treat them well,
and offer them few presents, they might
go away without doing her any harm or
should they even kill her, or take her
prisoner, seeing no one else about, they
might overlook her child and let it thus
escape; and such was her maternal love,
that she would have been willing to sac
ritice herself to insure the safety of her
offspring. On the other. hand should
she bar up the door and windows, and
make use of the gun and axe Mt her com
mand, perhaps she could keep them out
altogether, till such time as her returning
husband should become apprised Of the
siege, who might then 90 and bring n
force to the rescue, e
Recollecting her husbands injunctions
while arguing with herself, she decided
upon the latter course; and in less than
minute after that the dwelling was as
secure against her enemies as it was pos
sibIe for her to make it, She then took
down q gun that was resting on some
hooks overhead, and hastily examined it.
She knew how to load and fire it, even
though she might not be able to sight it
we'll. The piece she found already loaded,
and remembered having heard her hus-
band say he put in large charge of buck
shot; but to make, doubly sure she
hastily put in some more which she put
in leather pouch. He had taken his
favoritc rife with him, but this piece was
left, and a large horn of powder, and
with this in her hands, and the certainty
that she had plenty of ammunition. she felt
slightly relieved from that sensation of
almost utter helplessness which she had
n minute before experienced
She had plt in some extra shots, as
we have said. and secured them with a
light wad, and was IN the act ofrepriming
the,piecc. with hands that trembled SO
asto spill some Of the powder on the
fioor, when loud rap sounded on the
door, as if it Were struck with toma-
hawk .LWt = ! = ~
..Who is there ? and what do You want ?''
demanded Mrs. Wells, bracing her nerves
for the severe trial which she felt was now
at hand.
..Me Injun-corne say how dor' re-
piled a voice i'm broker English.
Very well. you can say that where
you are"
"Squaw open-Injun want come in say
how do. Injun no HARM
''No, cannot let you in; and so, il
you are good and peaeeahle Indians,
You will go away N q AKA
"Ne go way first. Come in first-say
how do-eat hominy--den go wsv."
Mol don't know you-you NAV be
bad Indians-and so shall not let YOU
in; hotif you are hungry, will give you
food -
"Yes. Injnn heap hungry"
Mrs Wells hastily collected some cold
meat. bread and vegetables. and, eau
tiously opening the window shutter.
dropped them on the ground
'.There is food for yen, she said, as
she secured the shutter; sand now, il
you are good Indians you will go away
She judged by the sounds that the
savages picked up the food and ate it,