Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-07-03


the moon.
The Roy Heroes.
When Kentucky was an infant Stute. aud
before the foot of civilization had tr,dden her
giant forests, there lived upon the branch Of
the Green River. an old hunter hy the name
Of Slater. His hut was Urun the southern
bank Of the stream, and. save "A small patch
Of some dozen acres that had been cleared hv
bis own axe, he was shut an by dersc for
ests. Slater had two children mt home with
him-two sons, Philip and Daniel the for
mer fourteen. and the latter twelve ycars Of
age. Hi wife was with him. T,ut she bad
been io, several years an almost helpless Grip
ple from the effects of severe rheumatism.
It was in the early spring, and the Old
hunter had Just returned from Columbia.
where be had been to carry the produce of
winters labor which consisted mostly of iur-
He had received quite sum of money and
mad brought il home with him. The old
man had for several years been accumulat-
ing money, for civilization was rapidly aV-
proaching him. and be meant biz children
should start on fair terms with the world
One evening just a- the family were sitting
down to their frugal super, they were at
tractcd by the sudden bowling OF the dogs,
and as slater went To- the door to see what
was the matter. Doc saw three men approach
inc.
He quietly ordered 90 the dogs. and the
strangers approached thc door. They asked
for something to cat. and also for lodgings
for the night. John Slater WAS NOT a man to
refuse a request of this kind and asked the
strangers iu. They ret their rifles behind the
door, uu,lung their packs, and room was
made for them at the SUPPER table. They
represented themselves az travellers. bound
further west. intending o. cross the Ni--i--iI-
III in search Of q settlement
The new corners we've far from le,uragrcc-
able or rreposse-sing in their looks. but Slot-
er took no heed OF the circumstances. for he
WAS NOT one 10 ,Iolbt any man The bows
however. did mot like their arTearau-e atail.
and quick Glance which thcv rave at each
other told their feelings. The hunters wifi.
,.as not at tie table. but -heslt ia her great
easy chair Lv the fire.
Slater entered int. conversation with tie
,,ua-fs ri,frbev ve-c moi frr. and affera
I2+tIe .y,biie fine t.lL, 1yipIlaj down into oc-
',.;..p.I ..,,s---.r- phmr -la. oldest oftie
r,y. ,,,ri..l ris- tI.g. men '-.r uneasy rlauc-
esoi.-.,+ fl.. r5r.I and I.. ,,tgl.e. t..eIl mar
r,yl, lyj- fear. had become excited and be
,.,,li r..r rr4t lie knew li, father lind a
l,rre sum of money in the house and lis first
thought WAS chat tlattle-c men were ,hcre
F5r the furpo-c of robbery. Afta- supper
y-as over thc boys quickly cleared aH the Ia
BE. and then went out of dDors. 10 had be-
come dark or rather the night hl fairly
set In. for there ul- moon tnH-.h'ui- iull.
shining down i,.au the iarc-..
Daniel. -aid paIr. ina Joss whisper,
atthc same time ca-riu. l.ok over hi,
shoulder. WHAT Hl1uu tsul ol these men3
ImatIaid ther are Ia3 ones. returned the
Younger one
- am believe tIsy mean to steal
fathers money Didn't yau notice how care
fullr they looked around o.
.Ye-
.S,diIT. five should tell father what
rc ;siuk. he y-,gId only LAUGH rr uz. and tell
..- We were rer.e.r ssafccr.v-.
But we can watch en-.
Yes. we viii watch 'em. lut don't let 'cm
SNOW it
The toys bad some further consultation.
and then eunc TO the dog-house. they set the
small door back. -o tIar the hound. might
spring forth # thev were wanted. Ifthev
lad desired to .reak to their father about
their suspicion. they had no chance. for the
strangers sat close to him al! tie evening.
At length the old man signiEed bis iuteu-
rion of retiring. and arose to go out of doors.
IN see the state of aHair- without. The three
toUo.ved him, but they did not take their
ras.o,.s. The old lady was asleep in her
.bair
NOV t,hisrered Phillip. let us take two
.r f,+f..r,. = ie, M 10 our he'd. we may want
", M. s- nod - men ,ritb the
a.
II -..,,.,,- f., ,l..,- and ,.,.i.l.I, os
~ r.. Ill +i., +,,... Ii4os r.,
1al.ird ti. 80, lIi,,,,,c,.
1leT y1'et - '-,,l,. i... I ,.I ~
l,lu ''''n -, ,'''A NV "a '''i
piil,'9s liom 'nS s'IunseIs 'lues N,'n
-helr la'her ana lne strangers returned lheN
Iig q, resumed li'olr seais. ..,,..
Ihe hunter cabin was divided INTO two
apartments ON t4e ground hoor, one Of them
IN the end ol the 'uldin7' beng the old
man sleeping rooin' ana the other IN which
the present company sat Overhead there
was sort of scaioldng, reaching only half
way over the room below 1t. and in the o.
posite end of the building from the little sleep
ing apartment of the hunter. a rough lad
der led up to the ,Cafiold, close ut the end Of
the scaAolding. but it was all open to the