The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-09-09
Select Storu.
A HEROIC GIRL,

On the border of Green Lake. in
Minnesota, there lived a sturdy, white
haired frontierman, named Walter
Brown. lie was one Of those adveutu.
rous spirits ever to be found 10 the van
of advancing civilization, always court.
ing the free, wild air of the prairie, and
rejoicing in the profound depths Of uu.
Inhabited forests.
But the country became more and
more thickly settled, and Walter Brown
became uneasy. His wife had borne
him daughter the third or fourth
year Of their residence at the headwaters
Of the ST. Croix, whom he called Leo.
nora. She was good girl, and the
idol of her father. He purchased a
rife for her when she was but twelve
years old, and took the utmost pains in
teaching her the use of it. She was
brave and steady Of nerve, and soon
acquired wonderful skill as shot, and
the number Of prairie chickens, part.
ridges, wild water fowls, and other small
game she managed to shoot every day
was really large. Occasionally she
would shoot deer, aud one eveutful
morning, by a lucky shot through the
eye into the brain, she killed bear.
When she came home with the news
her father could scarcely credit her
But, knowing her perfectly truthful
nature, he danced about the room for
joy, aud seizing the sturdy little maid,
he mounted her upon his shoulders and
insisted upon carrying her all the way
to the spot where the dead bruin lay.
Thicker and thicker flowed the tide
of emigration into Minnesota and Wis.
consin, following the navigable rivers
as matter Of course, aud more and
more uneasy and crowded felt Walter
Brown. At length his wife died.
Leonora was then sixteen, and engaged
to be married TO a handsome young
trader by the name of Watson, who
had Joined her father in business.
The death Of the mother had made
it necessary to postpone the wedding,
and 10 the interim old Walter decided
to move into northwest Minnesota
Neighbors were getting too near and
hunting and trapping were bad. As
the young man had proved up and
pre- empted quarter section Of land
near Taylor's Falls, and did not wish
to either abandon or sell il just then,
persuading Leonora to agree to write
to him, he bade her an affectionate
goodbye.
Brown lived in Minnesota for three
or four years in peace aud quiet, fiud
ing good trapping and hunting grounds
when all at once young Watson arrived
and renewed the proposition of marriage
with Leonora. The old man had about
determined to move no more, and had
accordingly located aud pre-empted
several thousand acres Of land about
him, aud learning from Watson that he
had money enough to do likewise, pro.
posed tSat be should go down to St.
Paul and buy land warrants with his
money, aud take up all the land he
could Swing" He might then NARY
Leonora, aud they two would 60 to work.
aud after building plenty of stabling,
etc, would get good stock ofeeattle
and sheep, aud try and lead pastoral
life for the rest Of their days.
To this proposition the young man
heartily assented, and after returning
from st. Paul, vent brayely to work IN
che woods telling trees for building pur-
poses. 1t was agreed iirst that they
should build new hcwcd log house
for the united family, as Watson had
got qp small single room cabin. Then
the wedding was 70 tako place, snd the
two men would again resume their work.
While thus busily engaged the Sioux
war broke out II was the habit Of
Lcoaora to take her rife out every
morning, and shoot prairie chickens
for the table, while her lover and fathsr
were hard at work on the new house.
Watson had brought her as present
from St, Paul light aud handsome
revolving rife, Of which she was i'm.
mcnscly fond, and With which she be-
came 80 expert that she could shoot q
duck or prairie chicken on the wing
with almost absolute certainty.
Ono morping,,ss she was strollinc
nrouat fla LII. ~.A.Is. 49, y