Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-12-17

Lhs NNdtsf, Lreest Stofp 4Ned bhNtfthe tttF 'Fv"
An oasis Of green wood on Kansl
prairie-a bright stream shining like Ii,
uid silver in the moonlight log hou.
built under the limbs great trees--witl
in this humble home a happy group
This is my first picture.
Look well on the leading figure in tha
group. You will see him but this one,
yet on his sad fate hinges all the viii
and fearful realities which are to follow
drawn to q very great extent, not iron
imagination, but from life ITSELF
A noble looking, white-haired man sit
by rough table, reading the bible aloud
On stools by his feet sit two beautiful
little girls, his twin daughters, not NOR
than ten years of age, while noble bo,
of twelve or thirteen, stands by the bacl
of the chair where sits the handsome, We
matronly-looking mother.
1t is the hour for family prayer befors
retiring for the night, and Mr.. Cody ne
Christian, always remembers it Il the
heart of his dear home
He closes the holy book pad is about
to kneel and ask Heave, to bless and
protect him and his dear ones.
Hank The SOUND of horses galloping
with mad speed eowar his house falls
upon his ear.
as it possible there j, another Indian
alarm ?" he says, ipquiringly.
Alas, worse thsn the red savages are
riding in hot haste toward that door.
"Hallo--the house p is shouted loud.
ly, as a large cavalcade ofhorsemen halt
before the door.
GvVhaf 70 tod ,rl L.
asked the good man, as he threw wide
open the door and stood upon its thresh-
old.
"You are wanted, you black hearted
nigger-worshipper, and Z Colonel M
kandlas-have come to fetch you And
there's the warrant
As the rufian leader of the band
shouted these words, the pistol already
IN his hands was raised, leveled, fred
and the father, husband and Christian,
fell dead before his horror-stricken fam
lily.
"If them gals was little older-but
never mind, boys, this will be lesson for
the sneaks that come upon the Border
let's be off, for there's plenty more work
to do before daylight" continued the
wretch, turning the head of his horse to
ride away.
"Stop!'
1t was but single word-spoken, too
by boy whose blue eyes shone wildly |
in face as white as new-fallen snow and
full as cold spoken as he stood erect
over the body of his dead father, weap-
onless and alone.
Yet that rufian, aye and all of his mad
reckless crew, stopped as if mighty
spell was laid upon them.
"You, Jake M Kandlas, have murder.
ed my father! You base towards, who
saw him do this dark deed, spoke no
word to restrain him. am only Little
Bill, his son, but as God in Heaven hears
me now, / will kill every fathers son of
you before the beard grows on my facet" {
"Hear the little rooster crow. He'll I
fight when his spurs grow, if we don't '
cut his comb now" cried the leader with S
. knocking laugh, and he raised his pis- /
Monster, you have robbed me of a
husband: you shall not kill my boy" S
shrieked the mother, as she sprang for
ward and drew her son up to her own {
bosom.
Colonel, there's big gang of men s
comm over the prairie. We'd better
git," cried scout, riding in at this mo-
ment. {
"Aye! For don't want to kill wo-
man, if can help it. Column to the {
right, boys, and follow me-
In minute, at full spe ed, the party
dashed away after their leader, and the
wretched family were left alone with the /
dead.
Frozen with terror and awe, the beau
tiful twins, Lille and Lottie, crept out
to the doorway, where their mother and
brother knelt over the stifening form of
him who had been so good and kind
their dear father.
Oh what picture: Grief was STILL /
Nor sob, nor tear, nor even moan arose.
They were dumb with agony-paralized
with sense of utter bereavement. +,
It is now 1861. The log house has
disappeared, but in the same noble grove
pretty white cottage is seen. Barns
and haystacks all tell story of good
farming and profitable results. II
On the embou cred porch of this cot
tage sits the widow still in her mourning
garb, worn for him whose death we have
already pictured, and near her stand two
lovely girls-the twin sisters, Lille and
Lottie, now in the early bloom of beau.
tiful womanhood. /.
They look alike, are dressed alike and
are exceedingly beautiful.
Lille held letter in her hand which
the mounted mail-carrier had left as he {
swept by. Il
"Oh, mamma, mamma? brother is
coming homel He says he will be here t
before the suns sets on the twenty fifth I
The letter is from Fort Kearney, and i
has been long in coming" t
"1s not to-day the twenty ?" asked @
Lottie '
ITO be sure it is, and he will be here.
Our William is wild, but he never tells f
q falsehood. He is too proud for that r
Heaven bless himw said the mother. in L
a low, earnest tone I,
"He is not coming alone" said Lille.
HE brings two friends with him." I,
at lacks scarce half hour to sunset" h
said the mother. p