, 1870-07-17
IGOR MATTE KILBURN.

IN Wa'po1e, Sew Hamphiro, there is very
atc!eEt ,fee, VIII n il an ut,jec, OF interest 10
Sie'tofe. for there il very sorroNful tale con-
necttA With it.
Long ago when the settlers lived IN fear Of
he Indians, who often came down the river to
4as, al'l kill. \ fort xaa- hn11t uear the town,
.nd there tie PEOPLE burned for Protection
The mtncn: at alafm wss given.
Ie!xesn this fort and the town s.ards tho
old tree. winch was vigorous Young OAK at
the time our story opens.
Tor long time the settlers 111d beeu at
Aesce. aid begau 10 think the indians would
-ue@er come aszin, fof theft last repulsa had
teen disastrous one.
But one autumn day, when the men ware
tnry harve.ting in * aesds. boy, who had
oean firhinE. came flying home. pale snd
frightened, to report that the Indians we're
coming in whole fleet os canoes, paa1lel
down the -'long liver Of pines" as they called
the Connecticut.
Then the panic began. and al hurried to The
fort taking their women and children. their
| cattle. and - mnch OF tne:r .Pzecioas harvest
81 theF could gather liz that short time.
The iutnates Of few solitary houses On the
] outek.rts Of the town wcre left to their fate,
Tor there w&s 10 time to warn them except by
the bell,
some Of the women Gcd to the fort, leaving
the n1en. who we're IN tie fields or on the hills
10 defend themselves " taet they knew how,
1
TIE fcTt, fo1 thh canoes We1s yszy near now.
aud the keen. eyed s1saSes could eco the fuGi-
tiye..
In one Of s,hese lonely too.aa'i<odJoh E1laurn
and his twelve yaAr old daughter MAtzia. who
kept houee for hin Ike nonle little wo,asu ~
| e!;e was.
On The eaia aas John was{1ooking for his sheep
At the foot Of Ean Mount 4ina, aud Nattis wss
alone at bone. He did not bear tho bell. bat
te ts~ the Indiana : be thought Of his daar
In al Al -AftL ~
ing sia sheep sn theiF fAta, he 17o home
'hrNnEh by-vays, hoping to- reach the aattle-
-pent hefoEe the f6ht be9an. He knew IL
aould be bloody sne. for the revensetul In
sti1ia had not forgotten their llst defeat, md
had turned out IN full torce 10 destroy thcir
| conquerors.
They we're already on shors when John Kil-
lam, b.eAsblo+s aud exhausted, rc.thed his
Lonas 2 hnd brave little A.ttis preparing 10
cefeod hetseh With tis gun in hsad and thA
0,n,sa why ses ss e ESq T., En to the fort eha = hs
II waited for yon knew von would come,
] aud nov We win 90 together" abe aaid, ahox-
| .nE him the pockets sun OF The few precious
things they owned, 1 little money. her moth
| ers gid beads, the sitrez spoons, md tho
| queer big watch, which her 3sthar only wore
| On sundAys- AstF they 1an, leaving tie dogs
behind. least they should betray them.
II WIS not fa1, but when they reached the
hill that Lay between them aad tho fort thoy
saw that It WAS to late too get in, for The nlsLt
hid Already begun
6ianeing. back they also eAx that 1et.eas
"as cut on, for soma OF the ln.1ians wers H.
| ready tkulhpg ahout their home,
John hi1bufn WE brave man, but be ttetu.
| h!ed a. he stood among the bushes, 20 help-
! less in The lnidst Of bis seleusle.s enemies,
| ue ttemt!ed not for himself, but fc, tho lit
NE Glrl who c1ung to him, full u f.ith th&t he
| conld sAFe her ffou t3AnGer.
a ahout from the hills made him look un To
see party. Of settlers, armed With siclles,
scy1hes aud Euns charging faoxn u1,on tie In
aans, intent On AgharB thew way into tho
II he we're a1oue, John could iotn them and
90 good service With his gun but Matte
could do notaing, and womb Only impede bis
! siepa md ondsnger herself.
He thought moment, then swung himself
1n1e the oak undes which they had p4eeel.
Le4n,nS down he dreH the child aiter him
An9 without i no1n let her cz1etul1y down into
deep hollow, mAde bY the breaking Of !
sseat Limb struck by lightning sono yeata
The tree bad dec.yed inwarI1y. while out
wildly It looked hale md strong, Tor young
ahoots had sprung up around the broken
places and hid the hole with thick sreon
l. "A1ear roa coming, 100, fathsr I" asked