Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-02-11


man. The house was nearly vacant The
crowd of retaincrs had dropped away, un-
I'll only two or three of the maids were
left, who were busted with his mother.
But lest some accident might occur. 10
tempt them from the house, Tom set
himself TO keep watch, patrolling the
long halls, down into the kitchen, then TO
the parlor, and back again, the night long
When Tom was a man he kept guard
many a night on the battle field, and felt
1t was child's play compared to those slow,
creeping hours, IN which he tramped to
and fro, his little legs weak with terror,
but his heart brave enough to stand be
tween his father aud mother and their
horde oC enemies. The moonlight fell in
level beams hereand there across the long
stone hall; at one end the fire smouldered
low in the stove; overhead he heard at
intervals his mothers soft step in the sick
chamber; from outside came at times an
owls hoot, or the baying of the watch
dog at the moon. That ceased presently.
Had they poisoned Lion?
At that Toms face grew hot, and, taking
sudden heart, he hurried boldly to the
front door and flung 1t open. The moon
was behind n cloud. The court yard was
dark but close beside him he heard the
clang of u musket on the stones, and, the
moment after, quick, sharp click. He
drew back and shut the door; but, climb
ing up, looked through the transom.
When the white, chilly moonlight shone
out again over the fields, he saw that the
dark and masked figures which lie had
seen once before stood sentries around
the house, while large bodies of armed
men passed noiselessly as ghosts across
the slope between him and the woods.
The Shan Van Voght did their work
ofmurder Gfmurder it waO in silence.
All night long He did not look out
again but he never rested for moment.
Now he faucied he heard stealthy steps
above or below now he was sure 1t was
the cracking of a fire kindled in one of
the cellars underneath relieved OF one
fear, another and a greater followed con-
tinually. The deep Of the night had pass
ed The moon had set, and the fire gone
out. Tom crept up and down, to and fro, his
limbs stiff with cold and damp, through the
pitchy darkness A slckly light began to
struggle through the windows far off he
heard the cocks crow. The sound reached
HIM, poor Tom as in dream. He drag
ged himself to the door of his mothers
room, and heard her voice within, and his
fathers.
Morning had come, and they were safcl
He turned to go down and resume his
weary march but, on the way, the poor
little head reeled, the brave heart stopped
beating, and Tom lay stretched on the
cold stone floor, over which he had kept
his long vigils so well.
He was reused by warm cordial at his
lips, and the doctors breezy voice calling
him.
"Good news, Tom, boy Good news /
Look ~
Somebody had him in their arms. 1t
was Captain Duncan his mother, half
sobbing and half laughing, was kneeling
before him, chatting his icy feet, and hold
ing them to her breast. But when Tom
tried feebly to rise, there was his father |
Sitting up in the bed, his eyes bright, and
his cheeks full of ruddy color, as they had
not been for months.
you're safe, fatherr' Tom clung to his
hand
"Safe, my boy - cried the doctor "The
crisis is past, thanks to God"
| But Toms brain went back to the old
! thought: "Whom did they murder
Father, father, to call them Gods crea-
| turesp
No one spoke. But the captain led Tom
| to the window, and threw it open. The
red flush of the early day lay soft and
bright on the green slopes, and the dewy
woods, and glancing river; and there, as
! far as the eye could see, was the cut grain,
in long, even, golden heaps, shining in
the sun!
Tom tried to speak, but a great lump in
his throat choked him. Underneath the
window were stacked the arms taken from
Mr.. Kelsoe, TOMS pretty fowling piece laid
on top.
"They left this bit of paper" said Mr.
Kelsoe, Tomread the words scrawled omit
"GOd SAGE ger homer. We're of to An'er-
ky
"There will be free pardon issued,
said the Captain s"And, upon my word,
I'm almost glad the scoundrels have es
capped"
But Tom was looking intently at q
wretched' figure below, with an empty
sleeve pinned to his breast. It's Kit
father" he said, pleadingly. He's my
foster brother" .. s.
"Yes, go, Tom, and bring him in. And
never forget thai it was the hated crop
pies who have saved us from ruin and
that the man who seemed vilest to you is
like your own"
"Thcyve given you new life, Kelsoe
that's a fact p' said the Captain. He stop
ped, turning his head away, that they
might not see his wet eyes. cts a curl
ously pleasant day." he said, after awhile
al suppose it is something in the air
But feel as if could find brother il
in any man, even a scoundrelly croppy
/ and see something good even in the ShaI
Van Voght r'-Riporside Magazine.