The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-07-25

VI buC Clby VI lODchb lbOCiJ
reared its spires to the sky, and from
whose workshops and factories the smoke
curls up lazily in the clear atmosphere
of the prairie-land.
Three weary months were passed from
the time we left Indianapolis (where we
fitted out) until we reached our destina
ton. Arriving at our journeys end,
after careful examination and survey
of the country, the ground on which we
agreed to settle was parceled out among
the different families, and axes were
soon brought into requisition, timber
felled, and in a few days a dozen or
more log-cabins were erected, and the
settlement, as it had now become, was
beginning to put on quite business
like appearance. Let it not be under
stood that the Lighthouses of the settlers
were near to each other; on the con-
trary, each settler built on the land as
signed to him by the association, loca-
ting his cabin in the centre of plot of
from one to two hundred acres, or as
much as he thought he could cultivate.
This arrangement brought our cabins
at least a mile apart from each other /;
it would have been better, as the result
will show, if they had been nearer to-
gether.
Four years had elapsed the cabins
were all built with stockades to protect
us from sudden attacks of the Indians !;
the farms were all in high state of cul-
tivation settlers had been arriving and
filling up the nearest town, which was
about fifty miles distant, and we lived
in comparative security. Trading with
the Indians had been carried on extern
sively, and my fathers wisdom in the
selection of the site, near the confluence
of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, was
acknowledged by all, as furs and skins
were brought down in great quantities
by the red men in their canoes.
I think it was the spring of 1914 or
1915, if 1 recollect rightly, my father
had built an addition to his house,
which consisted of a second or upper
story, and as this was rather an innova-
tion on the prevailing style of architec-
ture of the settlement, it was shortly
designated as Johnson's Folly. Whether
this act of my fathers was one of wis
dom or the contrary we shall see.
say think it was 1915, for l am very
sure we had Just heard of the election of
Polk. For several months previous
there had been occasional marauding
parties from new tribe, the Arapahoes,
who had lately made their appearance,
but they were friendly to our allies, the
Blackfeet, and we apprehended no seri-
ous trouble; still, there was uneasiness
felt in the settlement, and the Indians
who had come to live with us shared
the anxiety. 1t was not considered safe
to be away from home after, nightfall.
My eldest brother-at least call him
such, though he was really but an adopt
ed son, whose name was Eliphalet Busch
-Liph was in the habit of visiting at
the Hanks cabin. Old Hanks had a
beautiful daughter named Amanda. She
was perfect picture; her features were
regular, her eyes deep hazel, her hands
small and delicate, and, as her old father
said of her feet, "they were too small to
be stood upon much" her hair was a
} dark, rich brown, with golden tinge
, though it. never saw a sweeter girl.
l don't wonder Liph was deep in love
with her. He was noble fellow, and
deserved good girl, and father used to
say ait was pity Liph was not born a
prince, for he was noble enough to be
, one" Indeed, some thought he did
come of gentle blood. No one ever knew
his father or mother they were lost in
the surf, with whole ships crew, try
, ing to land from wreck on the coast
of Virginia, and Liph was the only one
saved. He was brought up till he was
seven years old by man named Busch,
who had him. christened, and gave him
his own name, Ehphalet. When Busch
: died, father adopted Liph. Everybody
| lnpa1 hin, IN hn ,,,o,,l1
carry Bill Starbuck's baby in his arms
: for miles, when the jolting of the wagon
} would make the little thing fretful he
was always sacrificing his own comfort
, for that of other people. But am get
} ting away from my story. Liph had
gone over to the Hanks's one even
t ing; it was dark, threatening night
light drizzling rain had fallen early
in the day, and now raw, piercing
/ wind was sweeping over the prairie; it
came in fitful gusts, and died away in a
| dismal moan. A great log-fre filled
3 the clay fireplace, which blazed up now
and then, and shot out bright CLEANS
r across the planks of our little cabin
| 1t was cheerful enough within mother
: sat by the fire knitting, and father was
, reading by the light of tallow candle
5 some old newspapers, about six months
} old, which he had got the last time he
) had ridden over to the nearest army
post, Fort Leavenworth. My brother
Tom lay on a buffalo-skin in the corner,
fast asleep. My sister Annie was busy
with the hired girl in the other room
washing up the plates, while May and
Susie were sound asleep upstairs in
, their little beds, which Liph had made
for them out of red cedar wood. There
was a ladder only to mount to the second
story, and though mother had often
teased father and Liph to build her a
stairs such as she had always been ac-
customed to, father was obstinate, and
=, seemed to have some reason of his own
Though he never expressed any for not
acceding to mothers desire. Old Nero
my fathers pointer dog, lay before the
fire, occasionally growing i'll his dreams
| Over the fireplace, on two wooden brack-
cts, my fathers rife was laid, for the
day; the charges had not been drawn
: he and Tom had been hunting deer
, and had come home after a fruitles:
2 search. Suddenly old Nero jumped uI
with howl, and ran to the door, put
ting his nose close down to the floor
scenting something without and growl-
f; ing incessantly.
: As 1 said before, high stockade sur
l rounded our inclosure. The gate was
| left unfastened until Liph came home
, .,,o oil ao% lou eounA a,