Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-07-26
A Brave Little wisconsin Girl.


ly of small children, settled in this
county more than year ago. They
were poor and after many hardships
erected small dwelling and cleared
few acres of land, but they were in the
wilderness ten miles from neighbors.
A few weeks ago the father ahd mother
left their family, consisting of girl
aged twelve years, one aged pine years.
and two other children aged respective
" three years and thirteen months, on a
trip to the settlement to Get 4 COW and
bring some potatoes to plant After
the parents had been goneN few hours
the house took FIRE, and the oldest girl
Immediately rushed to the root with
water, but not being able TO remove the
shingles sne could do nothing to stay
the flames, which gained rapidly,spread
ing on the inside of the root, until, burst
ing through, they drove her from her
work.
She then turned her attention to saw
inc her brothers and sisters. Coming
TO the door of the building, she found
that the child next TO her own age had
got out of the house bringing the baby
with her, but the little three year old
had crouched under shaving horse IN
the further corner of the room. There
being no chamber floor, the fire was
dropping from the burning roof between
one child and the door, aud when asked
TO come out it refused to do so saying,
IL am safe here, the fire don't drop
here" The brave girl hesitated only "a
moment, but rushing through the falling
embers brought the little ones to n safe
place, both having their clothes some
what burnt.
But now comes the hardest part OF
the task before her Scantiy clothed
and with no food, she took the babe IN
her arms and with the other children
started upon the trail for the settlement,
After going a few miles she encounter
ed a rapid stream, swollen by the spring
rains, so that in tording it the water
came up to her armpits. She first cat
iied the baby across and then the little
three wear old. and lastly halt led and
half carried her hext younger sister
through the water TO the other bank.
Three times during the remainder OF tho
day she struggled across the swollen
streams in her way until night set IN,
the deep forest surrounding her. Cold,
wet and hungry, she sought a place to
camp, and by good fortune found an
old camp, left by the Indians, upon
which about one halt of the roof still re-
mained. Under this she placed her lit
tie flock and then collected pine boughs
and made a rude bed. Placing the lit
tie one in the middle, the heroic girl
stripped or her dress and spread 1t over
the children, then covered them with
boughs to keep them from the chilly
night air. and sat down beside them To
watch them through that long, cold
night, comforting the little one when 1t
cried, and speaking words of cheer to
the older one The long, dreary hours
of the night dragged slowly by, and at
the first peep of day she resumed her
toilsome march, and had nearly reached
the first settler when she met her par
ents returning. An older aud wiser
head might have found an easier way
out of the dilemma, but we feel certain
that no one could have acted brayer or
have e,inccd more than the little daugh-
ter of Thomas Vclie.-Uisconsm Rir-
er Pii0L