The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-08-05
drink on Sundays and festivals, left;
will warm Ii for unI ,,

will warm it for you"
1t seemed strange that the great dog,
Sultan, ran about in an angry, excited
way, growing and showing his teeth from
the moment the old man had entered the
house. Only with difficulty could she
keep him quiet. And now when she went
into the kitchen to get the coffee ready,
the dog pressed up closer to her, and
looked distrustfully at the old man, who
was resting in the arm chair.
The dogs strange conduct made her
suspicious. AS in many old German
houses, there was an opening in the wall,
sort of window with slide between
the kitchen and room inhabited by the
family, through which the dishes we're
passed from one to the other. i
This. NiRdew was inst behind, The ar1nzs
\ me efssce tlie morning, when the1
|mother had put the coffee and milk-pan
Through it, it had been left half open.
| With gentle tread she went up to this
window and looked into the room. What
ishe beheld there indeed filed her with
|horror.
Before her eyes the old man took off
the fur cap and the white beard, too, and
|now there stood before her quite differ
ent man than the one she in her pity had
admltted. The first was tottering half
frozen old man-this was strong young
man, of savage and wicked appearance;
and the smile of joy at his successful
trick, which passed over bis face, had an
depression which filled the girls heart
with terror.
| So overcome was she at this change in
her guest, that for few moments she
had no idea how it would be best to act.
| The robber did not know that he could
be seen. He went up to the window
which the good-natared girl had opened,
and from which she had drawn back the
Ishutters. 1t looked toward the wood
(which extended on that side of the
ihouse, The man stared out and then
waved with his handkerchief; he then
ldrew from under his old ragged coat a
llong broad knife, examining carefully
the point and blade.
What was to be done? That was the
question, but there was short time for the
lpoor young girl to consider about it.
She must be quick-she must act de-
lcisively. Rescue from without was not
Ito be thought of-she alone, by Gods
Ihelp: must save herself and the property
of her family!
She took hasty glance around the
room, and seeing heavy ak, which was
used for chopping wood, lying upon a
block, she quickly seized it. The coffee
was hot, but in the pot it would not
serve the plan which she had devised
| She poured the boiling fluid into a
small deep plate, and, quite determined
what to do, she went up to the door OF
the room, the plate with the smoking cof-
fee in her left hand, the heavy ak in her
right:
Il have both hands FULL she cried.
standing before the door; be SO good as
Ito open the door for me.'
j Not suspecting what was to happen,
| the robber quickly opened the door,
standing in the middle of the threshold
In moment the whole of the boiling
coffee few into his face. With furieus
exclamation of pain he bent forward, anu
rubbed With both hands the coffee from
his eyes.
i Awaiting herself of this moment of his
helplessness, the brave girl, with ths
: broad side of the ak, dealt him such vi
olent blow on his head, that he fell dowr
senseless at her feet.
el Quick as thought, pushing aside hi
q body, she sprang to the window, which
r she had before opened herself, closed il
a securely, and put up the shutters. Their
she fastened back, took the key out O
the door, which was in the inside. called
"Sultan, keep WATCH" and pushing th'
!, grea. dog into the dark room, where tn
r fellow lay senseless, she locked the doc
; from the outside. Then, after agail
building up her wall of defense agains
the house-door, she fastened up to tn
! , second story.
The dog was growing from within, amt
trying to get out, and at the same mo
> ment there was violent knocking at tn
house-door.
= The girl took her fathers double-bar
i relied gun down from the wall, and open
ing the window, she inquired:
. "Who's there belowp'
q From the window she saw before th
4 door man, with the appearance of
n huntsman, of savage and forbidding as
i pect, quite stranger to her. He calleC
!. out to her in a commanding tone:
. "Open the door,"
4 "When l choose to So" replied tn
+ girl.
r. "If you do not open ills hall! criet
r the huntsman angrily. 81 shall breal
J, open the door, and then you will SCI
= what viii happen"
q "We are long way from that yet,
: was the girls reply,
HWe shall see!' cried the hunter, and
;. taking his gun from his shouIder,le wa
about to place it against the lock an
# fire.
a Kate saw that rapid action was nee
+, essary. In moment her fathers GU
W was cooked and her aim taken, and be
}. fore the rascal below could turn rount
le there was a loud report above, and
at bullet had shattered his right arm.
His gun dropped from his hand, an
d fell to the ground, He uttered a cry G
ID pain, and rolled over in the snow, whic
N he reddened with his blood. But bs
m fore the girl could take up her father
other gun he had risen and fled into th
d wood. ......
IS Kate quickly loaded the gun agail
!; and prepared for struggle of life ali
D. death; for she fels certain that thes
two were not alone, but had compar
i'd ions in the forest.
& Her courage did not fail but sh
Lh threw herself down upon her knees, an
If, prayed for help to Him who alone
OF our defense. and shield. The courag
n, which God gives is the right courage
He makes the soul strong for the mos
f. difficult things,
Now she heard noise in the rool
W below, where Sultan and the robbie
lie were. She listened. She heard th
in dogs growing and the mans cries {
n, pain.
I'd The struggle between them lasted fc
le about ten minutes; and then the terr
Id BILE sounds were succeeded by an awfl