Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-14
A FRONTIER INCIDENT.
A Night of Fearful Suspense with a.
Happy Termination.


be well toward morning before 1 can
possibly get back
But why travel in the night, John?
If you cannot reach home Until late,
why not wait for daylight"
Il expect to meet a party from the
Cross Roads the first thing in the morn
ing; and their case requires immediate
attention. Here, Johnny, my boy,
papa's going" he continued; and as
little curly-headed fellow, who was
tumbling over and over in the grass, in
high glee, jumped up and ran to him,
he took him up in his arms and kissed
him, with a fathers pride in his first
born.
me too? Me too.'' cried a couple of
ringing voices. Seeing their brother
caressed, little Nell and Sue had drop
ped--the one her rag doll, theother her
pet kitten, and now stood at their IA
theirs knees, urgently demanding their
share Of attention.
The father stopped down and clasped
his children In common embrace,
while the mother looked on with happy
smile, to see their little arms go round
his neck in eager hugs of fondness,
and their tender lips and faces pressed
lovingly to his bearded cheek. 1t was
over, at last, and the happy father stood
erect.
Il must go, my DEAR" he said.
Good bye! Take care of the children"
And with that he was gone, radiant.
happy, and with no forshadowlng Of
evil.
John Best was Justice of the Peace
in the town where he lived, and his
judicial duties frequently took him
from home. So, although their cabin
was situated in the depths of theforest
and at distance from any other habi-
tation, his little family went about their
usual pursuits without feeling particu-
larly lonesome at his absence.
As the morning advanced, the noise
of a vehicle jolting over the rough
road, accompanied by voice dralwing
out g song in that particular cadence
which characterizes the melodies of
the Emerald Isle, broke in upon the
| quiet of their little world. 1t proved
to be a rickety old cart, drawn by
COW in quaint rope harness. The ami
NAL was driven-or, rather suffered to
go at her own gait--by a gray-haired
old man, who drew feebly at the stump
Of clay pipe which he held between
his struggling yellow teeth, occasional
| " removing it, to give utterance to the
refrain Of a song which probably car
ried him back to his younger days in
his home far over the sea.
The cart came to a standstill before
the door very much as a matter OF
course; for the old cow was accustomed
to stop at every house she came to.
"A neighborly greeting to you, Mr..
McCarty," called out the housewife
from the doorway.
The thop o the MORNING to yez,
Misthress Best, " returned the old man
heartily. Its foine day we're hay
in, this same
1T is, indeed. And if that's what
brings you this way, hope we may
have many Of them
It's to mill I'm going. We must
have bread for the ba-abies, Misthress
Best. The dame told me the meal was
getting low; 50 [ hove in the CHRIST an
hitched up old Betty, thinking belize
we'd not have 50 fair day again, in a
hurry"
But you're not going by without
neighborly chat and n mug of beer :
| You've made great stranger Of your
self lately. and must come in and tell
me all about Mrs McCsrty and Jamie.
l haven't heard how the little fellow is
getting on with that cruel cut"
Hes doing bravely. He shows HIM
self a McCarty," replied the old man,
proudly: and continued: But I'll come
in as We bid me. Sure it would not be
neighborly to refuse a dthrOp from q
friend like you, Misthress Best. An
if the truth must be told, it I'D be hard
for an ould man hike mesif to stand
ag'in the temptation o chat same lie
CANT brewing you're 50 noted for.
Indeed, the Oldham s mouth had been
watering for this very invitation, which
never failed to be extended; and he de-
seconded from the cart with surprising
agility for one so old, and addressed
himself to the good cheer set before
him by his hospitable hostess.
The domestic concerns Of the two
families were soon exhausted, and then
the conversation turned upon topics Of
a more general nature.
They de. say" declared the old man,
between the whiffs of his pipe, which
had succeeded Mrs. Best's beer, they
do say as thin bloody hathens Of In
iuns be up to their ould antics, off to
westward. All the Juniata folks are
drove cl'ane out out o house and home
entirely
20, Mr.. McCarty! It's dreadful,
isn't it?" exclaimed Mrs. Best, with a
woman's ready sympathy.
And faith it is that same, the bloody
spalpeens Sure, well never get shut
o them, at all, at all, without murdther-
ing every mothers son of them! " re-
Piled the old man, with singular COM
placency, considering the sanguinary
character of the proposed remedy.
And then they are so near. But,
surely you don't think there can be any
danger to us?
And Mrs. Best, her mothers breast
quick to take the alarm, involuntarily
put her arm about little Sue, as if to
protect her from some threatening dam
ger.
Now, ,oiH ye be 'asy?" exclaimed
the old man. AN who said as the
murdthering de'ils nd be prowling
around here? Badcess to the likes .
them. it's warm welcome they'd be
gettin' in these PARTS, Im-a-thlnk-
in
You mustn't think me over-fearful,
Mr.. McCarty, I'm a woman all alone
with her little ones, now Johns away.
It's thruant lad, iver away from
the house, that same joan" observed
Mr.. McCarty.
oh. but he makes up for:it, when
he is at home" cried the wife, eager III
the defence of her husband. There S
not n better husband or father
Surely. surely" interrupted the
old man in conciliatory tone. 1t
not cainsaying that he's the best by in
the country, I'd be dom as knows there
amt him ASH pull an even yoke wild
i'm for many good mile rouHd-be II
Il fsticuif or shindy"
Mrs. Best,took no exception to this
somewhat cqUivocal cncOmium consld-
cring the good intentions of the speak.