Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-12-05
THINK OF IT. HAMMER"

very coniding old man and very it
nocent old lady. They had passed away
tive-sixths of their lives hidden away
behind the hills of Vermont, and weie
going 10 Western Michigan on visit
to their son. After little skirmish ng
around, the old gentleman pitched into
me abt u the "croIs, sile, and when |
found how innocent he was, gave him
all the information could All at once,
rs he rode along. the wife caught his
arm and exclaimed
Look out, Samuel, or you'll be for
getting that place where they fit !"
The old man explained lie said
that young man, who came down
from Canada with them, told him 10
look out for the battle field of Brad
dock 5 defeat as soon as lie left Detroit.
WAS going TO reply that the young
man was an Internal liar, but the old
lady seemed to have set her heart on
seeing that spot, and the old man was
so anxious that couldn't bear TO disap
point them. When We got down into
the woods, | pointed out the "battle
field, and they put their heads out OF
the windows and took in the scene.
''Think OF it, Hammer" exclaimed the
Old man. as he drew in his head; think
o! them lnjr n creeping through them
woods and shooting Mr. Braddock
down dead
My soul :" replied the old lady,
seemingly overcome ut the idea, and she
kept her eyes on the woods until |
thought she would twist her neck Off
We got along all right for about five
miles more, and the old man wanted to
know if we weren't down pretty rear
the spot where Tecumseh fell
"Whrre p ! yelled, aud he said that
the same young man had informed him
that the railroad ran close 10 the identi-
cal spot VIII +, the great Indian warrior
fell and slept
It'll he powerful favor 10 me an
Samuel if veil point out the spot, urg-
ed the old lady, placing her hand OH my
arm.
How could I 20 back on what the
brazen young man had said. The old
folks had made up their minds 10 SEQ
the spot, and if didn't show it to them
they might worry for weeks, and they
might think the young man had lied,
or that | wasn't posted in the historic
spots of my own State. Lor forgive
me, but a mile further on pointed out
hill and said
Behold the last resting place of the
great Tecumseh."
"Think of it, lIanncr-just think OF
it - exclaimed the old man; right there
is where they got him !!
mercy ! but it don, seem possible
she calculated, and she had TO get out
her snuff box before she could recover
from the shock.
The old gentleman said he had par.
ticular interest in seeing the spot, be
cause he knew the man who bad killed
Tecumseh-used to live right by him.
"Ie must have been an awful lnjnn!'
broke in the old lady. "ior the young
man said he didn't die till they had cut
off his head, and feet, and hands, and
blowed the body up with barrel OF
powder !!
! wanted to get away after that, fear
ing that something worse was coming,
but she insisted upon my taking pinch
of snnif, and so | kept my seat. We
were Just beyond Brighton, when tho
old man came at me like steamboat,
with
"Now, then how fur is it TO the spot
where they found the Babes in tho
Woods p
] wanted to get ont Of it, but how
could /? That young man had delib-
crately lied to those nice folks, and |
hadn't the moral courage TO tell them
So and thus had 10 make liar of my
self. It's awful to deceive any one, es-
pecially good old man and a Fat and
motherly old lady, on their way to the
tomb.
"Thats-yes-that's the spot, ] said
as we came to the dark piece Of woods.
"Think O that Hammer = he said, his
head out OF the window. Think OF
them babies being found in there
"Yes, it was fearful :" she replied;
"seems as if | could almost see them
stubbing about in there now!'
There was another historic spot OF
which the young man had told them,
but they bad forgotten il, and ] never
was more thankful. They kept quiet
until the brakeman yelled ou, Lansing,
and then the old man bobbed up and
exclaimed
"Lansing-Lansing- why, here's
where they hung Tom Collins, amt it,
lie explained that Tom Collins, q
Chicago desperate, had murdered elev.
en- old women and drank their blood
for the liver complaint, aud after being
hunted for miles and miles, had at
length been captured at Lansing. cut 10
pieces by the infuriated populace, and
then left hanging to tree.
! bad to pc.nt out the tree. II wasa
tree near the depot, and the tail OF
kite had lod ged in It's branches
There's where they hung him, Han
ner said tn, old man stretching bis
neck
"And there's some o his shirt left
vet :" exclaimed the old lady, and az |
backed ont of the car, the good old man
was rernarking that be was going 10
ask the train boy if be didn't have the
pamphlet Life of Tom Collins, so that
they could get further particulars.