Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-25
1ar puutg Readers.
A BRAVE GIRL

pralrles OF Kansas that man lay tossing
on his bed, and moaning with pain,
while on the opposite side of the room
was his wife alternately shaking with
ague and burning with fever. -.....
Shivering with cold that no fire can
warm, she totters over to her husbands
bedside, but at the first glance at his feat
ures she utters a cry of alarm, for great
change has come over him, and she knows
that his disease is progressing.
He is worse; aye, much worse; and as
she listens to his incoherent mutterings,
and short breathing, she fears that he may
even be dying .a...
The clock on the mantel has asst struck
ten. 1t is dark, cold night, and her
heart sinks within her, as in imagination
she traces the long, dreary path leading
to the nearest neighbors. Full two miles
is it to Ezra Johnson's. A mile across
the prairie, half a mile through the tim
Der, then across the rickety bridge, and
Ezra Johnson's log hut is seen on the
bluff beyond. A mile farther on lives a
doctor. ..
The poor wife exhausted with the eff
fort Of walking across the room, knows
full we'll that it would be useless for her
to attempt to 60 for a physician But
help must be had or her husband cannot
live. There is but one other person in
the house, and that frail, delicate girl of
twelve. She too is almost sick from ia
tigue and anxiety, and has fallen asleep
while watching at her fathers bedside.
Her mother shudders to think of sending
her out in the darkness, for it is a wild
country, bands of Indians still prowl
about, and the bowling of wolves is to
them no unusual sound. But the risk
must be run, for without medical aid she
knows he must die.
So awakening her daughter, Mrs. Ed
wards explained to her the alarming
symptoms of her father, and that ply
sician must be had as soon as possible.
To wait until morning, she dared not,
fol- fear it would be too late eff you
can only find your way, Mary, to Ezra
Johnson's it will be all that is necessary,
for he will go over to the Doctors for
you; and now, my darling, have you
courage to gO?'
Oh, yes, mother" replied the child,
anything to save father" SO wrapping
her shawl around her, and tying on her
worsted hood, she boldly opened the door
and went out into the darkness, to en-
counter all Of the horrors that might
await her there She knew that she must
go directly north. Fortunately there were
few stars to be seen, and among them
the North St0r. So, taking that for her
guide, she walked briskly on.
After being out few moments her eyes
became accustomed to the darkness, and
she could see much better than at first
She could find her way across the prairie
very easily, but in the timber she knew it
would be much darker, and the path far
more difficult to keep
The TALL dark trees soon appeared to
her view.
Naturally timid and nervous, it was
only by thinking of her sick and suffer
ing father that she could muster courage
to go on. II must go if [ de-" she said
to herself; so breathing a prayer to God
for guidance and projection, she walked
Oh into the dense blackness. Her guiding
star could no longer be seen, and she was
obliged almost to feel her way in order to
keep her path. The cracking of twig
or the rustling of the leaves would cause
her heart to beat with terror, and at every
glazing eyes of a wolf, or to hear the MUIR
derous war whoop Of the Indian.
Her imagination I'D worked up every
conceivable horror, and she was about half
way through the woods when she heard
voices approaching. She stopped to lis
ten as the sounds grew more distinct;
then grew almost paralyzed with terror as
she distinguished sounds Of drunken rev
elry, and knew the voices belonged to a
neighboring tribe of Indians. They were
rapidly approaching, and their demoniac
yells and savage WhOoping were sufficient
to strike terror in the heart Of far older
and more fearless person than this delicate
child
But the suffering face of her father arose
before her, aud she neither screamed or
tainted, but stepping one side, she
crouched behind a tree On they came :;
the most of them on horseback, and all
Of them wild with fre-Water. 1t would
have Jared hard with our little heroine
had they discovered her; but fortunately
here presence was never suspected, and
she, after feeling sure that they had all
passed by, emerged from her hiding place
and proceeded on her journey. Surely
her prayer for guidance was answered, for
she soon found herself outside the timber
with the rickety wooden bridge dimly Wis
IDLE just before her.
a heavenly hand had led her through
the darkness and dangers, and with
thankful heart she hurried on
She had crossed the bridge, and was be-
ginning to breathe freely once more, when
she was sure she heard footsteps behind
her. Turning, she distinctly saw only
short distance back, an animal about the
size of wolf, following her.