The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-25

plenty of fun while they looked after the
remains Of the feast, locking them away
in the great kitchen closet, and dancing
back and forth in the bright yellow blaze
of the fire. They laughed and joked
with each other over some tai.cied con-
quest, which was natural, not needing
that the old clock was rapidly telling off
the minutes toward one. t
ut was bright moonlight night, and
I stood at the window, still little anx-
ious as looked through the bars Tor
the window was grated halfway up.
$50 this is the only man in the house,
said Sally Stradc, lively little brunette.
DO you feel equal to the protection of
four helpless women?' she asked, coming
toward me, and looking, as I thought,
rather down upon me, because I was SO
small.
II dare say I blushed, and looked awk-
ward and annoyed, for Dorcas spoke up.
"'I'd as lief have Neddy as Jack; he's
brave in every inch of his little heart
she said, with a bright smile. Yes, Ned
will protect us and the family jewels.
BY the way, I believe I'll sleep with the
rent-book under my head, and if any
thief comes with "Your money or your
life" why, III give up-my money. I
suppose, like any other coward. Ned
wouldn't though. Ned would fight,
wouldn't you little brother?"
81 was very grateful for her defense,
and, being rash boy, was ready at al
most any, time for fight, but I did not
feel very brave just then.
"'Just look at the boy; he is actually
putting up the bar said Jane, as I lifted
the heavy oaken stick, that, like the win
dow-fastening,was seldom, if ever thought
of.
"'I like that,' responded Dorcas, and
was going to suggest it, only l feared it
might be thought silly in me-
I'm little while the lights were put
out and the household wrapped in slum-
Der. I remember I tried to keep awake,
but soon asleep.
"It was two o'clock in the morning, we
saw afterward, when some body shook
me, and sprang up in bed quite terri
fed.
"'Hush! don't speak!' said Dorcas, in
a low voice. Il think there's somebody
down stairs trying to get into the house.
"'Its that mani I made reply. Il
saw him out in the shadow last night
when the folks went away
"'Why didn't you tell me??'
"Oh, I was afraid it might frighten
you!'
I'm few moments I was dressed, and
we both crept down stairs, Dorcas carry
ing a lantern. ~s......... .,.-.... .........
"Thc noise could still be heard. We
opened the dining.room door. My sister
gave cry, made a spring, and almost
quicker than it takes me to write it, she
had the heavy sash upon a mans thigh,
and the great billet that we kept for re-
tanning it in its position when opened,
across the upper square of the window,
| keeping the sill fast. The man. outside
uttered cries of pain. It was impossible
for him to move or extricate himself in
any way.
az know who it u.s. said Dorcas.
| Hold your gun up
"I forgot to mention that brought
! down fathers old fowling- piece. There
wasn't an atom of powder in it, but it
| looked well.
"'Ill serve him so that he won't
forget u.s. said Dorcas, and going into
small side-room where I had depos-
tied an Amy working-room by the
way-she came out and literally hacked
off the lower half Of that unfortunate
leg
Every face was now the picture of hor-
rOr.
II couldn't have done that" said joe
"What plucky little wretch she was"
hot ko11
l shall never like Aunt Dorcas again !"
was Dora's exclamation, while her mother
shook her head in disapproval. ~ r..
"By the time the mans leg was off,"
continued the narrator, gravely, I" the
other girls were up, varying the entertain
ment with shrieks and EXPLANATIONS.
Dorcas took the leg up with some shreds
Of the pantaloons, and coolly tossed it out
Of another window; then she lifted the
sash, and let the prisoner go free.
Barbarousn = was The vote of the hor-
stricken audience. "Dora, don't ever
call her nice again" = Is ss S;,lss., (4sa
There's one thing I forgot to men
tion," said Mr.. Davis, ]" that may change
your opinion" y
They all looked the question no one
asked.
"The leg was-a wooden one!"
There fell moment of grave silence,
then, the flood of sympathy broken up,
there was a recess of mirth and recanta-
ton. IL a.I{t} ~. .'tlt-. T., -
"She knew the man, and knew he had
a wooden leg. He had been suspected of
dishonesty tor a long time, and Dorcas
had now established the proof.''
"She should have kept the wooden
Leg" said Joe, after tranquility had been
restOrad