The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-12
SAVED BY LIGHTNING.
6 IT LOOKS like shower, don't 1t,

~
ing behind the tree-tops to the West, In
one of the frontier settlements of Min
nesota.
A young man, hardy and strong, was
coming up from the " clearing" down by
the river, with the axe he had been
welding all through the day thrown
over his shoulder. These words from
his wife saluted his ears as he came near
and caused him to turn his head and
glance away to the southward, where u
great bank of sable clouds was piled
high against the evening sky.
" Yes, Ruth, it does look like it, he
answered. T" / thought heard it thun-
der just before l left work"
{" II looks as though it would he a
heavy one," she said, little appre-
hensively, for to tell the truth, she was
little cowardly in this respect.
10 this her husband made no reply,
but playfully pushing her aside from
the doorway, he entered the cabin, and
at once took down his rifle from the
hooks where it was hanging.
W hop hhNN gOh SNCll w iNGu-
ben ?" she said. Don't go out again
tonight, for supper is waiting now"
am not going" he answered quiet
ly. Il am only making sure that my
rifle is in good order - but still 1 may
have no occasion to use it before morn
ing"
The young wife turned pale.
You don't mean to say that the saw
ages are here again ?" she asked.
You may as well know the truth at
once, Ruth, - said here husband looking
her full in the face. "There are red
skins hanging about here, and 1 am
afraid they mean us mischief I've seen
no less than three at one time within
an hour, skulking along in the edge of
the wood. Their motions tell me that
we had better be on our guard tonight
were they friendly they would have
come openly to me or to the cabin"
" oh, Reuben what shall we do ~
and her eyes sought the bed, where a
rosy-cheeked boy of some two summers
was laying fast asleep.
"We must do the best we can. The
cabin is stout and strong, and 1 doubt
about their being able to break in should
they try it. But you must have lot of
courage, Ruth. May be it won't be
needed, and L hope it won't. Now let
us make sure that the cabin is all right,
and then we will have the supper which
you say is waiting"
He spoke cheerfully, but couldnot dis
pei the fears that filled her lreart, and
made her face as pale as death.
The heavy oaken shutters of the two
small windows were put in place and
made secure there, and then the door
was closed and barred, and large stick
of timber that was kept for that purpose
was placed against it. When the prepa-
rations had been completed Reuben an.
nounced that he was ready for his sup.
per. This was soon placed upon the
table, and it must be confessed that the
danger which hovered over them did not
in the least diminish his appetite. But
Ruth could hardly swallow mouthful
and she wondered how it was that hei
husband could. She was thinking only
of the danger that menaced them, and
listening for the slightest sound that
came from without.
The darkness increased, and the sound
of distant thunder broke upon their ears
Through chink in the shutter they
saw that the cloud in the South was fast
rising and spreading itself over the
heavens, Fastening on the fast-comine
darkness.
1--WE shall get good shower,n said
Reuben.
&C hope SO" answered his wife. III
there is it may keep the savages under
cover of the forest tonight
that ~
Both were silent, and holding their
breath to listen. In moment the sound
was repeated. 1t was a footstep with.
out. Ruth trembled with apprehen.
sion. Then another and another was
heard.
The redskins were about the cabin.
They have come" said Ruth, in q
low tone.
Yes" said Reuben. "Hark let II:
see what they mean to do"
A minute later, and the door was
shaken violently. Then savage with
out exclaimed, in broken English;
White man open door, Injins want
to come i'm