Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-19
SCARED.


the border wave were not all endured by
our forefathers. Even now upon the re-
mote frontier there are people living
through hours OF privation and terror,
which we, in our safe and convenient
homes, know nothing Of.
The adventure related in this simple
sketch occurred only few months since,
upon the Kansas frontier, during the
late troubles with the Cheyenne Indians.
Mr.. HUDSON, former resident Of In
diana, had met with business reverses,
in consequence of which he determined
to begin life anew in the far west. He
gathered what little household property
was left to him, and in a wagon drawn
by two horses journeyed to his new
home.
He selected land far from any railroad
or settlement because such land was
cheaper, and having built himaelf a log
cabin, he managed in much privatlon to
live through the first year.
The Indian troubles began during the
second year, and caused the family good
deal of anxiety. They were not modest
ed, however, and had begun to feel almost
easy again. One day Mr. Hobson had
gone to his nearest neighbours, distance
of several miles, with his horses and
wagon. Mrs. Hobson was in the house
boiling hominy, in a Kettle in the great
fireplace. She needed a bucket of water,
aud started to get it, when, as she reached
the door Of the cabin. she saw dozen In
dams coming directly to the house.
They did not see her. Without wait
ing to fasten the door, she caught her
baby, an infant of eight months, from its
low box-cradle, and in her fright rushed
up ladder which stood in one corner OF
the house to a low loft above.
| Laying the baby On pile of qnilts,
with desperate strength she pulled the
ladder up after her, and shut down the
| trap-door. Then she crouched in cor
ner by the chimney with her babe in her
arms.
The savages entered the lower room,
and commenced searching and plumber
ing in great glee.
They snatched the clean, blue wooden
coverlets and blankets from the beds and
wrapped themselves in them, threw the
the pillows on the floor and sat upon
them, and appeared particularly delight
| ed with the feather-bed, which was the
pride of Mrs. Hobson's heart
Through crack in the floor, which
was also the ceiling of the lower room
Mrs. Hobson watched them. Every in.
slant she feared their noisy shouts would
wake the baby; but fortunately the child
was undisturbed by the revel going or
below.
In few minutes the savagcs discov
cred the kettle Of hominy, and in great
glee it was set upon the hearth, dipped
out into pans, pots, crooks, gourds, any
thing they csuld lay hands on, and de
voured. Even in her terror Mrs. HobsoI
wondered what their Threats were make
of that they could swallow it so scalding
hot. :
1t appeared to sharpen their appetites
for they began to search for more food
Presently one of them found a sack Of
potatoes under cupboard. ~
"PaddYsl paddysr' he shouted, glee
fully; 'Injun roast paddys; make big
fire, get big roast. Big heap paddy"
Mrs. Hobson knew that many of the
Indians called Irish potatoes ''paddys,'
so; though she could not see the sack, she
knew what they had found. They re.
turned to the fireplace, and poured the
potatoes down in heap ON the floor
Then they drew the Goals and ashes upon
one side, and soon had nearly half
bushel of the potatoes roasting in the
ashes. a-
They sat down to wait for their ex
pected feast, and as Mrs. Hobson peeped
through the crack in the floor at them
so dirty, ugly and repulsive, way of es
cape occurred to her What could she
do2
As she glanced despairingly round the
low, dark loft, she saw in corner no lit
tie red chest. Now came an answer to
her question. sg r4
"Henry's powder is in that chest. II
I could only throw some of it down into
the fire and frigten them, or burn them
a litter
81 can! cant" she thought the next
instant. eff l can get my hand into the
hole in the chimney, / cam
Creeping softly to the chimney, she
put up her hand and felt for the hole
This chimney was built Of mud and
sticks, and up in the loft the mud had
dried, cracked and broken away in one
place. MI. Hobson had often declared
he must mend that hole, but he was al
ways so busy 1t was not yet done, and
now how glad Mrs. Hobson was that II
was still there.
She found that the hole was large
enough to admit her hand, and then she
was sure her plan would work, for she
knew that these Cheyennes were the YER
lest towards, easily scared at what they
did not understand.
Very slowly and carefully she crept to
the chest, opened it with the greatest
care, and took out the can of powder. In
doing SO she saw a small tin mustard
box, which contained some sulphur. The
very thing! she thought. 81 don know
what they'll do together, but the sulphur
will nearly choke them to death, I'm
sure, and I'LL try it, sa I'd
She poured part of the sulphur from
the box; then she poured into the box
some powder, and shook the contents till
they were we'll mixed. With q silent
prayer she slipped softly back to the
chimney, thrust the little box as far as
she could into the hole, and tarned it.
In second there was q quick smothered
report, q kissing noise, and the. next in
slant, yelling, coughing, choking, scream
ing and tumbling over one another, the
savages were all rushing out ofdoors. = =
Mrs. Hobson was almost stifed herself
by the horrible smell and smoke which
came up through the cracks of the floor,
but she dared not venture down until
stiffness below had convinced her that
her visitors were not likely to return.
Then she lifted the trap, pushed down