Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-07-16
The Two Ruths.

the settlement.
He was tall, angular man, very stern
in his demeanor, exceedingly exemplary il
his conduct and of undOubted courage
The SchoOlhouse was situated on little
knoll in the woods, and a purling brook
wound its way lazily through the meadows
which had been cleared along its banks by
the settlers. 1t was a rude wooden struc.
ture built of logs and rudely and uncom-
fortably furnished.
Archie Mccullough, bright faced boy.
quick and intelligent, was the youngest
child in the school, and Master Browns
favorite. One beautiful morning in sum
merit was in July, l76+-to be particu-
lar, on the Goth day of the month-he
came into the school-room beaming all over
with smiles and happy as the day was long.
Master Brown had already arrived, had
swept out the schOol-house, busted the
desks and benches and put everything tC
rights.
"Why YOU are early, Archie" he said
to the child, with smile, as the young
lad entered with his broad brimmed straw
hat in his hand and his tiny dinner basket
on his arm.
Yes, sir, the boy answered timidly
but respectfully, - | always like to get to
school early, but some of the boys don't
want to come to-day. | saw sne of them
in the woods and he said he was going to
play hockey"
He must be 4 bad boy, Archie, the
master SAID. 'Who was hel'
He asked me not to tell, and | said |
wouldn't"
1t was not a good promise to make, my
child" Master Brown replied, - but hav-
ing made it you must keep it. 1t is as bad
to break your word as TO tell a lie
The child hung down his head and was
silent. Presently he looked up and run
ming to the door, said:
Here comes the two Ruths."
Two little girls entered, Ruth Hall and
Ruth Hart by name. smiling at Archie and
curiseying to Master Brown as they came
into the door. They were tiny things,
about the same age both of them. and
might have been mistaken for twins but
for the familiar manner in which their
names were occupied by their companions,
1.-THE two Ruths." Other children followed
coming in one by one and tardy, until nine
had assembled. With the exception of
the two Ruths all were boys, and none of
them seemed anxious to begin the duties of
the day.
''Has anybody seen Eden Taylor and
George Dunstan this morning the mas
ter asked.
Eden was the biggest boy in the school,
being about fifteen years of age, and
George was year or two younger. No
body had seen either of them, but just
then they entered the school room to-
gether, looking very pale and thoroughly
frightened.
1--WE saw Indians in the bushes, Eden
exclaimed, gasping for breath, and George
corroborated the alarming news. Dime
novels were not published at that day as at
this to excite the imagination of children,
so that Brook yn boys are occasionally
found wandering in New Jersey in search
OF Indians, but stories of Indian maSsacres
were often told and the hunting grounds of
the Shawanese savages in the kitrochtinny
mountains were near enough TO Enoch
Browns school for those relentless foes Of
the whites to put in an appearance at any
time.
''You must be mistaken, bOys," the
master argued, remembering that similar
stories had often been told by alarmed in
habitants which proved in the end to be
without foundation. Take your books and
we will proceed with the lessons.
A short prayer was made by Master
Brown and then the work of the day be
gan. But scarcely were the opening eX-
ercises finished when a noise at the door
attracted the attention of the teacher.
Suddenly it was thrown open and three
Indians stood on the threshold. They were
decorated with the war paint of their
tribe and their tOmahawks glittered in the
sun. They glared into the room
and Master Brown saw at a glance that
their errand was an errand of death for
him and the helpless children under his
charge.
CONSERVATION seized the children, who
were too mech frightened even to try to
escape. But even if they had tried they
could not have succeeded, for the long
narrow windows cut between two logs were
so high from the floor that the little ones
could not have reached them. Hoping to
save their lives even at the sacrifice of his
own, Master Brown stepped to the door to
TRIP and avert the impending blow.
"Kill me, torture me if you will, he
cried in imploring tones, 'but spare the
lives of these innocent children.
'.Pale face, it cannot be as you wish, y
one of the savagcs answered I'VE came
all the way from the mountains where the
sun sets to send you where many of your
white brothers have gone Dy the Red Mans
hatchet. Why should we spare the young
bucks and the two kinds there looking out
of their great, round eyes. If we did as
Won bid us. before the next moon is hung
i'm the sky the noise of the white man 5
g1In would be heard in the mountains and
there would be tongues to tell who 1t was
that put the schOOlmaster to DEATH No,
we must kill all or none.
When this speech was finished the In
dian sprang into the room while the others
outside to guard the door and
give timely notice to the tiend within IN
case they were discovered. The contest
with the schoolmaster was soon decided.
The Indian fiercely attacked him with his
tomahawk and as Master Brown had moth
ing with which to defend himself but his
hands the battle was very unequal one.
He fought bravely, however, and it was
not until both his hands were disabled and