The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-19
The Two Rulhs.

AllO wv nUllkS.
Enoch Brown was the schoolmastcr of
the settlement.
He was tall, angular man, very stern
III his demeanor, exceedingly exemplary in
his conduct and of undoubted courage.
The schoolhouse was situated on a 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 rude wooden struc-
ture built of logs and rudely and umcom-
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, 1764-to be particu-
lar, on the Goth day of the month-hc
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-housc, busted the
desks and benches and put everything to
rights.
"Why you are early, Archie" lie 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
Oh his arm.
eyes, SIR" the boy answered timidly
but respectfully, 81 always like to get to
school early, but some of the boys don't
want to come to-day. l saw one Of them
in the woods and he said he was going to
play hockey"
"He must be bad boy, Archie" the
master SAID. "Who was he3n
"He asked me not to tell, and said I
wouldn't"
ut was not good promise to make, my
child" Master Brown replied, "but hay
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
curtseying 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,
''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.
Elias anybody seen Eden Taylor and
George Dunstan this morning 2" 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 lust
then they entered the school room to-
gether, looking very pale and thoroughly
frightened.
"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,
80 that Brooklyn boys are occasionally
found wandering in New Jersey in search
of Indians, but stories of Indian. massacrcs
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, bo vs." tho
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 noise at the door
attracted the attention of the teacher.
Suddenly it was thrown open and three
Indians stood Oh tile threshold They were
decorated with the war paint of their
tribe and their tomahawks glittered IN the
morning sun. They gared into the room
and Master Brown saw at a glance that
their GRAND was ali errand of death for
him and the helpless children under his
charge.
CONSERVATION seized the children, who
were too mach frightened even to try to
escape, But even If they had tried they
could not have succeeded, for the long
narrow windows out between two logs were
30 high from the floor that tho little ones
could not hove 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.
xiii me, torture mo If you will, Z" he
cried In imploring tones, 8"but spare the
lives of these innocent Children"
Pole facsSit cannot be as you wish, y
one OF the savage8 answered. owe came
all the way from the mountains where the
sun sets to send you where many of your
white brothers have gone by the Red Mans
hatchet. 4 Why should we spare the Young
~ bucks and the two kinds there looking out
{Sof their great, roundeyes9 If we did as
7 you bid lis, before the next moon is hung
In the sky the noise OF the white mans
gun would be heard In the mountains and