River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-06-19
SCARED.

The hardships and perils of life upol
the border wave were not all endured b,
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 cenvcnien
homes, know nothing Of
The adventure related in this simpl,
sketch occurred only a few months since
upon the Kansas frontier, during tn,
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 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 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 has horses and
wagon. Mrs. Hobson was in the house
boiling hominy, in kettle in the great
| fireplace. She needed a bucket of water,
aud started to ret it, when, as she reached
the door of the cabin. she saw a dozen In
dians 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 ox-cradle, and in her fright rushed
up ladder which stood in one corner OF
the house to IA low loft above.
| LAYING the baby on "a pile OF qnilts,
with desperate strength she pulled the
! ladder up after her, and shut >,own 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 ON
below.
In few minutes the savages 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 could lay hands on, and de
voured. Even In her terror Mrs. Hobson
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.
ePaddysl paddysr' he shouted, glee-
fully; "Iniun 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.
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 cs
cape occurred to her. What could she
do?
i As she glanced despairingly round the
low, dark loft, she saw in Il corner no lit
tie red chest Now came an answer t.
her question.
i "Henry's powder is In that chest. Il
could only throw some of it down into
the fire and frigten them. or burn then
little !"
II can! cant she thought the next
instant "If can get my hand into tho
hole in the chimney, can"
| Creeping softly to the chimney, sh'
nut up her hand and felt for the hole
This chimney was built of mud ant
sticks, and up in the loft the mud haC
dried. cracked and broken away in ont
place. Mi. Hobson had often declared
he must mend that hole, but he was al
ways SO busy 1t was not yet done, ant
now how glad Mrs. Hobson was that /
was still there.
She found that the hole was larg,
enough to admit her hand, and then sh'
was sure her plan would work, for sh'
knew that these Cheyennes were the yer
lest towards, easily scared at what the!
did not understand.
Very slowly and carefully she crept to
the chest. opened it with the creates
care. and took out the can of powder. IL
doing so she saw small tin mustard
) box, which contained some sulphur. Th'
very thing. she thought 81 don know
what they'll do together, but the sulphur
will nearly choke them TO death, In
sure, and I'll try It.
She poured part of the sulphur from
the box; then she poured into the DO,
. some powder, and shook the contents til
they were we'll mixed. With silen
PRAYER she Slipped softly back to tn
chimney, thrust the little box as far a
she could into the hole. and tuned il
In a second there was quick smothere'
, report. kissing noise, and the next in
slant, yelling, coughing, choking, scream
ING and tumbling over one another, tn
savages were all rushing out of doors.
Mrs. Hobson was almost stified hersel
by the horrible smell and smoke whic
came up through the cracks of the floor
but she dared not venture down unit
{ stiffness below had convinced her tina
her visitors were not likely to return.
Then she lifted the trap, pushed dow
the ladder. and went down. What
I scene of confusion met her eyesl Bee
7 clothes. pillows, pans, dishes and house
hold belongings were scattered over tn
: floor. and the explosion had thrown ashet
bIackened Goals and half roasted potatot
! all over the room
But the Indians had fled. Mr. Hobsc
I came home half an hour later, and foun
his wife restoring order among the hous'
2 hold goods. The superstitious Indians dl
: not venture to return Matte Dyer Britt
: in Youths Companion.
I Il