Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-13
Scared.

The hardships and perils OF life upon
the border 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, dur.
ing the late troubles with the Cheyenne
Indians.
Mr.. Hobson, a former resident of
Indiana, had met with business re.
verses in consequence of which he de-
termincd to begin life anew in the far
West. He gathered what little house
hold property was left to him, and in
wagon drawn by two horses journeyed
to his new home.
He selected land far from any rail-
road or settlement, because such land
was cheaper, and having built himself
log cabin, he managed in much pri-
yation to live through the first year.
The Indian troubles began during
the second year, and caused the family
a good deal of anxiety. They were not
AoWONCAS 0hA hAu DC6uu W
feel almost hungry again. One day
Mr.. Hobson had gone to his nearest
neighbours, a distance of several miles,
with his horses and wagon. Mrs. Hob
son was in the house boiling hominy
in kettle in the great fireplace. She
needed o bucket of water, and started
to get it, when, as she reached the door
of the cabin, she saw dozen Indians
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 q low loft above.
Laying the baby on pile of quilts,
with desperate strength she pulled the
ladder up after her, and shut down the
trap-door. Then she crouched in a
corner 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 pillows on the floor and sat upon
them, and appeared particularly de-
lighted with the feather-bed, which was
the pride of Mrs. Hobson's heart.
Through..a crack in the floor, which
was also the ceiling in 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 SGT upon the hearth, dipped
out into pans, pots. crooks, gourds,
anything they could lay hands on, and
devoured. Even in her terror, Mrs.
Hobson wondered what their threats
were made of that they could swallow
it so scalding hot.
Itappeared to sharpen their appetites,
for they began to search for more food.
Presently one of them found sack of
potatoes under q cupboard.
Paddys! paddys!" he shouted,
gleefully "Ipjun roast paddys make
big fire, get big roast. Big heap
paddysv'
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
returned to the fireplace, and poured
the potatoes down in a 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, a
way of escape occurred to her. What
could she do?"
As she glanced despairingly round
the low, dark loft, she saw in corner
little red chest. Now came an answer
to her question.
Henry's powder is in that chest.
If could only throw some Of it down
into the fire and brighten them, or burn
them little 4"
II cant I can |" she thoug& the
next instant. eff I can get my hand
into the hole in the chimney. I can"
Creeping softly to the chimney, she
put up her hand and felt for the hole.
The chimney was built of mud and
sticks, and up in the loft the mud had
dried, cracked and broken away in one
place. Mr.. Hobson had often declared
lie must mend that hole, but he was al
ways 80 busy it was not yet done, and
now how glad Mrs. Hobson was that it
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 these Cheyennes were the
veriest 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 small tin mus
tard-box, which contained some sui
phur. 1.-The very thing !" she thought.
81 don't know what they II do together.
but the sulphur will nearly choke them
to death, I'm sure, and I'll try it,"
She poured part of the sulphur from
the box then she poured in the box
some powder, and shook the contents
till thew we're we'll mixed. With 81