Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1879-10-02
TNE TWO RUTHs

OIL the settlement.
He was tall, angular man, very
stern in his meanor, exceedingly ex
emplary in his conduct and of un
doubted courage.
The schoolhouse was situated on a
little knoll. ir the woods, and o. purl-
ing brook wound its way lazily
through the meadows which had been
%eared along its banks b. the set;
Tiers. Itswas rude wooden struc-
iture built of lops and rudely and an
comfortably furnished.
Archie Mccullough, a bright faced
boy, quick and intelligent, was the
youngest child in the school, and
Master Browns favorite. One beau
tifnl morning in summer-it was in
July, l764-to be particular, 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 to 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 tim
idly but respectfully. Z" I always like
to get to school early, but some Of
the boys don't want to come to-day
$: W 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 he?
"He asked me not to tell, and |
said wouldn't"
at was not a good promise to
make. nv chila55as Master Brown re-
piled, "but having made it you must
keep it. tits as bad to break your
word as to tell lie.
The child hung down his head and
was silent. Presently he looked up
and running to the door, said ;,
Here come the two Ruths"
Two little girls entered. Ruth
Hall and Ruth Hart by name, smil
ing at Archie and curtseying to Mas
ter 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
f.miliar manner in which their names
We're occupied by their companions,
the 1.-TWO Ruths." Other children
followed coming in one by one
and tardy, until nine had as
selnbled. With the exception oil
the two Ruths all were boys, and
none of them seemed anxious to be-
gin the duties Of the day.
Has anybody seen Ed. Taylor
and George Dunstnn this morning.
the master asked.
Eden was the biggest boy in the
school, being about fifteen years Of
age, and George was a year or two
younger. Nobody had seen either Of
them. but Just then they entered the
school room together. looking very
pale and thoroughly frightened.
We saw Indians in the bushes,
Eden exclaimed, gasl ing for breath,
and George corroborated the alarm
ing news. Dime novels were not pub
li>hed at that day as at this to excite
the imagination of children, so that
Brooklyn boys are occasionally found
wandering in New Jersey in search
of Indians, but stories Of Indian
massacres were often told and the
limiting grounds Of the shawanese
savages in the Mitrochtinny noun
tains were near enough to Enoct
Browns school for those relentless
foes the whites to put in appear
ance at any time.
"You must be mistaken, boys" the
master argued, remembering tina
similar stories had often been told by
alarmed inhabitants which proved IL
the end TO be without foundation
Take your books and we will procee'
with the lessons.
A short prayer was made by Mas
ter Brown and then the work of tn
day began. But scarcely were tn
opening exercises finished when
noise at the door attracted the atten
tion of ;he teacher. Suddenly it va
thrown open and three Indians stoo
on the Threshold. They were doc'
rated with the war paint of thel
tribe and their towahawks glittere
in the morning sun. They glare
into the room and Master Brown sa
at glance that their errand was a
errand of death for him and I'll
helpless children under his charge.
CONSERVATION seized the childre
who were too much frightened eve
to try to escape. But even if the
had tried they could not have s'l
ceeded, for the long narrow windo1
cut between two logs were so his