Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-05-14
THE WOMAN AND THF ROBBER.
BY IsADORE ROGERS.

BY IsADoRE ROGERS.
1t was wild, lonely night, and the
rain fell in torrents and was driven
fiercely against the strong walls of the
farm house that stood upon the prairie
a mile distant from any other hablta-
ton. Mrs. Martha Adams was alone
with her two children, boy of four
years and little girl one year of age.
She was a timid woman, and she had
urged her husband not to leave her
alone with the sum of money which he
had received by recent mail, but he
had ouieted her fears by assuring her
that no one knew it was in his posses
sion. and that it would be much safer
at home than with him; he would be
gone only one night, and be back before
any one knew of his absence. He
promised to engage neighbor's daught-
er to STAY with her, but the rain had set
in and the storm had become SO furl-
Gus before nightfall, that the girl did not
come.
Mrs. Adams had been obliged to leave
the house to attend to a few matters out
side, and when she returned and lit the
lamp in the cheerful sitting-room, she
looked around contentedly with the
thought that no harm could come
through such storm.
She sat down to her sewing while the
children played about the room, until
about eight clock in the evening, when
from some unknown cause she became
nervous and uneasy.
It was in vain that she assured her
self that her fears were groundless.
Who would be abroad in such
storm?" she asked herself again and
again. But it was of no use; tue UNI
pleasant apprehension only gained
strength in spite Of her, and she list
ened in terror to every gust Of wind
that swept around the house, and any
unusual sound that fell upon her ear
magnifed by her excited Imagination
to mean some nameless terror. FL
nally, despairing of fixing her mind
upon her work, she laid it aside, and
persuaded the elder child to lie down
upon the sofa which stood In the room,
and taking the little one in her arms
she WAS about to undress it, when, pro-
truding from under the table, which
was covered with cloth, she saw
mans boots.
For a moment she thought she would
fall from her chair in terror; but at the
thought of her children, she reused
herself to the comprehension of her
situation. -.-4 t.
"What should she do?" To call for
help would De of as little avail as though
che were In mid ocean. He had como
for nothing less than robbery, and per
haps would not stop at murder if need
full to accomplish his purpose. =
She thought of taking the children
and escaping from the house, but per
haps there were more of them stationed
outside, and she might only increase
her danger, Alas! what could she do?
The sweat stood in great drops on her
forehead. as she thought how utterly
helpless she was, and felt how COM
pletety she and her children were in the
power of precious robber.
A dozen plans had Eeen suggested to
her mind only to be discarded, and she
finally mastered her terror enough to
child in its night clothes, and began to
rock it to sleep, to the music of that
beautiful and pathetic song, Rock me
to sleep mother"
Her voice was peculiarly sweet and
musical, and the termor which the Oc-
casion gave it only added to its beauty
and pathos.
Then she sang "Do they miss me at
homer" with all the inspiration of an
early hope, and never before had her
voice sounded more sweetly. Other
songs followed, until the child was slaep-
ing soundly, and then placing him be-
side the other, she sank upon her knees
beside the chair which she had Just va
Gated; with her eyes fixed upon the
table, she prayed fervantly: Ef
'Dear heavenly father, while others
are continually offering up prayers for
themselves, their families and the
rulers of the nation, [ kneel tonight to
thank thee for having already blessed
me, and my children, husband and
home; and since thou has left nothing
for me to ask for myself. | pray thee to
grant my petition In favor of class
who are most in need of thy redeeming
power, but for whom l have never yet
heard a prayer offered from the lips of
any human being. mean the robbers
that infest our land!
Thou knowest, o! Father, that often
and often they have been driven into
these wicked ways through the harsh
ness and injustice of their fellow-men,
and none but the father above will ever
know by what trials and temptations
they nave been led, step by step, from