The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-08-21
A MCther'S llCrOisYn.

A MCther'S llCrOisln.
Among the early settlers of Kentucky was
me Jonathan Wells, who located himself in
= pleasant valley, not far from the Ohio rv-
"r, where, for couple Of years, he remained
IN peaceful quiet, unmoiested by the Iu-
hians.
One pleasant day in early autumn he set
III for the nearest settlement, leaving his
wife aud three year old daughter at home,
be back 10y dark, and charging her if he was
not, to secure the house and open the door
to no one but himself.
III the afternoon Of that day Mrs Wells
who, although a small delicate woman,
possessed the true spirit of border heroine
happened to be doing something few
rods from her dwelling, when, CHANGING to
look towards the woods surrounding the
clearing, she csried couple of savages cau-
liouslv recnnnotering the place. She thOp
of her husband away, her helpless little
most deIcnceless situation, and te.t ready
sink with despair; but she called Oh Gnd
.rr aid, uervcd herself with firm resolve
and walked quietly uack to the dwelling
with The air and manner Of one who Rad
zen nothing tn occasion the slightest alarm.
M sooner was she in the house however,
ut of sigit Of the Indians, than, catching
lp her lit 10 girl, she pressed her 10 her
neart with maternal anguish aud prayed
jod to preserve her harmless, even though
er own life should be sacrificed.
"What for mamma say So? inquired the
little curly haired pet, looking up into her
mothers fearful face with childish wonder
"You must keep sill, Ella, and not make
he least noise, because there are wicked In
,laus about, and want to hide you so they
mt find you"
"Oh, mamma -
"llush, now you must be a good little
girl, and not cry, and not even speak to me,
no matter what you hear"
"Bul | 'iraid Indian, mamma |"
"Then you must keep still ahd they won't
lind YOU"
Where papa?"
"Oh, would To God he were here" cried
the puur wife and mother, with q wild burst
/ If emnrinn.
She then hastened 70 hide the child in
he straw of the bed, strongly lmpressing.lt
with the idea that its own constant silence,
mi nothing else, could save it from the
tauds oi ;he wicked Indians. This done
,ne turned to the window that booked in the
/ lircction where she had seen the Indians
/ aud perceived four OF them leisurriy, but
-omrwhat cautiously, approaching the
| house. What was she To do? leave the
door open and let them enter, trying her
own praccfal inltntons to effect a like re-
suit in them, or close aud bar the house and
make the best wurlke defense she could.
For few moments she was undecided
witch course tn pursue, for there were about
equally strong arguments in favor of either
should she let them in peacefully treat then
]
might possibly go away without doing hei
any harm; or shouli they even kill her, oi
take her prisoner, seeing no one else about
they might overlook her child, and let i
thus esca e; aud such was her mnterna
love that she would have brcn willing I,
sacrifice herself to insure the safety Of he
oilsping. On the other hand, should sh,
lar up the dor and windows, and maxi
use Of the gun and axe at her commaud
perhaps she could keep them out altngeIhe
TIL such time as her returning husbun,
should become aTirised of the seige, VIII,
m ght then 90 and Lriug fproe to the res
cue. Recullerting her husbands injunction
whlr arguing with herself, she decided up
on the latter course, and in less than h min
ute ai'er that the dwelling was 40 secur
against her enemies as il was possible io
her To make il. She then took down gun
that was resting on some hooks oyerhea,
and hastily examined 1t. She knew hoy
T. load and fire II, even though she nigh
not be abe to sight it well. The piece sh
found already loaded, and remembers
having heard ner husband say he had pu
in large charge OF buclishot, but, to max
doubly sure, she hostily put in some nor
which she found in a leather pouch. II
had taken his iavoriie ride with him, bu
this piece had been left and large horn q
powder; with this in her hands and tn
certainty that she had plenty of ammuni
ton, she ielt slightly relieved from the sen
saton Of almost utter helplessnoss whIcl
she had a minute before experienced.
She had put in some extra shot, as W
have said, and secured them with a high
wad, aud was in the act Of repriming tn
piece with hands that tremblcd so as to spill
snme Of the powder ON the flour, when
loud rap sounded an the door as if it wer
struck with tonahuwk
"Who is there, aud what do you want?
demanded Mrs. Wells, bracng her ncrv,
'rthe severe trial which she felt was no'
at hand.
Me Iuiun, come say how do replied
voice in brpken English.
every we'll, you eau say that where yo
are"
"squaw open, Iujun want come in sa