Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-05
A FOE ON THE ROOF.


Years ago, when large tracts of wild
land were sold for trine, many per-
sons made purchases in this region,
which, as 1t was abundantly populated
with wild animals, was a peculiarly
dangerous one.
Yet these hardy pioneers braved the
dangers Of the forest, and made for
themselves homes in the wilderness, de-
pending upon their trusty rifles for de-
fense.
MIR. John Burton, gentleman of
large cultivation and some means,
whose grandchildren are now people of
wealth and distinction in the same re-
gion, was one of these early venturers
into the wildwood, and many were the
perilOus adventures he could relate.
He came with his family in q heavy
wagon, and they camped in a tent until
a log shanty could be erected, or at
least until It could be rendered tit to
live in, for the family moved in before
it was finished.
The roof was made of hollow bass
wood logs split in halves, one half in
verted over the edges of two others, a
large hole being left to accommodate
the huge fireplace common to all log
cabins.
Over this hole MIR. Burton intended to
build stick-and-mud chimney, but as
it was desirable, before winter, to clear
away some of the thick growth of tim
Der which came almost up to the very
door of the cabin, the hole was left un-
covered fOrthe present, while Mr.. Bur-
ton and his sons applied themselves to
the clearing of an acre or two of
ground.
No Indians who were hostile then in
fected that neighborhood, but their
scarcely less savage compeers, wolves,
bears and panthers, or painters, as the
more plentiful than desirable, and often
kept the hearts of the bold settlers
thrilled with dread by their nightly
howls and fierce screams.
One night, after the weary family had
long been in bed, Mrs. Burton was
wakened by wild, sharp scream,
directly at the corner of the shanty in
which they slept.
She knew the sound, and, instantly
sitting up, she shook Mr.. Burton's
shoulders violently, crying out:
"John! Johnl wake, wake up, quick!
The wildcats are trying to get in! Wake,
John, waker'
Another wild scream outside, and a
clawing, scratching sound. gave proof
to her words, and reused Mr.. Burton
instantly.
He was very weary, but when man
has wife and children exposed to a
horrible death in a wild forest, it does
not take long to nerve his senses to des-
perate energy. ...... .....
"May Heaven help us!'' he cried.
"Listen, Jenny! They are climbing
up to the roof by the logs at the cornerl
They will come down the fireplace!
Jump, Jenny, and get my gun while 1
rouse the fireTn
They both bounded out OF bed, and
while Mrs. Burton ran to the hooks
where the guns rested, and woke the
boys, Mr.. Burton rushed to the fire.
place.
To counteract the exposed condition
of the shanty, a fire was kept up all
night, and, though it had burned low,
it was the work of but an instant to rake
open the glowing bed of Goals, and fling
on quantity of the pine-knots and
hghtwOod, Of which a good supply was
nightly piled beside the FIREPLACE
The pine-knots blazed up instantly,
and as the ruddy flame sprung to the
roof they could hear the heavy tread of
their terrible foes passing over the roof
to the opening above them.
BY this time, Mrs. Burton was at his
elbow with the gun, and the boys hav-
ing sprung out of bed, Henry, the oldest
son, stood ready also with his rifle, to
fire at their assailants.
Looking up with bated breath, they
saw, presently, terrible yellowish
head, and pair of eyes almost as
bright as the glowing Goals, pSering
down at them-another, and then an
other, snuffing, and smelling and growl-
ing "a sight to strike terror to the bold
est heart,
"Pile on the pine-knots, Jennyr
shouted Mr.. Burton. "Pile on the
wood, too! Burn their noses, orwe are
losti And you, Henry, keep your finger
on the trigger, ready to fire if they try
to leap down, and so win L"
Mrs. Burton and Willy, the younger
son kept the fire roaring and blazing,
while, in silent suspense, they watched
the hole in the roof.
Again and again the uglyyellow heads
peered over at them.
But the fame and smoke kept back
the intruders, and they would turn
away, scratching and snuffing for some
other point of attack, while the anxious
hearts below throbbed with apainful fear
lest they nIighttear up some of the in
verted logs of the roof.
But the logs were stout and we'll
placed, and resisted the terrible
scratching and clawing for over an hour.
Suddenly Mrs. Burton said:
John, the wood is beginning to
give out. What shall we do thenP"
81 never thought of thatr' cried
Mr.. Burton. "I don't know what we
will dor'
Father, wouldn't a great noise
scare themp' said Henry. "If we
were all to shout out as loud as we
could, mightn't it frighten 'em awayp'
81 don't know. / doubt it,
They've been among Indians, remem'
ber." said Mr.. Burton. "But we car
try it. Shout, now, like savages, every
one together! Now, thenr'
Cry out they did, but the only effect
upon their midnight visitors was tC
bring two or three hideOus heads ovel
the hole again, as If in curiosity.
1--WE can't stand this" said Mr.
Burton. And when the wood givei
out, we're losti I'm going to try
shooting. You fire, too, Henry, at the
very next head you see. Aim steady
and be quickm
With drawn breath, and forefngel
on the trigger, father and son waited
while the two other watchers, not les