The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-16
A LEAF FROM A LIFE.

an, somewhere between thirty-five and
fifty years of age. She came two days
in the week to help me about household
matters; sometimes sewing, sometimes
cleaning and sometimes cooking. She
always seemed thoughtful and careful,
and there was hardly anything about
housework which, TO use her own phrase,
..she could not turn her hand to-"
Beyond "yes'' or mo-" she seldom
ever ventured in conversation; and yet
she had IN intelligent face, and once,
when entered the room where she was
waiting for mo, she put down book
suddenly, which She had probably been
looking ut.
Have you ever read itP" / asked.
"Yes. long time ago, when was
younger" she said. signing, and she
never spoke of it again.
One day, my sister came to see me
from New York, bringing her little girl,
who is n remarkably beautiful child.
Mrs. Morrison started at sight Of little
Belle, and Il singular shadow passed over
her face. Then she turned away, and
saw her quickly wipe her eyes. Won
dered who the child reminded her of.
Little Isabel seemed attracted by the
silent, plain woman, with the scar on
her left cheek. She often left her toys
TO go up close to her and look up into
her eyes. 1t almost seemed Us if there
was q mute language between those
two.
'Did you ever see prettier child?"
| asked, as she sat stitching, with Isa-
bel prattling 10 her doll on her lap.
.'Pll show you," she said, quietly,
dropping her work; then, shy as ever,
hastily taking it up again.
'What were you going to show mep"
asked. You have made me curious.
and you must let me see it."
She smiled sadly, put her hand ncrv-
O,isly in the bosom of her dress, and
presently saw n picture-a little face
quite as lovely Us lSabers, with the Same
golden hair, the same sunny blue eyes.
"Why, who was this?" / asked, in
some surprise.
ut was my little GIRL" she said, her
eyes on her work as she stitched away.
at was taken for my father two years
before she-was before she died." she
added, with forced composure, ''or l
Should not have been so fortunate as to
possess Il likeness"
"And was she all you had?" asked.
ooh no; there were two more, boys
they were''-
She stopped for moment, drew a
long breath. and added, in trembling
voice, ..They were all killed"
"Killedr' l cried. "Who-how were
they killed?'
"It's long story" she replied. II
seldom speak of those days; tit pains
me-"
mo WONDER" l said; "and you shall
not talk about them now, though l con-
fess should like to hear your story.
And this charming little face! Were
none of them left?"
None"
Then, seeming to wish to crafty me,
she said, my husband had a friend in
Washington who procured him a posi-
ton in the Indian country, when my lit
tie Carrie was two years Old,-just the
age of this little one. We went out
there young, confident and strong.
"Aleck-that was my husbands name
began to make money. We expected
to come back rich. My twin boys
they were twins-wero born there. 1
loved the wild, free life, the more be-
cause Aleck grew so much better there;
for he was weakly before we went"
"How long did you live thereP'
asked, after long silence.
"Almost ten years. My boys were
brave little fellows, and the life we led
made them grow strong and handsome.
We were just thin
when the trouble
1.-THE Indiai:
treated by the off,
they would come Owe.
use abusive language. Aleck was yer"
quick-tempered. and knowing that the
| had no reason for insulting us, he tire:
| ened them.
| "They never forgot it. One d;
little boys went out on their PONIES
only a mile out-but they never came
back. Imean they never came alive.
They were brought back, both shot
through the heart.
at nearly crazed Aleck, for he
thought the world of those boys. / al-
most forgot my own misery in trying to
comfort him. He never attempted to
conceal his hatred of the savages after
that, and made enemies of all who came
near us. Some of them professed to be
friendly, and seemed sorry for what had
happened, but Aleck distrusted and
hated them all, and the end was his own
DEATH"
ado you mean that they killed him.
too?'
Eyes, they did. They surprised us
one night when the troops were away.
They killed him before my eyes"
She stopped sewing and dropped her
face in her hands. There sho sat, very
still but do not think she shed tear.
Don't tell me more if 1t pains you
So" said, unable to restrain my own
tears.
At last she lifted her head. 'It's all
over; they can't die again, you know"
and she smiled drearily.
"They took me with the child" she
continued, land they travelled all night
had heard how such things were done,
and managed to fill my pocket with
beans, and dropped them along the
way.
Little Carrie was twelve then, though
SO small of her age that they had put
her on the horse with me. The child
never spoke, only chung to me. Once
she asked me what / was dropping, and
explained to her that l should put her
down the first chance l had, and she
must find her way to the fort, and tell