Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-05-12
4 ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.

Robert Myron was the son of an English
tenant-farmer, who in the year 1S4S found his
family expenses increasing so much faster
than his income that il was absolutely neces-
sary to decrease the former, since the latter
could not be made larger.
In the hope Of being able to assist his faith
or in some way, Robert came 10 this country,
and, failing to find employment near the me-
tropolis, walked from town to town, until
when near Rochester, N. Y. he was hired as
farm.lRborer by Judge James E. Berry
During six years young Myron worked indus
triously, sending nearly all his earnings to his
parents, and then came the sad news that
both father and mother had died on the sam
day. After recovering from this shock, it was
but natural the young man should begin TO
think Of establishing home for himself, and
quite as natural that his love should 90 out to
the daughter of his employer who plainly
showed her preference for the young man
who had so devoted himself TO his parents.
But Judge Berry, while he recognized in Ny
ron an invaluable farm -iaborer, had lot the
same views regarding him as a son-in law that
Miss Bessie had, and the consequence was
that the lovers, finding it impossible to change
the fathers opinion, resolved TO elope, and
build for themselves q home in the far West
In 1853, with but few hundred dollars and
the judges curse, the young couple were mar
ried, and settled at Green Lake, Mich, where,
at the beginning of the year 1869, they were
in reasonably prosperous circumstances, with
two children to make glad their humble log
cabin. Their farm was situated several miles
from any settlement, but, although the In-
dians were rising against the whites in many
portions Of the state, neither Mr. Myron nor
his wife felt any uneasiness, because they be-
lieved they had succeeded in establishing the
most friendly relations with such of the ''for-
est children" as they came in contact with.
Therefore they were by no means alarmed
when one day five Indians stalked gravely in
TO the cabin Just as the MONDAY meal was
being served. 1t had ever been Mr.. Myron's
custom to invite such visitors to partake of
food, and on this, as on other occasions they
readily accepted the invitation but, greatly
to the surprise and uneasiness of their host,
instead of placing their rifles in one corner OF
the room, as usual, they held them between
their knees, the muzzles of the weapons show
ing Just above the edge of the table.
Mr.. Myron was too well versed in Indian
customs not to know that such action on the
part Of his guests meant mischief With the
view of showing them that he understood the
meaning of this breach of hospitality and in
the slight hope of intimidating them, he rose
from the table, took from the rack on the
wall his rifle and fowling-piece, and carefully
examined them to show that they we're loaded
Why the savages did not attack him then is
one of the inexplicable things in Indian war
fare. Instead of making any hostile demon
strations, they stalked gravely out of the
house, disappearing behind clump of bushes
For the moment Myron believed he had
wronged his guests, and that they had taken
umbrage at his movements when their inten-
tions were peaceful. Still holding his rifle in
his hand, he stepped TO the open door for the
purpose of ascertaining whether his guests
had really departed. When the farmer ap-
peared on the threshold the report of a rifle
was heard, and Myron fell, with dangerous
but not necessarily fatal wound in his side
Women who live on the border, where they
are constantly menaced by danger, learn early
in life that they must deny themselves wom-
ans privilege of fainting. When Myron fell,
his wife sprang to his defence rather than as
sistanoe. To close and barricade windows
and doors was but the work Of a moment
where everything was prepared for such oc-
/ casions, and then the heroic woman turned
her attention to her hubbard aud children.
The fathers wound bled but little, and, save
to staunch the blood, the faithful wife could
not aid him, except by piling the bedding in
such way that, in sitting posture, he could
face the closed door. The temporary safety
of the children was secured by fastening them
/ III lAO bSAAnAI Mh1Ao NAAp1 WOuAh 10 OhN hno
reach of any bullets their late visitors might
send and after she had perfected her plan OF
defense she began to assume the offensive.
By removing the mud that filled the erevicel
of the logs at the end of the house, loop-holeG
were formed and through these the husband
and wife began an assault upon their foes
With his rifle Myron shot one of the Indians
and at the same time his wife killed another
with the fowling- piece. By this time the foe
finding their intended victims more tenacious
of life than they had supposed, resorted tC
stratagem to accomplish the massacre. In the
field was cart half-flled with hay; in the
stable-yard stood yoke of oxen quietly eat
ing. To fasten the animals TO the cart ant
not expose themselves to the deadly aim oi
those in the house was a difficult task, but one
that the Indians finally accomplished. To go
the load of hay against the building, that /
might be set on fire, was still more difficult
and in this case unsuooessful for before /
could be done both husband and wife haG
shot an enemy, while the fifth and only re
naming one sought safety in preoipitat'
flight.
Each moment the conflict lasted the hus
band grew weaker, and medical aid could no
be procured without journey of one hun
! dred and eighty miles. To traverse this dis