The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-04-03
Selfrt Stury.
THE WARMING.

On road leading from Dover, N. h
over Rochester Hill, to spot known in
those days as Witch Trot, but now call
ed by the inhabitants thereof East Roch.
ester, maa by the name OF Silas Herod
had built cabin in the midst of small
clearing and set himself down with his
family to rough it as a pioneer.
His family consisted, beside himself,
of a wife and two email children, and
his gIandmother,a an old woman of nearly
80 years Of age. Though fourscore
years of age she was still quite active
and able to perform many household du-
ties.
One afternoon the settler started on q
visit to the settlement below, saying that
he would be back by nightfall
Old Mrs Herod, hearing the words of
caution which her grandson had address
ed to his wife, took her time TO tell all
the stories she could remember Of the
terrible deeds the savages had commit
ted.
Slowly the moments wore away and
at last it lacked not more than an hour
of sunset. The work about the cabin
had all been done up, and as it was not
vet time to prepare the evening meal che
bethought herself of what she should
do.
She suddenly remembered that her
husband had said something about = rip
in his frock, which he had exchanged for
another and hung upon wooden peg in
one corner OF the cabin; now was the
time for her to make it whole before he
would want to wear it again, and rising
from her seat she went to the spot where
II hung and reached up her hand to tske
it down. As she did so three drops OF
fresh blood fell from it upon her hand {;
a cry escaped her lips and she turned as
pale as death.
what is it, Susan p asked the old
lady from her corner
The frightened woman turned TO her
and showed her the three drops OF fresh
blood that lay upon her hand.
at is warning. Sussn," said the old
lady solennly. I've known such things
to happen before at Salem. A man once
went out hunting in the forest and bis
wife had just such a warning as this. He
never came back alive. The Indians
killed aud scalped him, ard people
thought that he had died at the very mo-
ment when the drops fell on her hand"
"And would you have me think that
harm has come to Silas ?" she asked in a
tone of terror.
81 don't know, but I am afraid it is q
warning" said the old lady with SOL
emn shake of her head.
II do not believe it; will not believe
it !" cried Susan; 'the blood came on my
hand in some natural way. Perhaps the
cat caught a mouse overhead and the
blood dropped down through the cracks
in the door,"
'.The cat has been lying there on my
bed for more than an hour" said the old
lady, determined to make things as bad
as she could "I'm sure hope it amt,
but I'm afraid that it is a warning to
u.s."
Susan seated herself at her work
again, but her trembling fingers would
not allow her to make much progress
At last she managed TO conclude and
hung the garment upon the peg from
which she had taken it. Then she wen,
to the door of the cabin and gazad long
and earnestly in the direction OF the for
est in which her husband had disappear
ed
Suddenly her gaze was attracted by an
object moving in the edge Of the forest
at first she thought il was her husband
returning, but another glance showed
that she was mistaken. and she saw tina,
it was q redskin prowling along the edge
OF the clearing as If for the purpose o.
observing what was going on about the
cabin.
With another glance OF apprehension
toward the forest she closed the dool
and barred it, and then TUNED 70 tn,
children who we're living upon the bed
The old dame saw the movement and sh,
Immediately exclaimed:
"Whst is 1t, Susans Are the redskin'
comipg3"