The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-10
Th;. vas Matte. She was a fine


! Bradley home and heart. She was
his alI-his wife had been dead five
years. He turned toward her aud
In a firm but mild tone said:
Matte, you must conduct Mr..
Petsrs to the rendezvous immediate
~. then return and We will call at
tie parsonage to cheer his family
No time is To he lost. The blood
thirsty fiends are upon the track ;
they have scented their prey and
! will not rest until they have secured
him. They may return much SOON
er than we expect. SO haste, daugh-
ter. and God bless you'll"
This was not the first time that
Matte had been called upon to per-
form such duty. She had conduct
ed several Union men who had been
hunted from their homes and sought
shelter with her father, to the place
designated. from whence they made
their escape across the mountains
into Kentucky. Turning to the fl
gitive she said
Come, Mr.. Peters, do not stand
upon ceremony, but follow me-"
She left the shop and proceeded
but a.short distance up the road.
and then turned off into a by path
through a.strip of woods closely fol-
lowed by the fugitive.
! A brisk walk of half an hour
brought them to a small house that
stood alone in a secluded spot.
Here Matte was received with a
warm welcome by several men,
some of whom were engaged in run
ming bullets, while others We're clean
iug their rifles and fowling pieces.
fine lady of the house. a hale woman
OF forty, WAS busy stuffing the wallets
III the men with biscuits. She greet
ID Matte very warmly. The fugl-
i've, who was known to two OF three
of the party, was received in a bluff,
frank spirit of kindness by all, say
ing that they would make him chap
lain of the Tennessee regiment when
they got to Kentucky.
When Matte was about to return
home two of the party prepared TO
accompany her. but she protested,
warning them of the danger, as the
enemy were doubtless abroad in
search of the minister.
But, Notwithstanding they insist
ed, and accompanied her until she
reached the road, IA short distance
above her fathers shop. Matte
hurried on, but somewhat surprised
upon reaching the shop to find it
vacant. She fastened to the house,
lut her father was not there. As she
returned to 90 to the shop she
thought she could hear the sound of
norse,' hoofs Gathering down the
road. She listened, but the sound
soon died away. Going into the
shop she blew the fire into a blaze /;
then beheld that things were in
treat confusion and that spots of
blood were on the ground. She was
now convinced that her father had
been seized and carried off, but not
without a struggle on his part.
a. Matte stood gazing at the
marks OF blood, a wagon containing
Two persons drove up. one of whom.
IN athletic young nan of five and
twenty years, got out and entered
the shop.
Good evening, Matte, where is
your father?" he said. Then OBJ
serving the strange demeanor of the
girl, he continued:
Why, Matte, what ails you?
What has happened?
The young girls heart was too full
for her tongue to give u~tterance, and
throwing herself upon the shoulders
of the young nan she sobbingly
said:
They have carried him off Don't
YOU see the blood ?"
Have they dared to lay hands on
Your father? The internal wretch
esq
Matte recovered herself sufficient
| Y To ndrrate the event of the even
ing. When she had finished he ex
| claimed
oh, that / should live to see the
lay that old Tennessee should be
Jhus ~disgracedl Here, joel
At this the other person in the
wagon alighted and entered the
shop. He was a stalwart negro.
Joe, would you like your free
dom ?" continued the kind young
man.
well, Massa John. | wouldn't
like very much TO leave you, but den
Use like to he a free man"
Joe, the white race have main
tanned their liberty by their valor.
Are you willing to fight for yours ?
Ay, fight to the death z"
Use fight for you any time, Mas
sa John"
Il believe you, Joe. But | have
desperate work on hand for tonight
and | do not want you to engage in
II without a prospect of reward. Ii |
succeed ! will make you free man.
1t is a matter of life and death
will YOU go?'
Il will, massa."
"rhen kueel down and swear be-
fore the everlasting God that, if you
falter or shrink the danger, you may
hereafter be consigned to everlasting
fire"
Il swear, massa," said the negro.
kneeling. And | hope that Cor
Almighty may strike me dead if |
don't go wild YOU through fire and
water an eberythin'r'
Il ana satisfied. joe" said bis
master; then turning 10 the young
girl, who had been "A mu e spectator
of this singular scene, he continued:
Now Matte, YOU get III the way
on and I'll drive duwnto the parson-
age, and you remain there with Mrs.
Peters aud the children until | can
bring some intelligence Of your faith
err"
While the sturdy old blacksmith
was waiting the return of his laugh
ter, the party he had repulsed re-
turned with increased numbers and
demanded the minister.
A fierce quarrel ensued, which
resulted in their Selling the smith