The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-25

soon followed up the ladder, leaving
| Sophronia asleep in mothers bed. Be
fore | had undressed, could hear Zeke
snoring, and knew that he was sound
asleep, and BY the time | had said mr.
prayers and braided my hair, Nancy
was asleep, too. | blew out my light
then, and crept softly to the top of the
ladder. l did so want to sleep with
mother, and thought that perhaps she
might let me now that the others were
all asleep. l had only gone down three
rounds with my bare feet, when ! heard
mothers voice, soft and low, as if talk
ing to herself. l did not meTe then,
but, listening, found that she was talk
ing to God. She was asking Him to
preserve father and Ichabod from all
dangers, from the wild storm. and from
the cruel Indians, for, if any one was
away from home beyond the limited
time, our thoughts always centered on
Indians.
Il went back to bed then, but could
not sleep. At midnight l again started
down to mother but got no further than
before She was still dressed in her
day-clOthes, still upon her knees pray
ing. She did not hear me, and | again
went to bed, and after an hour or two
of restless tossing, dropped into a
troubled sleep, in which l dreamed l
saw father and Ichabod killed by In
dians. | awoke shivering, and then
arose, dressed. and got into bed again.
1t was four o clock when | again sought
the ladder, and descended, this time,
q a.
still praying. She heard me and arose.
Just then there came loud knock upon
the heavy oaken door. Zehe heard it and
was dressed and down, and opening the
door in nearly as short time as it
takes me to tell it. \ man whom we
knew stood there, and the news he
brought made mothers already white
and weary face grow whittier. He said
that he had seen father and Icha6Od
the day before, and father had said.
that considering he had been detained
until near night at Lofts Corners, he
thought that they'd have to remain
there all night, because it would be SO
dark and stormy that they could never
find their way home at night.
I'm so glad | didn't stay, though
I'm most frozen said the man bluBtly,
but that's better'n to be killed out
right.
."'What?' exclaimed mother in great
terror.
"'Why, they've had cruel time
over to Lofts Corners; the Indians have
been there and killed several persons,
and have burned down houses, and no
end of horrible things The man was
warming his benumbed feet before the
great fireplace, and Zeke was putting
the mans oxen in the log shelter we
had for our oxen. but mother stood up
before this dreadful news-bringer, ask
ing:
land did my Eben'-that was
Ichabod, stay there last
night?'
Eyes, ma am, that was their inten-
ton. l came right on; had tough
time of it, and got to Guys hut about
two o'clock. About an hour ago 'Lish
Holt came there, looking most like 4
dead man, and told me what I've Just
told you. He escaped by the skin of
his teeth, he says
''Zeke came in Just then, and just in
time, too, for mother fell into his arms,
and for a moment we thought she was
dead, so limp and lifeIess she appeared.
Nancy was sobbing, and Sophronia
so it fell upon me to tell
Zeke what was troubling mother. He |
trembled, then, and put mother down
in her stufed-backed rocker, and | knelt
beside her and chafed her hands, and !
said: Don't believe the Indians have |
killed father and Ichabod. Didn't you
spend the whole night on your knees |
asking God to watch over them?"
''She opened her eyes then, and |
said: You're right, Hetty. God bless
YOU, child! l DO believe God has
watched over our beloved ones, and |
then she arose and comforted us all, |
and we knelt in short morning prayer |
After that mother and Nancy began |
getting breakfast, and Zeke went out |
with his horn, saying: If you hear the
horn, mother, you'n know they're COM
ing and mother seemed to listen with |
ears, and it wasn't ten minutes |
later before we heard Zeke's horn.
1--WE all rushed to the door. and there |
they were all in sight, father, Ichabod. |
Ze&e, the old box sleigh and the patient
oxen. | couldn't describe the scene that |
followed, bat it was pathetic mixture
of smiles and laughter, and tears falling |
like rain, and shoutingS and prayers, |
and kisses and hand-shakingS, and
mother sobbing over Us all"
But how did they escape?" asked
Ethel.
''All owing to mothers prayers"
answered grandma, wiping her eyes,
They had intended staying at Lofts
Corners and were housed there for the
night. Just after father dropped into
sound sleep he dreamed that mother was
calling piteously for him to come tc
her. Then he awoke. He went to
sleep again, but only to have the dream
repeated. He took third nap and
again saw mothers pale face beckonine
TO him and her voice calling: Come,
come" When he awoke this time he
called to Ichabod. saying decidedly:
we must get up and start for home,
storm or no storm. Your mother wants
us At Mr. Guys they had seen 'Lish
Holt, who, although starting from Loft
Corners long after father, had got there
first, because he had fortunately not got
lost two or three times on the road as
had father and Ichabod."
"And did you keep your Christmas?"
asked Mabel.
''Ah, my dear, we did, and there
never 1CaS such Christmas before or
since. o, how mothers face glowed all
day long, and we cracked our nuts, and
popped corn, and ate our roast ducks.
and Rugged father and Ichabod until
they called us regulsr bears, but there
were tears in their ewes when they said