The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-27

Work, and mother SAID 1t would be best
| for us to 90 to bed, for father and
! lchabod might not come until morning.
| She spoke so calmly that we didn't know
| she was so extremely anxious and dis
tressed that she longed to be alone
Zeke wanted to fix bed for himself
down stairs on the floor, but mother
| said: Mo- and she told him she'd call
| him if father came in the night, and so
| Iele reluctantly climbed the ladder and
went to bed. after he had read a chapter
| in the Bible aloud, and we had all
| prayed, mother leading. Nancy and |
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 my
prayers and braided my hair, Nancy
was asleep, too. | blew out my light
then, and crept softly to the top of the
ladder. | did so want to sleep with
mother, and thought that perhaps she
might let me now that the others were
all asleep. had only gone down three
rounds with my bare feet, when l heard
mother voice, soft and low, as if talk
ing to herself. | did not move 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 conferred on
Indians
81 went back to bed then, but could
not sleep. At midnight 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
troubled sleep, in which | dreamed |
saw father and Ichabod killed by In
dams. | 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,
to the lower floor, and found mother
still praying. She heard me and arose.
just then there came a loud knock upon
the heavy oaken door. Zekc heard it and
was dressed and down, and opening the
door in nearly as short time as it
takes me to tell it. A 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 Ichabod
the day before, and father had sails
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 wonld 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 bluntlv
but that's better'n to be killed out
right
"'What?' exclaimed mother in great
terror.
." 'Why, they've had a 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
father-'and Ichabod, stay there last
night?'
Yes, ma'am, that was their inten-
ton. came right on: had "a tough
time of it, and got to Guys hut about
two o'clock. About an hour ago 'Lish !
Holt came there. looking most like a
dead man, and told me what I've lust
told you. He escaped by the skin of
his teeth, he says
"Zeke came in lust then, and lust in
time, too, for mother fell into his arms,
and for a moment we thought she was
dead, so limp and lifeless she appeared. !
Nancy was sobbing, and Sophronia !
screaming, so it fell upon me to tell
Icke what was troubling mother. He
trembled, then, and put mother down |
in her stuffed backed rocker. and knelt |
beside her and chafcd her hands, and
said: Don't believe the Indians have
killed father and lchabod. Didn't YOU
spend the whole night on your knees
asking God TO watch over thom?"
"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 a 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'll know they re COM
ing, aud mother seemed to listen with
strained 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
Zeke, the old box sleigh and the patient
oxen. | couldn't describe the scene that
followed, but it was a 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 plteously for him to come to
her Then he awOkp Hp wont tn