The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-12-27

all asleep. I had only gone down three
rounds with my bare feet, when | heard
Mothers 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.
Il 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 l again
went to bed, and after an hour or two
of restless tossing, dropped into a
troubled sleep, in which dreamed l
I saw father and Ichabod killed by In
dams. l 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 loud knock upon
the heavy oaken door. Zeke heard it and
was dressed and down, and opening the
door in nearly as short time as it
takes me to tell 1t. 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 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 bluntly,
but that's better'n to be killed out
right
.''Whatp' 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 banumbed 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 springer, ask
ing: ~
"'And did my Eben'--that was
father-.and Ichabod, stay there last
nightP'
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 a
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 lifeless she appeared.
Nancy was sobbing, and Sophronia
screaming, SO it fell upon me to tell
Zeke what was troubling mother. He
trembled, then, and put mother down
in her stuffed 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 themg9'
''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 begar
getting breakfast, and Zeke went out
with his horn, saying: eff you hear the
. horn, mother, you'll know they're com
, ing and mother seemed to listen with
strained ears, and it wasn't ten minute.
! later before we heard Zeke's horn.
1--WE all rushed to the door, and Their,
they were all in sight, father, Ichabod
Zeke, the old box sleigh and the patien
oxen. ] couldn't describe the scene thai
, followed, but it was pathetic mixture
of smiles and laughter, and tears fallin,
lilSe rain, and shoutings and prayers
and kisses and hand-shakings. ant
mother sobbing over us ALL
''But how did they escapep' aske'
Ethel. fh&~ q Ss&r s e6s,f
, IAN owing to mothers prayers,
) answered grandma, wiping her eyes
, s'They had intended staying at Loft
| Corners and were housed there for TIN
= night. Just after father dropped into 6
. sound sleep he dreamed that mother wa
! calling piteously for him to come I,
: her. Then he ,awoke. He went t.
sleep again, but only to have the dream
repeated. He took third nap ant
again saw mothers pale face beckonin,
. to him and her voice calling: Come
| comet When he awoke this time h
called to Ichabod, saying decidedly
we must get up and start for home
, storm or no storm. Your mother want
, u.s. At Mr.. Guys they had seen 'Lisl
3 Holt, who, although starting from Loft
, Corners long after father, had got Their
first, because he had fortunately not 90
, lost two or three times on the road a
I had father and Ichabod."
: Sand did you keep your Christmasp'
) asked Mabel. "a
"Ah, my dear, we did, and Their
never sUGs such Christmas before o
r SINCE O, how mothers face .glowed al
day long, and we cracked our nuts, an
!, popped corn, and ate our roast ducks
4 and Rugged father and Ichabod unit
Y they called us regular bears, but Their
were tears in their eyes when they sal
So
!, "And didn't you have the pretty pigp
e asked Fred, f43A3 W.
Eyes, indeed we did. Zeke built
}, kind of a pit out doors and roasted
t there, and don't suppose q roast pi
t could ever taste so good to me again a
; that one did. Ernest Gilmore, IN Oh
: cago Advance.
Y One of the most startling feature
Il in the Pennsylvania oil regions is tn
8 number of deserted villages, which hs
been caused by the exhaustion of o
/ wells. Pithole Is a remarkable exam
h 4 rla nj, tho nil eyeifamant Rarely eiCt