Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-04-23
taken, we can induce these outlaws to
90 their own WavE,i sgS Gs7S


ed until the kettle was nearly full.
""Surely, Ruth, thou dost notintend
to wash to-day" the mother remark
ed, seeing these preparations.
"Never mind, mother was the sip.
nlticant reply. Naomi and I may
need to do little washing, but shall
not disturb thee"
The young ladies were quite accus-
toned to have their own way. so no
demur was made. although an attack
rom outlaws was every moment ex.
pected.
The morning meal was eaten with
devotional fear, and almost before the
table had been cleared, Bob Fellows,
accompanied by FIVE or six rascals, like
unto himself, rode up to the door.
"Come!' he shouted from his horse,
"get out of here in quick time. told
you to be gone when I came"
Nehemiah Strongrose to his feet and
reached the door, but was pulled
back by Ruth, who said:
"stay there, father. Thee promised
that sister and might meet these
vagabonds OF the earth and deal with
them"
"But this is not fit" he commenc.
ed to say.
The brave girl. however, waited for
no words, but sprinsing to the door.
she said: ''.~
*This is our home, and truly we will
not be driven from it save in a legal
manner. We would never resist Off
GERS OF the law, and if they come in due
form we will obey them, but such as
thou art we neither fear nor obey"
"By my soul, little Quakeress," the
rascal cried" you've heap OF life in
your delicate body, and 1 don't mind
II you stay. But the rest must tramp,
Come, git out O this, Or we'll throw We
out"
eve shall not go, neither shall we be
thrown out" returned Ruth. awe do
not fight with carnal weapons, for
such is not our faith, but if you
meddle with us you will speedily find
yourselves in hot water"
"Come on, fellers," said Bob. as he
sprang from his horse. "See if one Of
these prayin' gals kin fight on their
knees as we'll as we kin afoot."
With a hoarse laugh the marauders
sprang from their animals, and when
they had been fastened to the Quaker's
garden fence, they turned to enter tho
dwelling, but the door was fast against
them.
mo danger from bullets, boys" the
leader laughed, $50 we'll have some
fun. Plenty of wood here to make 8
ram OF. Sam, you get a stick, while I
persuade 'em to open the door for US"
In accordance with this plan, q
small log was raised by four of the
men, while Bob Srasped the door and
shook it violently.
"Open," he said with many oaths
and disgusting language, which we have
no right to record; open, or it'll be the
wuss fur We. Well break tina door
down, and yen find nest of roarin'
wildcats in yer late peaceful home.
Yes, verify thee will.'
But his words brought no response;
and presently the men bearing the log
approached.
"Smash her down." he growled.
"They are as stubborn as, or are
goin to play some trick on u.s."
The bearers of the battering ram
now approached, and Bob, after CIV
ing the door two or three not very
gentle kicks, indicated the place where
the blow should be given.
But even while the beam was poised
and almost ready to descend, the val.
liant leader of the gang gave fearful
howl and sank upon the ground crawl
ing away like q huge spider, and &C.
companying each movement with g.
groan.
"Why Bob, what ais yer?" demand.
ed one of his followers in surprise.
Before any answer could be given,
however, the questioner executed a
like movement, and with little less
ado FASTENED from the vicinity, close
ly followed by all the others.
To explain the cause Of their singu-
lar discontinue we must turn to the
interior of the house.
When Ruth cloxed and barred the
door the plan she had in mind was
soon made apparent. Naomi had
been to the loft and now returned
with all engine which had been used in
watering the garden during the sum.
mer months, in fact within flew days.
It was very simple in design, being
merely a hollow cylinder, fitted with a
piston, the whole forming no more nor
less than a large squirt gun. This the
sisters had put in perfect working or.
der the night Previous. when they
would otherwise have been sleeping.
It required but q few moments to
fill the cavity with the boiling water,
and when it was sforcibly elected by
the indignant mGiden's arm, landing
upon the person and clothing OF Bob
Fellows, it is easy to see that the re-
cipient did, as the Quakeress affirmed,
"fnd himself in hot water" . 80 q
Nor was he alone, for before the
alarm had fully been taken every one
of the Others had received a. sprinkling.
It was some time before the riders
ventured to return and unhitch their
horses, but this they finally did, and
galloped away as though some fend
was in pursuit of them. ~
Verify, the spirit constrained me
to laugh, yea, to laugh heartily" the
father remarked, as he beheld the ie-
noble fight "But, my Ruth, I verify
fear thee hath awakened this mans
undying ire, and that We may suffer
In turn" : s,"'' 49, :
mo matter. father; we need not
borrow trouble. They are disposed
offor thepresent. and something seams
to tell me they will not come back"
Then, as she recollected the uncouth
manner in which they had FASTENED
away she gave herself up to hearty
laugh, in which ell present joined.
For many weeks Nehemiah Strong
held himself in readiness 20 vacate
the home he had founded and his
daughters defended, but they were not
called upon to do SO. :. :s@t' Y s.5s5s
Nodoubt Bob Fellows would have
faced q cabin full OF men, bnt the
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