New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-04-21
THE DEFENCE.

ldllulul quaker, Was SlulJUen WIN Jle'
western fever" some years since, and
finally removed to the regions where
"squatter sovereignty was being ex-
perimented upon. But squatter, or.
any other sovereignty troubled Nehe-
Smiah but little. He was man true
to his creed, and wherever his lot
might be cast, there would he livei in.
peace and quiet with his fellownlen..
The proper location was soon found,
and when Nehemiah had made "a clear
ing and built a log house, he was mon,
arch of all he surveyed and staked.
But Strong was not allowed long to,
remain in peaceable possessions.
Bolder and more evil men lived
in these western regionssthan he had
ever before met, and in the absence Of
any very positive or very available
law, they did not hesitate to,take the
management Of affairs into their own
hands. A few reckless men could thus.
by combining for a common purpose.
rule a great number OF more timid or
respectable people, driving them from
their houses, or dealing with them as
they, would.
Strong, Notwithstanding his blame
less life and, gentle religion, did not
long escape these Vultures Of the
Vest. His home attracted the
notice OF a desperate named Bob Eel
lows, who determined to- possess it
inasmuch as that would be, easier than
building a house for himself, OR per-
haps driving away more determined
man. Besides, the honest Quaker had
not forgotten wheat, potatoes, corn
and other provisions for comfort
able winter, which season was now
approaching, though still quite dis
tant.
Accordingly, one. day Bob Fellows
armed to the teeth, and looking
especially feroeious, rode up to the
cabin and inquired for the owner. The
Quaker CHANGED to- be inside at the
moment, and quietly answered the
summons.
ssDoes thee wish to see me?" be
asked, gazing upon the intruder with
some degree OF alarm, notwithstand-
ing his peaceful nature.
oval, yes" growled the ruffian. /
thought I'd ride over and see what in
the old boy you'd gone and set your
house an my land for! That's all l
wanted to see We fer.
'"Thee is mistaken, returned Nehe-
miah. ''This land belongs solely to me,
one Nehemiah Strong, thy humble SER
want,
"You lie!" was the rejoinder," this
is my land, and now, as yer shanty is
stuck on here, just in the place whar l
was goin to put my own, I'll be easy
with yer, and say nothin' about the
law, if yell jest get out Of here and be
beyond sight and hearin' to morrow
mornin'. What dye say to that?"
'Verily, believe thee a william re-
turned Nehemiah, finding that he was
not Immediately to be eaten up or
run through. ''This is my home, and
the home Of my family; yet thee seeks
to turn me from it, and leave myself
and family to starve, nay I cannot
constrain myself to depart thus. Thee
has no right brittle here, to my knowl,
edge. If thee has, produce it, and l
will depart freely"
"Look ye, you old robbern' Kissed
the desperate, II hev claim here. l
surveyed this land near ten years ago,
and made my marks. Ii you hev cut
them down, it'll be all the wuss for
you. I've plenty Of witnesses who
know about it, and / needn't tell We
tbs bad scrape to beguilty ofcuttin'
away yer neighbours landmarks. Now,
shall be here o-morrow mornin' and
| if yer know when yer we'll of, you'd
better not be here at the same time"
With this unmistakable threat the
outlaw turned and rode away, leaving
the Quaker in no enviable frame OF
mind
| We might have stated before, al
though it may be quite as we'll to say
here, that Strong's family consisted OF
his wife and two daughters, with a
son Mark, about twelve years OF age.
The daughters, hearty, buxom girls of
twenty-five and twenty years each,
named respectively Ruth and Naomi,
were full OF natural life and decision,
quite unlike what the daughters OF a
meek Quaker would naturally become.
They, with the mother middle-aged
,entlewoman, who strove hard to live
as peaceable as the tenets of her faith
required, gathered about the husband
and father. The latter sank upon q
chair, seemingly quite discouraged and
aisheartened by the event which had
had just occurred.
Verify, | know not theproper course
TO pursue" he moaned. II can't af-
lord to leave this house and the grow
ing crops smiling upon us with prom
se of sustenance for the winter. l
/ lear this william is q rascal of utter
dye, who will not hesitate at blood
shed. 1t may be we'll to go, yet Unjust
remain for a time. y
An anxious night was passed, and
very early the next morning all hands
were astir. The sisters had been en-.