Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-16
more was added nntil the kettle was nearly

full
 "Surely, Ruth, thou dost not intend to wash today" the mother remarked, seeing these preparations.
 "Never mind, mother" was the significant reply. "Naomi and may need to do a little washing, but shall not disturb thee"
 The morning meal was eaten with devo- tional fear, and almost before the table had been cleared, Bob Bellows, 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. I told you to be gone before come"
 Nehemiah Strong rose to his feet and ap- preached 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 it is not fit'-h he commenced to say.
 The brave girl, however, waited for no words, but springing to the door, she said:
 This is our home, and truly we will not be driven from it save in Q legal manner We would never resist officers 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 a heap of life in your delicate body and don't mind if you stay But the rest must tramp. Come, git out O this, or we'll throw you out"
 "We shall not go, neither shall we be thrown out" returned Ruth. "We 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' n-l.A N~.~s~. LII kin afoot."
 With hoarse laugh the marauders sprang from their animals, and, when they had been fastened to the Quaker's garden fence, they | turned to enter the dwelling. But the door | was fast against them. "No danger from bullets, boys" the leader | laughed: ''so we'll have some fun. Plenty of wood here to make a ram of Sam, you get a stick, while 1 persuade 'em to open the door for us."
 In accordance with this plan, small log was raised by four of the men, while Bob grasped the door and shook it violently.
 "Open," he said, with many oaths and dis gusting language, which we have no right to record; ''open, or it'll be the wuss for ye. We'll break the door down, and yell find a nest of roarin' wildcats in yer late peaceful home Yea, verify thee will"
 But his words brought no response, and presently the men bearing the log approached
 ''Smash her down." he growled. ''They are stubborn as -, or they are goin' to play some trick on us.n
 The bearers of the battering ram now ap- preached, and Bob, after giving 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 valiant leader of the gang gave a fearful howl, and sank upon the ground, crawling away like huge spider, and accompanying each movement | with groan.
 "Why, Bob what ails yerg' demanded one of his followers ill surprise.
 Before any answer could be given, how ever, the questioner executed a like move ment, and with very little less ado hastened from the vicinity, closely followed by all the others.
 comfture, we must return to the interior of the house.
 When Ruth closed and barred the door the plan she had in mind was soon made appar- ent. Naomi had been to the loft, and now returned with an engine which had been used in watering the garden during the sum- mer months, in fact, within a few days It was very simple in design, being merely a hollow cylinder, fitted with a piston, the whole forming no more nor less than large squirt gun.
 This the sisters had put in perfect working order the night previous, when they would otherwise have been sleeping, so that now i' was all ready for use.
 It required but few moments to fill tho cavity with the boiling water and when ii was forcibly ejected by the indignant mai dens' arms, landing upon the person anC clothing of Bob Bellows, it is easy to forese, that the recipient did, the Quakeress hac affirmed, find himself in hot water"
 Nor was he alone, for before the alarm haG fully been taken every one of the others hac received sprinkling, which at such shor range did most effective service.
 It was some time before the riders venturet to return and unhitch their horses, but thi they finally did, and galloped away a though some fiend was in pursuit of them
 ''Verily the spirit constrained me to laugh yea, to laugh heartily" the father remarked as he beheld the ignoble flight. But, m, Ruth, verify fear thee hath awakened thi mans undying ire, and that we may suffer il turn"
 "No matter, father; we need not borrov trouble. They are disposed of for the pres ent, and something seems to tell me the will not come back" , Then, as she recollected the uncouth mar | ner ill which they had hastened away, sh gave herself up to a hearty laugh, in whic all present joined
 For many weeks Nehemiah Strong hel
 himself in readiness to vacate the home h had founded and his daughters defended, bu they were not called upon to do so. No doubt Bob Bellows would have faced , cabin full of men, but the novel and detel mined opposition of the young ladies ha , the effect of deterring him from making h
 appearance ever rafier.-Philadelphia Call. 3 Two Newly Made Widows.