Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-04-26
GRANDMOTHER DREAM.
And How Her Midnight Vision
Was Fulfilled.

we Shall nave Il VlSlI from Cno III
dams before night remarked my
grandmother, looking across the break
fast table at grandfather.
..Wcn, 1 hope we WILL" replied
. grandfather. a little doggedly. "You
are eternally predicting an Indian
raid; and just to please you. hope
we shall get call from at least a
hundred"
Look out, Peter Barnes! You may
have cause to regret that speech before
you are half a day older. I dreamed
last night just how they came, what
they did, what we did. and it makes
my blood run cold to think of it,
Grandfather made no reply. realizing
that she always had the better of him
in argument, and the meal was finished
in silence.
A year before, my relatives, both of
whom were nearly fifty years old, but
strong and hearty, sold out their farm
in Ohio, and located in Western Kansas.
Their children were all married off, and
the old couple were entirely alone.
They had stout and comfortable log
cabin, good farm, and had already
ulduo lHtHy Improvements.
The location was not thought to be
a dangerous one. although few miles
beyond the last hamlet in that section,
and three miles in advance of the loca-
ton of the previous settler. The In
dians had raided this part of the coun-
try the year before, but the soldiers
had given them a severe rebuke, and
it was not believed that they would
dare venture back again. Grandfather
was certain that he would not be in
terrupted in his peaceful pursuits. and
was annoyed that grandmother should
crOak of evil.
More because it was the custom,
than from any idea that he would ever
have use for it, grandfather kept rifle
in the house; and one day, when a set
tier who was owing him money, and
could not pay, brought revolver to
him as the only offset he could offer,
grandfather took it and laid it up on a
shelf.
In her young days. grandmother had
been an emphatic ''romp." She could
skate. play ball, pitch quoits, ride at a
gallop. shoot rifle, and even to the
day she was married went by the name
of ''Bailey's Tomboy;" yet. after all,
she made n good wife, and was the
making" of Peter Barnes.
She stood in the door that morning
and watched Peter bring his horse and
pillow. and drive off through the fields
to his work, half mile away. Then
she looked to the west, back at the sun,
and went in and took the rifle down
from its hooks. 1t had been loaded for
months. and she drew the bullet, care
fully wiped the barrel, and loaded the
weapon again as nicely as a hunter
could have done it. Placing it in a
corner, she went to an old chest, fished
out powder, lead, caps and bullet
molds, and soon had fifteen or twenty.
shining bullets on the table. Then the
revolver was got down, cleaned up,
loaded. and finally the woman went to
the door to look for her husband.
She could see him following the plow
in the distant field. and the happy
songs of the birds were any thing but
harbingers of coming ARRAY in
which more than one of those shining
bullets would find a human target.
y
spoke the woman, watching him
moment. al don't want harm to come
to hair of your head, but you will get
fearful lesson before noon this dayr'
The arms being in good order, the
woman shut the door, nailed 1t up, and
then nailed boards over the windows
on the inside. The south door fastened
with bar. and she was satisfied with
Its strength. She went to the spring,
hiled two pals with water, picked up
and carried in the axe, and then cleared
the table OF dishes, not stopping to
wash them. Then she sat down in the
south doorway and waited-waited for
the Indian attack which she had
dreamed of and predicted.
An hour passed, and she had aot