Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-07-26
GRANDMoTHER'S DREAM
And How Her Strange Midnight Vision Was
Remarkably Fulfilled.


Remarkably Fulfilled
1--WE shall have a visit from the Indians
before night remarked my grand
mother, looking across the breakfast
table at grandfather.
well, hope we shall" replied grand
father, little doggedly. You are eter-
nally predicting an Indian raid, and just
to please you l hope We shall get cal
from at least a hundred
Look cut, Peter Barnes! You may
have cause to regret that speech before
you are a half day older | 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 size always had the better OF him IN
argument, and the meal was finished IN
silence.
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 ehidten were all married off aud
the old couple were entirely alone. They
had Il stout and comfortable log cabin
ami a good farm, and had already made
many improvements.
The location was not thought to be o
dangerous one, although a few miles be
low the last hamlet in that section and
three miles in advance of the location of
the previous settler. Ehe Indians had
raided this part of the country the year
before, but the soldiers had given them q
severe rebuke, and it was not believed
that they would venture back again
Grandfather was certain that he would not
be interrupted in his peaceful pursuits
and was annoyed that grandmother snonld
croak of evil.
More because it was the custom than
from any idea thar he would ever have
uss for it, grandfather kept rifle in the
house, and one day when settler wno
was owing him money and could not pay,
brought revolver to him as this only off
set he could offer, grandfather took itand
laid it on the shelf.
In her young days grandmother had
been an emphatic "romp.h She could
skate, play ball, pitch quilts, ride at a
gallop, shoot a rifle and even TO the day
she was married went by the name of
"Bailey's Tomboy," yet, after all, she
made a good wife, and the making" of
Peter Barnes.
She stood in the doorway that morning
and watched Peter bring his horse and
pillow and drive off through the fields to
his work half a mills away. Then she
looked 20 the west, back at the sun, and
went in and took the rifle down from it's
hook. 1t had been loaded for months,
and she drew the bullet, carefully wiped
the barrel, and loaded the weapon again
as nicely rs hunter could have done IT,
Placing it In corner, she welt 20 an old
chest, fished out powder, lead, caps, and
bullet molds, aud 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 ssuld see him following the pillow
in the distant field, and the happy songs
OF the birds were anything but harhingers
of coning ARRAY in which moro than
one of those shining bullets would find a
human target.
peter Barnes, VOC are an idiot' spoke
the woman watching him moment. II
don't want harm TO come to hair of your
head, but you will get fearful lesson be.
fore noon this day"
The arms being in good order, the
woman shut the door, nailed 1t up, and
then nailed boards over the window inside.
The south door fastened with bar and
she was satisfied with it's strength. She
went TO the spring, filled two pals with
water, picked up and carried in the
axe. and then cleared the table OF dishes,
not stopping TO wsFh them. Then she
sat down in the south doorway and
waiteG-waited for tho Indian attack
which she had dreamed of and predicted.
An hour passed and she had not chang
ed her position. Half an hour more wore
away. and then she suddenly lesped up
and seized her rife. She had seen the
horses stop and rear and plunge as they
came near the south end OF the field,
which vas bordered by tho forest She
saw her husband pulling them and using
the whip, but IN moment more the
animals dashed OF az speed. just as they
started grandmother heard faint. 'fil
vii" and the next moment caught eight
of a score Of ssvages a. they dashed out
of the woods and made for her husband.
"Ju.t exactly as dreamed" she whip
pered to herself, lifting the rifle clear of
the floor
Grandfather caught sight Of the red
skins as sooa a. they broke cover, and of
wheeled and made for the house at his
beat pace. For few yards he held his
own. but then his 90 years began 70 tell
on him. and the shouting Indians began
TO gain. They we're thirty yards behind
linn az the start, but before half the
distance - the nous. had been trayersed
80 4.-rt sAa hDhlFn
"Rup. father! ruL for your life!' shout
ca grandmother, waving her hand to him.
and he did his best.
Bat the old man did not have il IN him.
He va. within rife shot Of the door
when The redskins bore him down - 1he
yrass. in plain sight Of his wife Five or
liz Of them halted to take care Of the
prisoner. and the rest shopping and
Yelling made for the house Grand.
mother stood square in the door, and the
rife was siO~ly lifted.
when the fOrmost savage was twenty
rods away, out on line with the barrel
there vas a quick report aud The Indian
fell forward on the grass. Then sue
-tepued back closed the door, and me
next moment the shouting demons jump
"a sgslnstit. Tie door stood ike
rock Bamsd and disappointed, the II
dams hacked at the boards With their