The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-08
GRANDMOTHER'S DREAM.

"We shall have visit from the Indi.
ans before night" remarked my grand
mother, looking across the breakfast ia
BILE at grandfather.
"Well, I hope We WILL" replied grand
father, little doggedly. "You are eter-
nally predicting an Indian raid, and, just
to please you, hope we shall get call
from at least hundred"
"Look out, Peter Barnesl You may
have cause to regret that speech before
you are half day older l 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 Kensae.
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 made many
improvements.
The location was not thought to be a
dangerous one, although few miles be-
yond the last hamlet in that section, and
three miles in advance of the location Of
the previous settler. The 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 dare venture back again.
Grandfather was certain that he would
not be interrupted in his peaceful pur-
suits, 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 rife in the
house, and one day, when settler who
was owing him money and could not pay,
brought revolver to him as the only off
set he could offer, grandfather took it
and laid it up on shelf.
In her young days grandmother had
been an emphatic ''romp." She could
skate, play ball, pitch quoits, ride at a
gsllop, shoot rifle, and even to the day
she was married went by the name Of
"Bsiley's Tomboy;" yet, after all, she
made good wife, and was the making"
Of Peter Barnes.
Qho ok0ad ~, tho door thof M n nm ~, n md
watched Peter bring his horse and pillow
and drive OF through the fields to his
work, half mile away. Then che looked
to the west, back at the sun, and went in
and took the rifle down from it's hooks.
It had been loaded for monthe, and she
drew the bullet, carefully wipe the bar
rel, and loaded the weapon again as
nicely as a hunter could have done it.
Placing it in corner, she went to an old
chest, fished ont 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 pillow
in the distant field, and the happy songs
OF the birds were sDything but harbingeIs
of coming ARRAY in which more than
one Of those shining bullets would find
human target.
"Peter Barnes, you are an idiotp spoke
the woman, watching him a moment. 81
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 wo-
man shut the door, nailed it 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, filled
two pals with water, picked up and car
ried in the axe, and then cleared the table
of dishes, not stopping to wash them.
Then she sat down in the south doorway
and wsited-wsited for the Indian attack
which she had dreamed Of and predicted