The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-06-21

ness and perfection Of the old New
England orchards. The south winds Of
May scattered the apple blossoms like
snow over the emerald turf. and filled
the air with fragrance The earliest
bluebirds came to them. and there the
first robins built their nests How
charming and airy it all was in May,
when the days were melting into sum-
mer. and how really beautiful annd full
of life were all Of these venerable New
England homes!
After the old house was burned
visited the place. and brought away a
few bricks as souvenir of q home of
heroic memories-of happy memories,
too, il We except a single tragedy Of
the Indian War. The great orchards
were gone. the old barns and their
swallows; only the well remained, and
heap of burned bricks. and the black
ened outline of the cellar wall.
1t was a house full of legends and
stories-wonder tales that once led the
stranger to look upon it with kind OF
superstitious awe. 1t had its historic
lore, and, like all great colonial houses,
its ghost lore, but tho most thrilling
legend associated with the old walls
was known as the Two Brass Kettles.
The legend may have grown with time.
but it was well based on historic facts.
and was often told at the ample firesides
of three generations of Dorchester peo-
pie.
The dinner, like Uncle Zebedee's
prayer, seemed never to end. After the
many courses of food there was an
sand" "And" pies and apples and
nuts, and all sorts of sweetmeats.
Uncle Zebedee," piped
"Well. dearie."
'.Aunt said that you would tell US the
story of Two Brass Kettles after din
ner"
why, dearie. yes, yes I've been
telling that story these eighty years,
come October. Didn't you never near
it? l thought all little shavers knew
about that. The Two Brass Kettles,
yes.
They're in the old cupboard. now.
Bring them out, and will tell you all
about 'em. / shant live to tell that
story many more years May be l shall
never tell it again."
The servants brought out the two
kettles into the kitchen, where we
could see them through the wide din
ing-room door.
Put 'em in the middle the of floor be-
fore the widow" said Uncle Zebedee.
There, that will do. That is just
where they were when the Indian
came"
"You see the window" he added.
1t had great deep-set easement
Grape-vines half-curtained it now on
the outside. and the slanting sun shown
through them. its beams glimmering
on the old silver of the table 1t was
past the middle of the afternoon of the
shortening days of autumn.
You have all heard of Phillips War;"
began Uncle Zebedee, leaning forward
from his chair on his crutch. Every
body hast destroyed thirteen towns
in the Old Colony, and for two years
filled every heart with terror. Phillip
struck here, there and everywhere. No
one could tell where he would strike
next. The sight of an Indian lurking
about in the woods or looking out of
the pines and bushes usually meant a
mascree (massacre).
"One Sunday in July, in 1875, the
family went to meeting. leaving two
small children, boy and girl, at
home, in the charge OF maid named
Experience. The kitchen then was as
you see it now. The window was open,
the Two Brass Kettles had been scour-
ed on Saturday, and placed bottom up
wards on the floor. just as you see them
there.
1T was a blazing July day. The
hay-felds were silent. There was an
odor of hay-ricks in the air, and the
Bobolinks, suppose, toppled about in
the grass, and red-winged blackbirds
piped among the wild wayside roses.
just as they do now. wish that you
have seen the old hay-felds in the long
July afternoons, all scent and sunshine;
it makes me long for my boyhood again.
just TO think of them. But l shall
never NOW again.
Let me see-the two children were
sitting on the floor near the two ket-
ties. Experience was preparing din
ner. and had made fire in the great
brick oven, which heated the bricks
but did not heat the room.
well, on passing between the oven
and the window, she CHANGED to look
toward the road, when she saw a sight
that fixed her eyes, and caused her to
throw up her hands with horror, just
like that"
Uncle Zebedee threw up both hands,
like exclamation points, and let his
cruch drop into his lap.
well. the maid only lost her wits for
a few moments. She flew to the win
dow and closed it, and bolted the door.
Then she put one of the children under
one of the brass kettles, and. the other
child under the other kettle, and took
the iron shovel and lifted it so. and
waited to see what would happen,
and"
Uncle Zebedee lifted his crutch, like
an interrogation point. and we could
easily imagine the attitude of the ex-
cited maid