Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-09-25
A Dreadful Fright

from the village of Even- We decided
ON this locality, first, because we had
heard great things OF the climate;
/ secondly, we could live comfortably
there on a very limited income; and,
lastly, there being a regiment quartered
at Eyell. my husband was sure OF
pleasant acquain'ances, and might meet
old friends Our household was small
one, composed of my husband and my
/ self, our two bonnie baIrns," staid
elderly servant named Ellen Travis,
ard her underling, who was always
| spoken Of as ''the girl"
1t was rather solitary life, but we
were young and happy. My husband 5
time was fully occupied with outdoor
employments, while L was always busy
/ with wifely care The only time / ever
| realized how destitute Of near neigh
bors we were was when my husband
was away bear hunting, or absent on a
trip to the nearest city, whittier he
] went occasionally for a few days to
purchase household necessities not pro-
/ durable at the village store 1t was
during one of these absences that l ex-
periencsd a midnight alarm.
| About a year before the colony had
been thrilled by the news of a cold
blooded and terrible murder. a gang
of ruffians came upon solitary farm
house about a hundred miles from
EvelL The farmer was absent, his
wife calmly pursuing her household oc-
cupations, while her little ones played
/ happily around her. The gang entered
and demanded food, which was imme-
diately set before them by the trembling
woman. They ate and were satisfied,
and then TO requite her hospitality, be-
gan deliberately TO murder her chill
dren.
The hoTror-stricken woman, after a
vain attempt 10 stay their cruel hands,
snatched her baby from the cradle, and
cTouched down in a corner OF the room,
vaInly endeavoring to shield the child
with her own body. In a moment it
was torn from her arms and killed L
was lever allowed 10 hear how the
mother died; but, after despatching
her, these scoundrels sat down in the
porch smoking When, at the end Of
about half an hour, they saw the
farmer approaching, they went to meet
him; and in this case his speedy death
was 4 mercy, for IL reunited him 10 his
wife and children
i had often shuddered over this story,
and ielt really alarmed when, on the
very day OF my husbands departure,
the girl came To me with the astound-
ing news that two or three members of
tins same gang had been seen lettering
about in the HeighbOrhOod-
pulled myself together, however,
had "A good rOmp with my children, ar
ranged with Ellen for "A busy days
cleaning To begin early the next morn
ing, made an extra careful survey OF
all the heavy bolts and bars, and went
L bed
Two days and nights passed as peace
fully as usual, and | was beginning TO
look forward To my husbands return
/ had 9, ne TO bed on the third evening,
Tired out after a busy afternoon, aud
had fallen asl, ep directly my head had
touched the pillow Suddenly 1 was
awakened by hand upon my arm.
and, opening my eyes, l saw Ellen, her
face deathly pale.
Wake up, ma'am-there are men
trying To break inI'' she gIsped-
sprang cut u bel; but, before 1
could reach the door, in rushed the
girl in a state of tile most abject terror.
She flung herself down before me, md
elung frantically TO my knees. Hastily
disengaging myself, l left her lying on
tie floor IN my room.
Passing quickly Into a room in the
front Of the cottage, | could hear fierce,
angry voices, and heavy blows being
dealt against the window shutters,
which We're secured on the inside by
strong iron bars.
Ii Was a dark night, 50 we could
only hear, not see Ny first impulse
WIS to lock the door OF the nursery and
throw tie KY on 10 the top of a high
press standing in the passage. Ihen
Ellen AMI went 10 the head of the
staiIs auI waited, hand-iu-hand. We
knew that, If We were attacked 10y the
DREADED gang, nothing short Of - mir
acle could save us No cry could reach
the village; no bolt OF lar could long
withstand such strong determined men,
But, oh. the children. My bonnie
boys.
Five minutes had scarcely passed be-
fore the men, weary OF the strong bars
that resisted their utmost efforts, AT
tackled the front porch. Blow after
blow fell upon the door, until tie
hinges began To yield; then We heard an
omInOus cracking noise, and al last,
with a crash, down went the door.
Ellen and l stood looking at each
other, aud We clasped hands more
tightly, for We knew that even a Wig
Orous push would force the inner
door.
There was an outburst of brutal
laughter. and then silence. We waited
hand -in-hand, scarcely daring to
breathe. Presently Ellen stole from
my side, and, creeping into the same
little room from which we had heard
the first attack, she listened. Just
then the moon broke through the black
clouds, ami shOne brightly in at the
chInks III the shutters. Slowly and
cautiously she raised herself and peered
out into the night.
The next moment | was startled by
a cry Of JOY, which rang through tie
little house, and impelled me to rush to
Fl ems side.
Oh, what an ecstasy of joy and relief
did feel when l saw that our fearful
midnight assallants were simply two
very tipsy British soldiers, one of whom,
kneelug ON the grass before our cot
tage, Was Offering up loud and fervent,
II slightly incoheTent petitions. How
We laughed and cried, and how l car
essed my sleeping darlIngsl After see
ing the two soldiers quietly settle down
To sleep in the porch, Ellen, the girl,
and l crept away to bed, worn out with
the intense reaction.
When | came down the next morn-
ing the porch 4 Oor was restored To its
Proper place and no trace left OF my
nocturnal visitors, but III the course Of
the day l received a little visit from
two very shImefaced soldiers, who ell
treated my TardOn, which L was only
TO glad to give.
1t appeared that, the barracks not
being large enough TO accommodate
the regiment several men We're billited