Evening journal., 1890-01-01
AND THE CORN
STEPHENS ANCESTOR
i SAVED THE ROASTING EARS.

Food and Aunt Patsy Got It.
The first settlers Of Taliaferro county all
look up lands along the two main rivers, and
The watershed between was considered as too
poor and sterile to be worth an effort toward
cultivation, but as the richer lands we're all
Eoon claimed it gradually came out by degrees
that the settlers were forced TO build homes
upon the lands Of the watershed, which,
even at that early time, was called "Pea
ridge" on account OF the barrenness Of the
boil, and which suggestive title has been
handed down TO the present day. The from
tersmen were thus forced to settle up the
ridge TO be near enough TO river settlers to
baud together for mutual protection against
.ae depreciation Of the prowlug Indians who
..-s,'s-i the rirh lanls on tho nsbnr side Of the
0conee, and which finally led to the war Of
the Oconee.
Among the families who lived nearest the
line dividing the ands of the whites and In
dians was one named Stephens, whose de-
scendants have done so much for our country.
THE HUNGRY GARRISON.
Old Aunt Patsy Stephens was a stirring
thorough woman, well fitted to be the wife
Of sturdy frontiersman, and she was 50
energetic that she always had her own fields
or patches of corn and wheat which she
worked with her own hands after her duties
in the house were over On one occasion
when Aunt Patsy's twelve acre patch Of corn
was full Of fine roasting ears, an alarm OF In
dians was raised and terror regned in the
homes Of the settlers. Soon, however, plan
of action was formed, and steps were taken
10 carry it out All the women and children,
with the horses and whatever valuables could
| be carried, were hurried down the banks Of
Little river TO place called Fort Springs.
/ Il may be, and indeed now is, known as
/ Quaker Springs, and located on land owned
by Messrs. Pope, Of Wilkes. Here the men
stopped and hastily erected fort and stock
ade in which TO leave the women and chill
dren, while the husbands and fathers retraced
their steps 70 dispute inch by inch the red
fiends' progress, and to drive them back or
die in defense OF their homes.
| The little garrison did very well for few
days, but then, to add TO the horrors Of their
situation, the provisions began 20 run low.
| At last they were out, and still no tidings from
the brave men who had gone forth TO defend
them Al day and all night they strained
every nerve. listening for their return The
moon shone peacefully down upon the little
band Of women who were trying TO still the
cries of their hungry children. No sound
broke the stiffness of the night outside ex-
cept the occasional hoot Of an owl, who was
indignant that such strangers should invade
| his dominion.
AT last Aunt Patsy could bear the suspense
no longer.
'Get me filly,n said she, ''and I'll 60 and
see what has become Of the men, and at least
I'll bring some food back here. We can't
starve like rats in trap, and if tho redskins
have whipped out all our men, it is better we
know it than lie here and wait for 'em to
come on down here on us, all penned up, and
too weak 10 lift a finger In defense. No, no,
you needn't say a wordl I'm a-gwinei" she
replied in determined tones, as the frightened
women begged her not to leave them; but
Aunt Patsy was determined-so improvising
bride out of piece Of chain and two
strips Of hickory bark, she spread an old
homemade rug on the back OF her ally
and vaulting up, was out Of sight in mo
mont, swallowed up in the gloom Of tangled
, growth that lined the banks Of the stream.
AUNT PArsY's CHARGE.
Heading bee line for home, Aunt PATSY
rode on, keeping a sharp lookout for lurking
foes, but to her great surprise she saw nc
signs of Indians or Of the white men Much
mystihed, she still kept on, nor once drew
rein until she came near the clearing where
, they had built their home. Still nearer anc
, she could see her own house still standing
She then disnounted, and drawing forth
ball of homespun thread she took Off her cot
ton apron, and dividing It into four parts sh
proceeded to wrap piece around each foo
of the iilly, thus mufiiing the sound Of feet oI
the ground. She then renounted and starte,
: for her twelve acre patch to flll her meal ba.
full OF the roasting ears for the starving gar
rison Lnlled into a feeling Of safety by Ia
absence of hostile sight and sound, she wa
thinking that maybe it had just been q scare
. and no more when on looking over into he
field Of corn she saw ten OF twelve Indian
, staying her fine roasting ears. Taisen b
Z surprise, but never losing her presence o
! mind. she uttered one shrill whoop and rod
at full speed toward them, calling;
"Heres the redskins, boys Here they &C
boys; shoot iem Shoot eml" and she fire
9 off her cad gun once or twice as the Indian
fed in great haste toward the river, thinkin
a party Of white men were close after them.
Aunt Patsy's ruse might not have worke
80 well had it been old Indians, but II
braves being all away on tho warpath, tn
. party OF young bucks had crossed the rive
!, Oconee and made a raid on the deserted fielS
l. Of the settlers, and bat for Aunt Patsy the
Is might have burned down the last home IN Il
70 settlement, bat receiving such fright the
hurriedly crossed the river into their ow
's reservation, while Aunt Patsy filled her sac
a and hurried back 10 the family garrison. WI
n welcomed her with tears Of graaaaOdo.
o Luckily, that night the men all came bocl
y having chased the Indians far down u
10 river until they crossed oyer, when dc whit
4 concluded they would return 10 the lit
u fort ON Little river, whore they found o
lg safe and well, thanks 70 Aunt Patsy and h
FLY
This same Aunt Patsy Is the ancestress
I our own much loved fellow townsman, Il
e Hon. A. II. Stephens, whose form Hes burs
2 near his own loved home, Liberty Hall, al
over whose grave the town keeps loving al
d vigilant watch.
as Il would seem incredible 30 our prese
s. Eeneration Of society bellies that woml
sn could do the work that our ancestors accol
We plished, but they lived an active outdoor III
re often working hard In the fields with tht
O. husbands, regarding the house duties as me
er play, and Of a surety they were women wbc
IS, presence cheered on our foreiatherS VIII
ch wellnigh breaking down under their maj
It. fold trials and hardships; but they succeedc
and our fair land, with its multitude OF e
giant churches, schools aud homes, standi
living monument OF their courage and p
he severance. e.-4Crawfordsville Cor. Atlanta C
all stitution.
81 II the Earth should H1eet a Planet
I'd One Of those scientific gentlemen who spe