The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-07
AUNTPATSY AND THE CORN
ALEXANDER STEPHENS ANCESTOR
SAVED THE ROASTING EARS.

SAVED The ROASTING EARS.
Mounted on Her Filly, She Charged Band
of Indians and Frightened Them from
the Corn Fieid-The Garli son Needed
Food and Aunt Patsy Got 1t.
The first settlers Of Taliaferro county al
TOOK up lands along the two main rivers, and
the watershed between was considered as toe
poor and sterile to be worth an effort toward
cultivation, but as the richer lands were all
soon Claimed it gradually came out by degrees
tnat the settlers were forced to build homes
upon the lands of the watershed, which
even at that early time, was called "Pes
ridge" on account of the barrenness of the
SOIL, and which suggestive title has been
handed down to the present day. The from
tlersmen were thus forced to settle I'D the
ridge to be near enough to river settlers to
band together for mutual protection against
the depreciation of the prowling Indians who
claimed the rich lands on the other side of the
Oconee, and which finally led to the war of
the Oconee
Among the families who lived nearest the
line dividing the lands of the whites and m
scendants have done so much for our country.
THE HUNGRY GARRISON
Old Aunt Patsy Stephens was stirring.
thorough woman, well fitted to be the wife
OF sturdy frontiersman, and she was so
energetic that she always had her own fields
OF patches" of corn and wheat, which she
worked with her own hands after her duties
In the mouse were over. On one occasion,
when Aunt Patsy's twelve acre patch of corn
was full of fine roasting ears, an alarm of In
dams was raised and terror reigned in the
homes OF the settlers. Soon, however, a plan
OF action was formed, and steps were taken
to 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.
1t 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 to dispute inch by inch the red
hends 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 thei,
situation, the provisions began to run low.
At last they were out, and still no tidings from
the brave men who had gone forth to defend
them All 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 boot 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 fly" said she, land I'll go and
see what has become of the men, and at least
Fll bring some food back here We can't
Starve like rats in a trap, and if the 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 to lift finger in defense. No, no,
you needn't say word I'm a-gwiner' she
replied in determined tones, as the frightened
women begged her not to leave them; but
Aunt Patsy was determined-so improvising
a bride out of piece of chain and two
strips of hickory bark, she spread an old
homemade rug on the back of her lilly
and vaulting up, was out of sight in mo-
ment, swallowed up in the gloom of tangled
growth that lined the banks of the stream.
AUNT PATSY's CHARGE.
Heading bee line for home, Aunt Patsy
rode on, keeping sharp lookout for lurking
foes, but to her great surprise she saw nc
signs of Indians or of the white men. Much
mystified, she still kept ON, nor once drew
rein until she came near the clearing where
they had built their home Still nearer, and
she could see her own house still standing.
She then dismounted, and drawing forth a
ball of homespun thread she took off her cot
ton apron, and dividing it into four parts she
proceeded to wrap piece around each foot
Of the filly, thus muffling the sound of feet on
the ground. She then remounted and started
for her twelve acre patch to fill her meal bag
full of the roasting ears for the starving gar
rison. Lulled into feeling of safety by the
absence of hostile sight and sound, she was
thinking that maybe it had just been scare
and no more, when on looking over into hei
field of corn she saw ten or twelve Indians
Staying her fine roasting ears. Taken by
surprise, but never losing her presence Of
mind, she uttered one shrill whoop and rode
at full speed toward them, calling:
"Here's the redskins, boys! Here they go,
boys; shoot 'em Shoot 'eml" and she fired
off her old gun once or twice as the Indians
fed in great haste toward the river, thinking
party of white men were close after them
Aunt Patsy's ruse might not have worked
30 well had it been old Indians, but the
braves being all away on the warpath, this
party of young bucks had crossed the river
Oconee and made a raid on the deserted fields
of the settlers, and but for Aunt Patsy they
might have burned down the last home in the
settlement, but receiving such fright they
hurriedly crossed the river into their own
reservation, while Aunt Patsy filled her sack
and hurried back to the family garrison, who
welcomed her with tears of gratitude.
Luckily, that night the men all came back,
having chased the Indians far down the
river until they crossed over, when the whites
concluded they would return to the little
fort on Little river, where they found all
safe and well, thanks to Aunt Patsy and her
tilly
This same Aunt Patsy is the ancestress of
our own much loved fellow townsman, the
Hon. A. H. Stephens, whose form lies buried
near his own loved home, Liberty Hall, and
over whose grave the town keeps loving and
vigilant watch.
It would seem incredible TO our present
generation of society bellies that woman
could do the work that our ancestors accom-
plished, but they lived an active outdoor life,
often working hard in the fields with their
husbands, regarding the house duties as mere
play, and of surety they were women whose
presence cheered on our forefathers, when
wellnigh breaking down under their mani
fold trials and hardships; but they succeeded,
and our fair land, with its multitude of ele
CANT churches, schools and homes, stands a
living monument of their courage and per-
severance. -Crawfordsville Cor. Atlanta Con
stitution.
If the Earth Should Meet . Planet.
One of those scientific gentlemen who spend
their time in determining results on impos-
ible hypothesis estimates that if the earth
a 4, <k.rrh o<,xx