The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-07-19
Molly's Night On the Prairie.

I'VE will be back as soon as We
can. Molly" said Friend TIaines to
her daughter as she climbed into the
old carry all beside her husband one
lovely autumn afternoon
! hope Aunt Sarah is not very Ill,
replied Molly, and not keep thee
very long, mother.
Father will be back tomorrow,
probably, SO good by, my dear.
Leave the latchstring out, daueh-
ter" said Molly's father, gathering
the reihs tighter in his hands, and
touching his horses broad back with
his whip. | have seen no Indians
about for some time, but | heard
yesterday band were out hunting,
and l feel sure the best way is to
treat them as friends"
Very well, father; don't be uneasy
about US; we shall do very nicely,
am sure But Molly's heart failed
her little as the old carry all was
lost to view behind slight swell in
the prairie that stretched out for
miles around them, and she knew
that herself and her little brother
were the only ones left in the house.
A passing wagner had brought
word to her mother that her sister.
twenty miles away, was i'll and wanted
Friend IIaincs to nurse her. Accus
toned to long rides and many emer-
gencies, this request did not seem
unreasonable, and SO it was that he
parents left their children in the care
of loving Father, and started to
perform pressing duty with cheer
ful hearts.
"Molly, let's have ham and eggs
for supper, said the small James, as
he ran in, followed by the big mas
tiff, Tippecanoe. am really hungry,
and SO is Tip,
He doesn't eat ham, OF eggs, said
Molly.
No, but l have a bone for him.
Molly, Pm sure l saw some Indian
ponies way off on the prairie, just as
| came in.
Did thee? Well, they have never
hurt us yet; may be they won't come
here.
Pm going to pull the latchstring
in and bar the door, muttered the
boy to himself as his sister bent over
the sizzling ham in the pan over the
wood fire. She did not hear him
and tried to be merry through the
evening meal and not think about
their lonely situation.
A little later, after chapter in the
Bible and a brief, earnest prayer,
Molly put James to bed, and turned
to the kitchen to bank up the embers
for the night. Tip had curled him
self up on the hearth, and blinked at
Molly as she patted his head good
night before she retired. An hour
passed and Molly still tossed wake
fully on her pillow. Had she left the
latchstring out? She could not re-
member, ard feeling uneasy she got
up and ran down to see. No, it was
pulled in; she opened the door to
pull it through on the outside, and a
faint smell of smoke came to her on
the night wind while dull red glow
miles away seemed to suggest a
burning cabin or barn. All was silent
about the place, and Molly returned
to the kitchen. She was not sleepy,
and sat down in front Of the wide
fireplace, while Tip got UP stretched
himself and lay down again. Twenty
minutes later, the door opened by
the click OF the watch. and six In
dians walked in silently, standing in
a circle just inside the door. Molly
rose and made gesture of friendly
greeting, though her limbs trembled,
We are hungry, said the tallest
one, seemingly knowing little En-
gliah.
Il will give you food, " and Molly
placed before them bread and ham
remaining from supper. They were
soon satisfied, and passed out as
noiselessly as they had come. The
chief paused as he touched the latch
string on the outside of the heavy
door.
Good sign, he said. One mans
door shut tight; no string; but gun
went-bang! Indian made fire, and
house all gone, indicating by an up
ward glance what had become of the
unhappy dwelling. No information
WAS given as to the occupant of the
cabin, and Molly hoped he had es-
capped. 1t was with thankful heart
that she went to her room, and the
next morning her brother James held
his breath as he heard how nearly
fatal his fear of the Indians might
have been, had not his sister followed
the Divine headings and hung out
the sign that they relied for safety,
not OF fire arms, but on good will
toward man.
a Word to Grumblers.
Don't be a grumbler. Some peo.