New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-05-04

SiMhltH knew the actors we'll,
lly&7 and grew up almost
ETut side by side with them,
am in position to vouch for the en-
tire accuracy of the tale, the scene OF
which was a partially-cleared farm,
not far from the one on which i my
self was born.
This farm was owned and occupied
by man named George Morgan, who,
three years before the date of my
story, had removed, with his wife and
two children, from the State OF Ohio,
and bought the then wild tract, put
up q log house and barn, and gone to
work with the indomitable energy OF a
bAckwoods pioneer to make himself a
home.
All went we'll with the sturdy settler;
he now had thirty acres of fertile land
cleared and partly under crop; his
son, Robert, at this time fourteen
years of age, was daily becoming more
helpful; while "Baby" Madge, four
years old, was the delight and pet OF
the household.
By the middle of Augustin this year
1881, all the products OF the little
fields, except Indian corn, late oats
and potatoes, had been safely harvest
ed, and very early on q certain morn
itg the thrifty farmer set out with an
oX-team and wooden-shod sled, there
being no such q thing as wheeled yehi-
clein the neighborhood, to convey to q
small grist mill, ten miles distant, a
few bushels of new wheat, in order to
provide the family with enough flour
to last until the early SHOWS should
come.
This precious grain had been labor
iously thrashed out by means OF the
natures fanning-mill, the free winds
of heaven; and it is not surprising
that bread made from it should seem
to taste-as old timers strenuously
insist, far sWeeter than any which
can be produced from our modern,
double refined, patent-process flour,
out of which, in truth, the life is too
often ground.
AS Mr. Morgan would have to
t'wait his turn" at the primitive
water-power mill, he was not expected
to return until late at night, perhaps
not before next day, and his wife was
thus left with only Rob and little
Madge for company. But, SO far as
she knew, there was nothing to be
afraid of, the few Indians, still re-
manning in the country being all friend
ly, and none of the wild animals then
Astounding in the woods being at all
likely, she thought, to make a descent
upon the ''clearings" at this season.
Besides, Rob was in himself a strong
tower of defense, not many grown men
excelling the stout, active lad in
woodcraft or address in the use OF
firearms.
He had been all that day engaged In
a field close at hand, binding up into
sheaves quantity of oats previously
"cradled'' by his father; but about S
o'clock in the afternoon he broke off
for the purpose OF hunting up and
bringing home the three milch COWS,
which were allowed toroam the woods
at will.
Before starting on this errand, how
ever, he turned into the house for a
drink, and was taken quite aback
when his mother said:
What, all alone, Rob? What have
YOU done with little sister,"
81 have seen nothing of baby since
dinner time, mother. Is shenot here9''
replied the boy.
mot seen Madge? Why, Rob, she
went out nearly an hour ago to help
poor brudder work, as she said. She
must have lain down somewhere and
dropped off to Sleep
Surprising that they would find the
child taking a nap, as she had once
or twice before done, under the shade
of some hazel bushes growing between
the house and the barn, mother and
SON strolled leisurely out to bring her
: IN; but, to their great surprise, she
was not to be found, nor did repeated
calls elicit any reply.
1.-THE little mischief must be fast
asleep on the hay-mow," hopefully
observed Mrs. Morgan, walking on
toward the barn.
But neither here was any sign OF
the wanderer to be seen; and now,
really alarmed, the searchers separa-
ted and took different directions, the
mother going down the bank of the
creek and Rob along a rail fence lead
ing to the edge OF the woods, about
one fourth of a mile away, while from
both, reiterated but alas! all imam
swered shouts of; Madge! Madge!
Baby! Baby" broke in upon the
peaceful hush of the quiet summer
eve.
Now at many place., III the corners
OF the "snake" fence mentioned, there
had sprung up clumps of wild rasp-
berry and blackberry bushes, and, as
many OF the latter were still laden
With ripe fruit, Bob expected every