The morning call., 1892-08-02
AUNT MARTHA'S STORY.

So you want me to tell you about the
Mormon WAT? 1t was late in the autumn,
and we had just finished gathering our
apples The hickory nuts lay thick upon
the ground, but the hazel nuts were gath
cred. Hazel nuts are like impatient chill
dren-tbey wont wait. They pop Oh ITO
the fallen leaves. and their brown coiot
blends with the russell hues OF autumn ana
make their discovery almost impossible. 80
when the Mormon scare began we had gath
cred them all.
My father came from the fields one day
about 10 o'clock with the tidings that the
Mormons were burning houses and Killing
people over in the next county. we must
hitch the horses to the wagon ana take
what We could TO tie people, camp, about
three miles away. Mother made hole IN
the aSh-hopper and hid In 1t all her nice
chinaware and silver spoons; then she
buried our common things in the plowed
ground. Mat Holden and his sister Mary
Jane came to help US.
"Have you got your own things ready.
Matthew" mother asked the lad.
"Short horse soon curIied, he answered.
MANS g burryin' what little we got-couid
bury the shanty itself by / O'Clock IL
thought il was worth IL"
The Holdens we're what we called poor
white trash, and we never thought OF asso-
eiating with them upon terms OF social
equality; but miafortune Is great leVeleF,
and / found myself working beside Mat and
his sister without q thought OF being DIS
graced by their companionShip.
Old Mrs. Holden came over before we
were ready to start, and they all went with
us TO the camping place. Then Mat I'M
loaded cur "plunder' and brought us load
OF straw from a stack near by, afterwsrd
bringing one for his own use. Mother asked
Mrs. Holden II she would like to mess with
us and help do the work. an offer she gladly
accepted.
We had a good dinner that day and We
ate with shsrpened appetltes. Mrs. Holden
fried half dozen young squirrels IN her
Dutch oven and my oldest sister cooked
three great cOrnpones Ia ours. We had
plenty Of milk, for cur cow Reddy gave SIX
-eltGas a day, and we drank II all except
what mother gave away. We made great
oven half full of rich milk gravy after the
squirrels were fried. / never now taste
anything as appetiZing rs that dinner was.
Mat took some food TO father, who was
watching our home. he intended 10 shoot
If any one attempted to set IRE to il. BE
returned with two or three articles we
needed, and made several journeys back and
forth before bedtime.
We slept comfortably the first night in
eur straw, but many of the ether people
were cold. Mother took a poor woman and
her baby into her own bed in the wagon.
The WCmans name was Seeding. aud from
the first she looked upon the Holden
family with disfayor The next morn
ing she sat by the fire holding her baby
and watching Mat with very unlrIendly
eyes when he started of with fathers
breakfast. Presently her husband, shift
less sort Of man. Joined her. He waited
about until Mrs Holden went for pail Of
water, when he asked mother In a whisper
liz she wasn't afraid Of them HoldeBs, and
did she think it safe 10 let that boy leave
camp SO otter.
II tell you what. Mis- Mac" he said.
"thst kind o trash won't stick at noJhn'
and hell be coming back without your best
horse"
Mother laughed at this. Mat had been so
kind and obliging that she had taken fancy
10 the boy. But sure enough. he soon came
back on foot. He rushed up 10 her and
"Oh. Mis- Macl They took the boss and
meat couldn't help ltP'
WHO took them" mother asked, grow
Ing very white.
Il told you SOP Seeding trlumphantly
Two strange men l never saw before.
But I'll get the mare back again. will, if
die for itW
.'YounEster. you lIe." eeding said.
'You come along with we men-we'll fix
you"
Mother. who was a courageous little
woman, pushed Mat against the wagon and
stood ia front OF him. By this time every
body in camp was swarming nTOund, and
THE less cool heads were adopting Seeding S
theory.
LES whip him until be tells what be has
done with the horse" some one suggested.
dozsn knives were out at once, and long
tough withes were cut.
''Men, mother exclaimed, "y0u touch
this boy only over my dead bodyP'
n
Seeding said, with sneering laugh. Wen
just throw an arm around your waist and
set you quietly to one side"
He diG sc. and jerkod poor Mat away be-
fore mother could recover her breath. But
the lad was strong and agile, and broke
itEom his captors, wac pursued him IN vain.
when / come back, Mis- Mac, I'll have
the marcel he cried as he ran.
Two days afterward tbs MOrmons ap-
peaTed and cur men went cut to meet them,
There was good deal of noise, bat nobody
WAS killed on cur side. We never knew
how many Of the MormoDs fell. Just about
the time they began to retire Mat came from
the risht flank aud galloped toward our
men. He was riding Fancy. the stolen
horse. Before ne reached them he was
struck By spent ball and fell from the
saddle.
MAT Holden is killed. |" some one cried.
INC. l haintV he shouted. as he sprang
upon Fancy's back.
take the news of victory to the scared
women and children. Mother kissed him
and called him her dear boy her
brave young Zero, while we all stood
around and cried for We though heEhad been
killed. At last mother raised her head and
wiped her eyes.
init. Seedlings the only man that's here, -
she said, laughing a little. "He stayed to
guard the women and children-his heart is
SO tender toward the helpless"
"Jes' So" said Mat with shrewd look.
And then We all laughed and felt cheerful
again.
''How did you secure Fancy?" ! asked.
81 found the Mormons' camp and lay
around until l got a chance. The felleT
that stole her slept with the halter around
bis wrist both nights. / shouldn't have got
her At all, but he was killed, and whistlsd
the mare 10 me. She come ike she knowed
what was what. / tell you what, Mis- Mac
i generally get what try for"
"ADd / hope you always WILL" said
mother.
Well. the Holdens were poor, industrious
and needed a home. They lived with u;
until the children started out for them
selves. Mat is now one Of the richest meI
In Missouri