The Progress., 1893-09-02
GRANDMOTHER'S STORY.

order and had been repeatedly ad-
dressed that day to me. boy Of 10
or u years. ''lf you'll DO quiet
and listen I'll tell you the story
about my half-sister Betty-hcr that
married Farmer Andrews, of Han
over. She was like many another
that leaves home and friends to fol-
low the man of her choice" cOntin-
ued my graetlma, forgetting that she
had told me the same story only the
day before.
This aged story-teller was Mary
/ Caldwell, of Southern Lancaster
county. Penn. She died at the ad-
vanced age of 10 years. having
retained her mental and physical
faculties Except ng sight, which be-
came imperfect early, up TO the
last, and giving evidence all through
her long life of extraordinary wiz
power and independence.
~ es, he was my ma f-sister and
her name was Betty-Betty Andrews.
All! this happened a long time ago
when | was but Guilty bairn. but i
mind it weel in early date as if it
had all happened but yesterday.
Yes, she married Andrews, and they
lived on a farm away beyonds the
Susquehanna at Hanover. They were
! as well to do as most people at that
day. The houses were all small and
the main rooms were the kitchen and
the best room. There were no stoves,
but there was biz fireplace that
would hold the whole family, and it
swung great crane. from which
hung hooks. and from the hooks hung
the pots for cooking. Their bread
was bannocks of corn meal, baked
over the hot ashes. Their dishes
were of wood. sometimes of pewter,
and stood in bright array. In the
kitchen stood the spinning wheel,
with which the women spun the wool
and fax for family use.
betty was a thrifty woman and
nn, snun, with her own hand, her
wool and fax. ard sent it to the mill
to be woven into cloth for her own
and husbands wear, One morning
she began to think it was about time
for her to go to the weaver and bring
home her cloth. The old mare was
safe and the.day was fine.
"Old Nan was soon saddled and
bridled by her master and brought to
the gate in front of the house Betty
soon appeared in holiday dress and
as she stood in the doorway. with
her baby in her arms. her husband
/ thought he had never before seen so
handsC me a woman. Sne jumped
into the saddle and the smiling baby
was quickly lodged in his mother 8
arms. There were no carriages in
those days about Hanover and the
women knew how to ride seback
/ and to carry children, one before and
one behind. oftentimes.
"sNow go on, old mare, and bring
safe home my wife and child.
"Nan champed her bit and proudly
started off with her precious burden.
Andrews stood watching his loved
ones until at last they disappeared.
The country was far from state
of peace in every part. The Br. tish
and the French were fighting and
Indians with tomahawks and French
muskets in their hands were roaming
here and there. sometimes on secret
missions, to capture. or scalp and kill
Hanover. being far from any seat OF
war, felt no immediate danger.
NAN had carried her treasure in
safety a nile from home and was
gently trotting on a smooth piece OF
road. when bang! went a gun Poor
Nan. shot in the head. dropped to the
earth. and mother and babe rolled
upon the ground, stunned but unhurt
A band of Indians. from their am
bush. rushed up. captured the woman
and child. and made off with them as
fast as they could 60 The savages
were on their way back to Canada to
report to the French commandant.
They avoided settlements and kept
within the thick woods. The child
was soon found to be troublesome.
when by permission OF the chief ii
was scalped and then killed by dash.
ing its head against a tree. And this
dreadful deed was done before the
wretched mothers eyes. The in.
fant's scalp. too, hung on pole, was
carried before In full view
The mother. being hard to drag
on fast enough. would have beer
killed at the same time with the
child but for the interference OF the
chief. who had promised to bring the
French commandants wife a captured
Englis shwoman for waiting maid, and
Betty, being comely and goodly tc
look at. was considered BY the chic
well suited for the position. Betty,
however. was spared against hel
will, for having witnessed the shock
ing death OF her baby, she begged
the Indians to kill her also. and thu:
end her misery.
1.-The Indians in their maraudins
expedition had taken a number o
scalps. but Betty Andrews end Z
Dutch boy. whom they had picked vi
In some quartar were the only cap