Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-07-19
JAcK.o.LANrERNs.
They Frightened Away Band of MUIR
dcrous Redskins.

dcrOuB Redskins.
A correspondent recounts the
thrilling experience Of two girls,
Prudence and Endurance Place, twin
sisters, who lived in the Cocheco Val
ley nearly two hundred years ago. At
that time the country from Ports
mouth to Ossipee was an unbroken
wilderness, and settlers were few in
the beautiful valley.
The Place family lived In a log
house in small clearing. Indians
occasionally called at the house; but
Mr.. Place treated them courteously
and never sent them away empty
handed. When Prudence and En-
durance were ii years Of age, Mr..
and Mrs. Place, with the younger
children, went on visit to Ports
mouth, leaving the twins to keep
house.
During the first day Of their home
keeping the girls gathered the big
yellow pumpkins from the field, and
laid them in a pile near the back
door. While resting from their la
Dor, they amused themselves by cut
ting two hideous "lack-o'-lanterns"
from large pumpkins, each seeking
to Guido the other In carving the
grotesQue features. They stuck them
on poles, fixed the candles inside,
and made ready to astonish their
father on his return by showing the
grinning ogres at the window. He
would know what they were, for he
had taught them to make "jack-o'-
lanterns"
While Endurance prepared the
simple supper and set the house to
rights for the night Prudence went
out TO drive home the cows and
sheep. She had to go further than
she had expected, and, as she came
near a brook, she was startled to see
three Indians on the other side, talk
ing earnestly, gesticulating, and
pointing now and then towards the
log house in the clearing.
Prudence was alarmed at their sus'
picious conduct Turning back, I'M.
perceived by them, she fled home
ward, and told her sister what she
had seen. "They've found out father
an mother have gone away, an
they're comm here to steal, an per-
haps kill us!" they said to each other.
For minute the frightened girls
knew not what to do. The "lack-o-
lanterns" were lying in corner Of
the room, and, like an inspiration it
occurred to Endurance that with
these horribly grlnning faces they
could scare away the Indians. Quick
ly they decided what to do. Near
the back door was pit dug for stor-
ing potatoes, now covered with board
and brush. Taking their "iack-o'-
lanterns" they scrambled into the
pit, and concealed the entrance clev-
erly by drawing the boards and brush
into place.
After what seemed hours of wait
ing and listening, the girls heard
stealthy steps about the house, which
was In total darkness, Then, listen
ing intently, they heard the Indians
in the garden, evidently searching
for them. Now was the moment for
action
The candles were lighted in the
"jack-o'-lanterns," and they were
thrust up through the brush The
Indians caught a glimpse Of the
frightful faces, and, filed with super
n
had seen devils. In the morning,
when Prudence and Endurance vent
ured forth from their concealment,
they found in the garden a toma-
hawk and three eagles feathers.
The spot was ever afterward regarded
with superstitious awe by the Indi-
ans, not one of whom was ever known
to approach the log house of the
Places,