Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-06-20
PATIENCE RAwLIHs' HERolsm.

The fourth French and Indian
war was declared in due form at
Boston, Massachusetts,, and Ports.
mouth, New Hampshire, July 25,
1922, and The first appearance oi
the enemy in New Hampshire was
at Dover, where Joseph Ham was
killed and his three children taken
prisoners. The second victim was
Tristram Heard, and then came the
attack on tine settlement at Lamp.
rey River Landing, near Newmsrk-
ct, August 29th, when Patience
RawliIas, . girl only twelve years Of
/ sge, gave heFfife ID The hope of say.
ing those she loved.
In this settlement were four "gar.
risoned houses" so called because
they had been built with especial
reference to resisting the attack
from the Indians. The remainder
of the dwellings were ordinary log
buildings stoutly made, but not cal
culated to mold in check any con-
siderable number of savages.
After the war had been declared
it was customary for the inhabi-
tants of the little village to seek
shelter in the "block houses" dur
ring night, leaving their own homes
to the mercy of any hostiles who
might pass that way.
Nearly a year had elapsed since
the "'Three Years War" began, and
the dwellers at Lamprey River Land
ing had grown careless in their i'm
munity from an attack. During
two months prior to the goth of
August, Aaron Rawlins and his
brother Samuel, both of whom lived
on the outskirts of the settlement,
had neglected to take any precau-
tions for the safety of their family
after nightfall, owing to the annoy
ance and trouble of moving back
and forth every twenty-four hours.
Aaron's household consisted of
himself, his wife, Patience, a girl
of twelve years, Thomas, a boy of
eight, and Mary, two years younger.
This day had been exceedingly
warm, and AS the shadows of even
ing began to lengthen the members
of the family were seated on the
broad stone which served as step
to the door, when Jetho Mock, who
lived two miles further down the
river, came up, looking anxious and
excited. why are you here 2" he
asked, sharply, and Mr.. Rawlins
replied, laughingly.
because we are at home, which
is better than having two mile
pull in Il boat, as you must take be-
fore supper. -
Did you know your brother Sam
had gone to the block house ?'
"What las startled Sam now !:
He always was a :imorous man, and
during the past year has spent fully
a third of his time moving to and
fro, seeking shelter from savages
who never come"
This time, friend Rawlins, they
are reported to be close at hand, and
it behooves YOU to follow Samuel's s
example. shall take my little ones
into the settlement, even though /
am forced to travel all night"
"But where are the savages ~
"Have you not learned of the
murder of Tristram Heard %
THAT was done two weeks ago,
and the miscreants are in Canada
again long before this"
ait is said a party of eighteen
have been seen near the settlement,
and"
81 have heard such rumors before,
Friend Mock; but no harm has
come to me or mine yet"
"Be not otoverconfident. The eau
tious man il he who sees danger in
every bush
"And thereby loses much time
looking for it, when he had better
be tilling the not overgenerous soil.
The kindly intentioned neighbor,
who had walked half mile out of
his direct course in order to warn
his friend, made no reply, but hur-
ried on, fearful lest some harm
should already have come to his
loved ones.
Mrs. Rawlins was not as bold as
her husband, and Mr.. Mock had no
sooner disappeared among the trees
than she called her children into
the house, where she made certain
/ the windows were fastened as Sc