Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-09-16
A BOY HERO.
'NeeeGeeeeeeeeeeeeee
GirTvEL1 US a story, granapa,-astorr;

Ltwas little blue4eyed Sadie who made
the request, as she climbed up to her
seat of honor on the old mans knee
All the children, with eager faces,
crowded round his chair, for they knew
th0t grandpa would refuse his little
favorite nothing.
What kind OF story, my pet?'' he
said, gently stroleing her golden Curls.
"a dOSt story"
Something about piNtesl" cried
Ralph, the eldest who did not believe
in fairies or ghosts.
"0r IndHansl Oh, do tell ua aNtrue
story about Indians, grandpalr ex-
claimed George. "MaCnma said that
you could tell us something wonderful
that happened once, if.you wished to-
something real true"
Every we'll, it shall be about Indians"
grandpa answered. land my hero is
only mine years old-about your age,
Georgia"
AstheChildrendrew thelrchairs near-
CIR to listen, they made q very pretty
picture In that co1y, Arelitroom.
"Many years ago" grandpa begun,
"there lived family of EnglishJ emil
grants on the western frSmtier. Their
home was not as confOr table as tins,
for the house was simply q log cabin,
without curtains or carr 'ets, and with
Ioopholes instead of window Yet Mr.,
Martin and his wife VIC re very happy,
as long as they were NJ ltouchedby In-
dlans, who were very fierce andA pow
erful at the time spF ak Of.
"The husband worked all day, cut
ting down trees In the nedghboraood
Sometimes he took with him his little
son, named Georgia, who looked,wery
much like the GeoTyfe who Is listening
to me now. The boy had large blue eyes
and long yellow cvrls--just lllse yolrs
my child.
$50 they oil Nved happily In thAs
strange, lonely home for,about4a year;
until one dark, rnoonlesS nighlt "a party
of Sioux Indians, on the w@rpath, sur
rounded the cabin, and woke the In,
mates with a fearful wasr-whoop.
"Mr. Martin, sprhngi,ng out Of bed
seized his carbines and two tTusty
pistols, and prepared to,defend the wife
and child whom he loved 30 we'll.
George held the weapons In readi.
ness for his father, while the mother
loaded them. Soon, alas, bullet fired
by the Indians pissed through the
loopbole killing instantly the courage
GUS Mrs. Martin"
"Gnandpa, you ore cryiugl" Sadie in.
terrupted, looldng up intotheol mans
face.
Hush, darlfng!" Unanswered, brush
ing something Hike moisture from hds
eyes. Let me tell you all the rest.
"Then Mr.. Martini lost all hope; but,
for the sake Of his child, hetmade Ogad-
liant struggle. The Indians, afber six
Of their number bad BEEN slain, burst
into the cabin, and ono of the fore
most, with a single blow OF hiR tomA-
hawk, killed the heroic EnayiishmAn."
"And what about Dorgiefa" Sadie asks,
with breathless interest.
"The child fred the last loaded pistol
at the savage who had murdered his
father. The charge took effect--the
Indian was dangerously wounded; but
a dozen weapons were immediately lev
eled at the boys head. BY the inter
ference of the chief, GeoFgEewas saved
from death, and carriedAswmy'as cap
tive.
"The Indians had neutrality-suspicious.
besides him-men whom they intended
to torture ON reaching home.
"After two weary days.of journeying
over the prairies, the partyra4 length ar
rived at Sioux village.
Crowds of old women and children,
accompanied by barking ours, came
forth to meet them, and especially to
jeer the helpless captives.
The next day, amidst.great rejoic-
lngs, the latter were putrto death at the
stake--according to the dnvariable Gus
tom Of the savages.
George was turnedrover by the old
warriors 10 be tortured by the Indian
children.
Initiating their elders, these little
wretches tied the white child with
leathern thongs to a talsedrivenshrm-
ly into the ground.
Before piling the brusMwood round
him, the Indian children, with much
yelling and confusion, retired to the
distance of about 20 PAGES, Rrmingthem
selves meanwhile with light toma-
hawks and with bowsmndl arrows.
"They first drew line which II was
forbidden to pass. Then each one in
turn stepped to the front and shot an
arrow, trying how close he could come
to the boy without hitting him.
George felt the arrows whiz past his
head. He was too much interested, or,
should say, surprised by the terrible
ordeal through which he was passing
10 feel afraid. But he grew very angry
when one of the missiles, better aimed
than the others, CARRIED away lock Of
1 his golden hair.
"The young Indians yelled their ap-
plause at this fine shot, and some
squaws standing near by seemed to en-
Joy the sport intensely, for they en-
couraged the children pcontinuO.