The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-17
HOW WE ESCAPED.

You know nothing about Indians
now days. Little can you imagine
what it Is TO live, year in and year oUt,
in deadly fear of an attack by blood
thirsty and merciless savages; to have
every little unusual sound strike ter
ror into your heart; to be prepared
at any instant. night or day, to drop
everything and run for your life.
That's the way we lived When [ was a
girl: and bad as it was, when all
white people were united against the
common foe, it was worse when the
Revolution broke out. Then the set
tiers were divided among themselves,
and your dearest friend or nearest
neighbor might suddenly become your
worst enemy, ready to betray you to
the Indians or the British, or even to
rob and murder you themselves. So
bad are the passions reused by war.
Life was hard and full of terrors
then"
Ny Grandmother Wier was one of
the pleasantest figures of my child
hood. l can see her now, grand
and stately dame, erect and elegant,
carrying herself like a queen till the
day of her death, at ninety nine.
Her dress was always the same, for
she never favored modern fashions.
| remember [ used to look with ad
mlratlon at her feet, in daintiest of
black silk stockings, with embroidery,
and high heeled slippers, when every
body else wore shoes without heels
Her black silk petticoat, or, as we
should say, skirt, and short gown
CT the same, were of the best, and the
white muslin kerchief around Der
neck was the finest to be had. Over
her dress she wore long, wide, W hite
apron, and under it hong the wonder
Of my youth-her pocket
This pocket. which al ways held the
quaint old "hcusewife" and other
treasures we youngsters looked upon
with keenest interest, was made of
orocade, and tied around her waist |
over the dress. 1t was half yard |
long and quarter of yard wide, and |
It hung fiat against her side. The |
opening was a straight slit in the
middle of the front. Another thing
that hung from her waist by a long
string was pair of scissors, always
ready for US to use, but never to be
lent to US, or taken off.
Her abundant silvery hair was roll
ed back in waves on her head, and
over i she wore mob cap, with a
double tuted ruffie held in place by
ribbon put around her head and fast
enedb by two gold pins
Around her neck she always wore d
string of gold beads, which it was my
delight to look at and to handle She
never took them off, day or night, but
she promised them to NE because |
was named from her, and have them
before me now. Great, solid heavy
things, that l wonder any one could
endure to wear
But the most peculiar thing about
my grandmother dress was her red
cloak. 1t had been the most elegant
thing to be had when she was in her
prime, aud nothing would induce her
to change it. This, added to her
queer dress and gold beads, made her
real fairy godmother to US young
sters, especially as we were taught to
II. [ |
show respect to her
This Grandmother Wier was better
than any story book you little folks
have, for her stores were all trne: and
II l can tell you one that we always {
begged for, with half the vilidness ;
that she pnt into it, Pm sure your I
hair will rise, and you will turn cold ;
With horror aS we uSp1 tp do
"N hen l was only sixteen" went
on Grandmother Wier, laying down 5
her knitting. Il had fright from In t
iIans that l shall never forget | was
living with my brother, not far from t
where Saratoga now stands. |
HIS house was queer little affair, t
very common then, but now only TO 9
De seen IN the woods CT in new coun- Y
nes- 1t was built of logs, with few
and those not large Small :
IS they We're, however, they were u
nrther protected against Indians by
blocks fitted to the inside, SO that in a
'dse of danger the house could be C
urned IN few minutes into a re- a
pectabie log fort The door was
cry heavy, to resist savages and n
ther enemies. and the fastening was
Ike that you hear of in the story of ;.
led Riding hood, large wooden %
atch, on the inside, lifted by pulling =
string which was put through -
ole and hung down outside. At
light the string was pulled in, and
hen the door could not be opened
rom without. ,
This house was snug and cozy in f(
lde, and there | lived with my broth a
r, his wife and their five children.
II course my brother belonged to the b
continental Army, and We often did n
OF see him, nor hear of him, for II
'eeks at time a,
There was no telegraph at that r,
me, you know, to carry news, good
bad. at lightning speed. no daily tt
aper, with items from ali over the st
orld; and worse, there were no post OF
lice conveniences, which are so com b,
on now days that you can hardly ci
)neelve what it is to be without h,
lem. The only way we heard from
y brother was by special messenger, III
oy chance news from a neighbor or
ho had heard, or by traveller pass to
& through. Even then the reports m
'uld not be trusted; and so when he he
ent away, We bade him farewell. th
I'd at once put ourself in state of co
eye. to
Every night the windows were SO
ocked up, the lights carefully hid
IN SO as not to be seen by any prowl or
g savage, and the onty tirearm the 10
ouse contained, an old filnt-lock ca
uske', carefully inspected to see if
1t was IN order for surprise. and ke
ood up against the door where there b,
as small hole to peep through, and tb
so to fire through Unnecessary. if Then to
g would creep into our beds and get OF
hat SI1pn WA nnnI2