The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-12-18
ABIGAIL'S VISITORS.
BY HATTIE BRIGGS.


Slower, as he disposed Of his powder
! mask and took down his rife from the
, side Of the kitchen wall
= "Oh! never mind us, Daddy" said
; Abigail, cheerfully. "Of course It will
be lonesome with you and mother both
gone, but Wen be safe enough. Don't
worry one bit about us"
Il am not so sure about II being
safe," replied her father. THE In
dians are none too friendly nowadays.
, and they are getting more restless
each week. Even old Nakomis, who
has always been on good terms with
the settlers, avoided me a day or two
ago when l went across the clearing,
and I'm afraid 1t all means trouble to
the whites"
'But, father" went on Abigail, "Mr.
Grey and all the other neighbors have
been so kind when you needed help
ehat you can't stay away to-day when
they are to finish putting up the house
with this days work. You know I'm
on pretty good terms with our red
neighbors. Why" she added. laugh
ingly. Il can talk q little Indian"
Jonathan Slower. in company with
small party OF fasteners. their
wives and children. had come into the
wilderness Of Michigan seven months
before this. in the hope Of founding
homes in what was the furthest point
OF the known west After months Of
hardship and toll, the last house was
to be finished on this day. and on the
morrow corn was to be planted in the
small patches which these brave men
had been able to clear.
Now, children" said the elder sis
ter, after watching the father well out
Of sight, "if you see an Indian coming
to-day want you both to hide as fast
as your feet will take you. II I see
them first" she went on, with her
arms about the small brother. "Ill
rap on the fireplace three times. and
then you are to get out Of sight as
soon as possible. Don't go out Of
doors once, for we must stay close to-
gether all day" And with few more
instructions, she was soon about her
work. trying to forget the dangers Of
hostile Indians.
The day wore on. and when the sun
indicated that the time was drawing
on for the father to return. Abigail
got out the kettles. hung them on the
crane and put on the water to heat
for the mush. Ehe appearance Of that
article on the table usually called
forth some laughing remark from the
eastern-bred girl. who was making a
brave effort to be happy in a wilder
ness. Just as the water commenced
10 bubble. three sharp blows were
struck upon the hearth. and at the
same instant the frightened little
forms dropped into the hole under the
floor, which was reserved for times OF
such peril. and the loose plank was
quietly put into place.
The next moment a tall Indian,
whose quick eye saw only young girl |
quietly dropping handfuls Of yellow
meal into the boiling water. appeared |
at the door. A nod was exchanged be-
tween the girl and the chleftain. whose |
entrance was followed by another and |
another. until six Indians stood in the |
room, each with painted face and |
deGked in the trappings of war The |
silence was unbroken for several min
utes. save FOR the steady movements |
OF the iron spoon. which was grasped |
in Abigail's quivering fingers. At
length Nakomis, who had hitherto be ID /
himself friendly toward the whites. ad-
vanced a step and said in a heavy,
cultural tone, "White man home?
Nakomis would have speech with
him"
Nakoniis spoke little English and
had taught Abigail the few Indian
words she knew.
my father" replied the young girl.
looking the brave straight in the face,
"is not far OF. He will be here In a
moment. What do you want with
him?"
mo tell little white face" returned
the man, leering at her. she 'fraid.
She big coward. White man coward.
White man 60" and he added wick
edly, 81 kill him. Injun get all white
mans scalp" and going toward the
girl, with his cruel eyes upon her face.
he laid one hand on his tomahawk and
stretched the other toward her.
With q wild cry, born of the des-
perauon Of the moment. Abigail Sill
over raised the spoon filled with boil
ing mush, and as the Indian almost
had her in his grasp. she dashed 1t
full into his face. AS he turned with
q howl Of rage and pain. she grabbed
an iron dipper from its nail at the side
Of the hearth, filled it with the por- ,
ridge and flung it at the red mans ,
neck and head as he fed through the
door. The other Indians attempted to ,
stop the now infuriated girl. who knew ,
she was fighting for her life, but as
each turned toward her he received
the scalding mush full in his eyes, and ,
In a few seconds the last one Of the
six left the door Of the cabin. smart
Ing with pain and rage. the contents J
Of the kettle being about evenly dis :
tributed over the bodies Of the half r
dozen Chippewas. Later on no one
was known to have died from the re-
suits OF his burns
When Jonathan Slower returned to /
bis home accompanied by his neigh {
oors, in response to the four shots b
rom the rife. Abigail was lifting her 1
title brothers ont Of their places Of y
'afety. and. as she sank Imply into I
ler fathers arms. she said. with an o
lttempt at her old gayety. Daddy. We
ant have any mush for supper" f
This incident happened 20 miles
rom whero Detroit now is. and by the
pot where the Slower cabin then
ar. Il.