The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-05-07
ABIGAIL SHOWERS
VISITORS.
BY Hattie E. Briggs.
FSSYTS$SSSSS9STS

place to-day and leave you
and the children alone" said Farmer
Slower, Of he disposed Of his powder
flask and took down his ride from the
side OF the kitchen wall.
"Oh! never mind Us, daddy" said
Abigail, cheorfully. "Of course IL 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 Il being
safe replied her father. The In
dams 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 day or two
ago when l went across the clearing.
and I'm afraid il all means trouble
to the whites"
But, father" went on Abigail. MI.
Grey and all the other neighbo-s have
been SO kind when you needed helm
that 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 even talk a little In.
dian"
Not enough to save you, II there
was an uprising, fear answered the
father. However, It is 4 comfort 20
me that you can handle your gun.
And in case anything happens. IRE it
four times and We will be sure TO hear
it. as the air is very clear. aud tie
distance so short through the woods.
That is one good thing about our set.
tlement,' he added, THE houses are not
far apart and we are a protection to
one another. IL trouble arises
Now. daddy" laughed Abigail. "stop
looking for trouble. have so much
to do to-day. You Will be home before
I'm half ready for you, and now. sir"
she said, looking az him narrowly,
what DO you suppose we are going TO
have for supper tonight? I'll give you
one guess. You can't? Then I'll tell.
Mushr' she cried with a merry peal Of
laughter. you just forget that we
have had that treat every evening for
the past seven months. and imagine We
are back East. having all kinds Of good
things"
Goodbye, daughter. don't let the
children 90 outside and play" admon-
ished the father. his heart filed with
forebedincs. cs he left his log cabin
aud started toward the unfinished home
of4his neighbor, a quarter OF a mile
distant through the forest.
Jonathan Slower. in company with
q smail parry OF Fasteners. their wives
ana chldren. had come into the VIII
deuless of Michigan seven months be-
fOra tAis. in the hope Of founding
homes in what was then 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 10 clear.
''Now. children said the older sister.
after watching the father well out OF
sight, IF you see an indian coming to-
day. want you both 20 hide as fast
as your feet will take you. II 1 see
them first" she went on, with her
arms about the small brother. I'll 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 together
all day" And with a few more in
structions. 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, Abiga.
got out the kettles. hung them on the