Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-03-28

ABIGAIL SHOWERS
VISITORS.
BY Hattie E. Briggs.
;SSS$ss%SSsSTSSSSySSSSSsss
. HERE is nothing | dislike
any more, my daughter,
than to go away from the

place to-day and leave You
and the children alone" said Farmer
Slower, of he disposed of his powder
flask and took down his rifle from the
side of the kitchen wall
"Oh. never mind us. daddy" said
Abigail, cheerfully. "Of course it will
he lonesome with YOU and mother both
gone, but We'll he safe enough. Don't
worry one bit about us
IL am not so sure about it 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 Il day or two
ago when l went across the clearing.
and I'm afraid it all means trouble
to the Whites
"But, father went on Abigail, "Mr.
Grey and all the other ncighbOis have
been so kind when you needed help
| 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
ngly. Il can even talk little In
| dian"
Not enough to save you. II there
was an uprising l fear" answered the
father. However, it is Il comfort to
me that you can handle your gun.
And in case anything happens, fire it
| fnrp tip,n., nj will h,, IN ION ~
it, as the air is very clear. and the
| distance so short, through the woods.
That is one good thing about our set
Element" he added, "the houses are not
far apart and we are Il protection TO
one another if trouble arises
"NOw. daddy" laughed Abigail "stop
looking for trouble. l have so much
to do to-day. You will be home before
I'm half ready for you, and now. sir
she said, looking ut him narrowly,
! "what do you suppose we are going to
have for supper tonight? I'll give you
one guess. You cant? Then Ill tell.
Mush"' she cried with 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 I'LL kinds of good
things
"Cood-bye, daughter. don't let the
children go outside and play" admon
ishel the father, his heart filled will
forebodings, as he left his log cabin
and started toward the unfinished home
of his neighbor, Il quarter of a mile
distant through the forest.
Jonathan SLOWER. in company will
small party of Fasteners, their wiv':
and children. had come into the vii
derncSS of Michigan seven months he
fore this, in the nope of founding
homes in what was then the furthcs
point of the known West. After months
of hardship and toll. the last house wa
to be finished on this day. and on thu
morrow corn was to he planted in TIT
small patches which these brave mel
had been able to clear.
"Now, children" said the older sister
after watching the father well ont o
sight, "if you see an Indian coming To
day. | want you both to hide as IaS
as your feet will take you. If | Sc
them first she went on, with he
arms about the small brother, I'll ri
on the Fireplace three times. and the
you are to get out of sight as 500
as possible. Don't go out of door
| once. for we must stay close tOgethc
! J all day" And with few more 1t
structOns, she was soon about he
work, trying to forget the dangers Q
hostile Indians.
: The day wore on, and when the su
Indicated that the time was DRAWN
on for the father TO return, Abiga
got out the kettles. hung them on til
!. crane and put on the water to heat fc
y the mush. Tho appearance OF tia
article on the table usually called fort
. some laughing remark from the Eas
ern-brcd girl, who was making bray
. effort to he happy in wilderness
} Just as the water commenced to bu
) bic, three sharp blows were struc
upon the hearth, and at the same II
l slant the little frightened form
dropped into the hole under the foo
which was reserved for times of sue
= peril. and the loose plank was quiet
put into place. The next moment
tall Indian. whose quick eye only 81
a young girl quietly dropping handful
of yellow meal into the boiling waite
/, appeared at the door. A nod was .
. changed between the girl and Il
l chieftain. whose entrance was follow'
; by another and another. until six |
= dams stood in the room. each wi
painted face and decked in the ira
pings of war. The silence was IL
. broken for several minutes, save +
the steady movements of the ir'
q spoon. which was grasped in Abigail
uuivering fingers. At length Nakom
who had hitherto held himself friend
toward the whites. advanced a st
and said in a heavy, cultural tor
q white man home? Nakomis Won
have speech with him.
Nakomis spoke Il little English. n
3 had taught Abigail the few lndi
"A words she knew.
a. MY father" replied the young q
lookin ing the brave straight in the fa
ks "is not far off. He will be here IN
moment. What do you want W
him.
al NO tell little white face" return,
~ the man, leering at her. "shH Era
- She big coward. White man coirn
o. White man CO. and he added wi
! eddy, Il kill him. lnjun get all WI