Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-10-28
OF OLDEN DAYS.


and all the western sky was aglow with
on the doorstep of her home was spinning
flax as she hummed softly to herself
snatches of old English ballads, until she
was startled by the sudden report of
gun. The frightened girl, realizing the
situation, instantly left her spinning
Wheel and fled into the house, where her
guardians wife was preparing the even
ing meal. The house, story and half
frame one. was situated in a small clear
ing near the Hoosick river at Petersburgh,
\. Y, and was one of the first substan-
tial houses erected in that section 1t
was not an unusual thing for the settlers
in Petersburgh in those early days to be
attacked by Indians and to be suddenly
called upon to defend their lives and
their homes by heroic measures.
Elizabeth Manchester, the maiden
spinning beside the door, was born and
bred in England When she was Is
years of age her mother died, and her
father, who had many friends in New
England, embarked for America, taking
her with him. The long sea journey had
made her father very i'll and fatigued him
much more than he wished his little
daughter to know. and he rejoiced when
they were safe in Salem, Mass, with
their dear old friends the Brimmers, who
had awaited them anxiously. Mr.. Man
chester did mot survive the New England
winter. When dying he left his daughter
in charge of his beloved friend, john
Br;mmer
The Brunaner fagliiy consisted of the
father, John Brimmer, mis- estimable wife
and two stawart SONS, Godfrey and
John, Jr. The latter were fine, mobile
boys, and John especially was very hand
some. AT the I1me Elizabeth was added
to their household John was just in early
manhood. He was five years older than
cousins, although there was no relation
ship between them. Their fathers were
lifelong friends and their mothers school
chums in dear old England, 80 when the
Brin1mers found themselves upon foreign
soil, in a vast new country, they wei
coined Elizabeth in their family more as
a beloved daughter than friend.
Mr.. Drummer was very ambitious and
had sought the new world for purpose,
so he and his family pushed ON and ON to
the then western frontier and were
among the first to settle in Petersburgh,
n. Y, a truly beautiful and fertile coun-
try, almost in, although beyond the now
famous Berkshire Hills. Here they
cleared the land and made a home for
themselves, first living in a very crude
cabin, but after two years of hard, pa
tent toll they erected their fine frame
land under cultivation were beginning to
be very comfortable indeed. They were
= and had always been exceedingly friend
~ with the Indians around them, and
had helped them in many ways. In re-
turn they had as yet met with no hostiii
ties from the savages.
Mrs. Brimmer was skilled in all house
hold duties. She and Elizabeth kept The
farmhouse as clean and pure as the finest
manor in old England, while Mr.. Brim-
mer and the boys worked diligently to
clear the land and cultivate the fields
They had been three years in their new
home, and they had been very busy yet
happy years.
How we'll Elizabeth remembered the
Journey from Salem! 1t had taken them
many weeks to reach their destination.
They had made the journey in summer
travelling like gypsies. She had been
Cousin Johns especial care on the trip
ana beng so constantly together natur-
ally they became very dear to each other
Then came the building and settling of
the new home. How much pleasure it
had been to help beautify the home. for
she loved them all SO dearly
The second year they raised some flax
Tor Elizabeth spinning wheel had been
brought all the way from Salem over the
mountains and hills ON the great OK cart
that had carried Mrs. Rrimmer's rock ng
chair, silver tea sat used in England and
other very precious household articles.
AS this May day was warm and sunny
Elizabeth had carried her wheel out of
DOORS where she could work in the open
air and listen to Johns coming. She III
tended to make a great supply Of linen
for their home and for herself, for John
has asked her to be his wife.
- a While Elizabeth sat there spinning
Mrs. Brinlmer III the house was laying
the cloth for tea and Mr.. Brimmer and
the bows Were at work blowing in q near
I'D;
approaching. They had never been mo-
Tested by the Indians, but many of their
nelghbors had recently been called upon
to take precautions against them, for
they We're becoming very troublesome
and even dangerous. The Brimmers had
carried their guns with them to the field
but with little thought of using them.
AS the Indians moved forward in
sly and cautious way they feared trou-
bic, and A1r. BFimmer started at once for
the house, telling ms SONS to unharness
the horses and follow quickly. Before
they could comply with their fathers re-
quest the Indians, four in number, were
upon them. The boys at once grasped
their guns. and just as they were about
to get on the horses and make dash for
the house an Indian fired and Godfrey
fell dead This was the firing that had
startled Elizabeth.
John, seeing his brother fall, left mis-
horse and unobServed by the Indians
crept toward some bushes, where he sue
ceeded in hiding himself from their view,
though he was in easy range Of them.
He drew up his gun to fire and was TAX
ing aim at one of the leaders when unfor-
tunately a leaf falling from the tree
above him lodged upon the sight of his
gun, so that it was necessary TO change
his position. In doing so he was discov-
cred. He and one of the Indians then
stepped out and deliberately fired at each
other, but without effect. The discharges
were so simultaneous that he. thinking
the Indian had not fired, but would inn
mediately do so. dropped the butt of his
gun on the ground, placed one hand over
the muzzle and extended the other in
token of surrender
This pleased the Indians. who were
now upon him with terrific yells of vic
tory. One of them grasped him by the
'ollar and passed around him three times.
Nrcnifying you are our prisonerr' Hap
ply they did not go near the house. Hav-
inc Secnrpd (YO6frav'c In 4