The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-06-26
ABIGAIL SHOWERS
VISITORS.
By Hattie E. briggs.
G$TTs > - B3B9S > - 3 s - ~ Is 8

[ 4ALhL is uOlulhS dislike
any more, my daughter,
than to 60 away from the
q place today and leave you
and the children alone" said Farmer
Slower, Of he disposed of his powder
flask and took down his rife from the
side of the kitchen wall.
"Oh! never mind us, daddy" said
Abigail, cheerfuIly. "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 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 a day or two
ago when / went across the clearing,
and I'm afraid it all means trouble
to the whites"
But, father" went on Abigail, "AIr
Grey and all the other neighbors 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
ingIy, Il can even talk a little IL
dian"
Not enough to save you, if there
was an uprising, fear" answered the
father However, it is a comfort to
me that you can handle your gun.
And in case anything happens, fire it
four times and we viii be sure to hear
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 a protection tc
one another, If trouble arises"
"Now daddy" laughed Abigail, "stoI
looking for trouble l have so mucl
to do to-day. You will be home before
I'm half ready for you, and now, sir,
she said, looking at him narrowly
what Go you suppose we are going t
have for supper tonight? I'll give yol
one guess. You can't? Then III tell
Musn" she cried with a merry peal O
laughter. you just forget that W.
have had that treat every evening 70
the past seven months, and imagine w
are back East, having all kinds of geo,
things"
Goodbye, daughter, don't let tn
children go outside and play" admon
ished the father, his heart filed wit
forebodlngs, as he left his log cabi
and started toward the unfinished HON
Of his neighbor, a quarter Of a mil
distant through the forest.
Jonathan Slower, in company wit
q small party of Fasteners, their wiye
and children, had come into the wi
derness Of Michigan seven months b.
fore this, in the hope Of foundin
homes in what was then the furthe'
point Of the known West After mont
of hardship and toll, the last house VS.
to be finished on this day, and on Il
morrow corn was to be planted in Il
small patches which these brave me
had been able to clear.
"Now, children, said the older siste
after watching the father well cut
sight. "if you see an Indian coming t
day. l want you both to hide as ia
as your feet will take you If l 81
them first" she went on, with b
arms about the small brother, I'll II
on the fireplace three times, and the
you are to get out of sight as sol
as possible. Don't go out of doc
once. for we must stay close togeth
all day" And with a few more
structions, she was soon about b
work. trying to forget the dangers
hostile Indians.
The day wore on, and when the s.
indicated that the time was drawn
on for the father to return Abig
got out the kettles. hung them on t