Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-04-30
ABIGAIL SHOWERS
VISITORS.
BY Hattie E. Briggs.
CS3S$3$$3$3S - S$333$S3SG

any more, my daughter.
than to go away from the
G place to-day 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.
ooh! never mind us, daddy.o said
Abigail, cheerfully. "Of course it will
De lonesome with you ard mother both
gone, but We'll be safe enough. Don't
worry one bit about u.s.
Il am not so sure about it bein.
safe,' replied her father. "The In
ulans are none too friendly nowadays,
and they are getting moro restless
each week. Even old Nakomis, who
has always been on good terms with
the settlers, avoided me a day or two
ago when I went across the clearing
and I'm afraid it all means trouble
to the whites.''
But, father" went Oh Abigail, "Mr,
Grey and all the other neighbors 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
nelghbors. Why she added. laugh
ingly, Il can even talk a little In
dian"
Not enough to save you, if there
was an uprising, I fear" answered the
father However, it is comfort to
me that you can handle your gun.
And in case anything happens, fire it
four times and we will be sure to hear
1t, as the air is very clear. and the
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, if trouble arises"
Now. daddy" laughed Abigail, ''stop
looking for trouble. I have so much
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 do you suppose we are going to
have for supper tonight? I'll give you
one guess. You can't? Then I'll tell.
Mush!" 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 go outside and play admon-
jshed the father. his heart filled with
forebodings. as he left his log cabin
| and started toward the unfinished home
OF his neighbor, a quarter OF mile
| distant through the forest.
Jonathan Slower, in company with
small party of Fasteners, their wives
and children. had come into the viii
terness Of Michigan seven months be-
fore this. 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 to clear.
.':Now, Children said the older sister
after watching the father well out OF
sight, IF you see m Indian coming to,
day, want you both to hide as fast
/ as your feet will take you. IT / see
them frst,' she went Oh, with hel
| arms about the small brother. ''I'Il rar
on the fireplace three times, and then
you are to get out Of sight as soor
AS possible. Don't go out Of doors
once. for we must stay close together
| all day." And with few more n
structions. she was soon about hel
work. trying to forget heNangers OF
| hostile Indians.
The day wore on, and i hen the sur
! indicated that the time kyas drawing
Oh for the father TO return, Abigail
got out the kettles, hung them on the