Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-01-20

were turning green, albeit we could
see, here and there on the high ledge
above u.s. little patches of snow-the
fading footprints Of winter Day and
night we cculd hear the wings OF the
wild fowl roaring in the upper air 81
they flow northward. Summer was
comrS-the summer of Island the
war with the British. The president
had called for hundred thousand vol
unteers to go into training for battle.
He had also proclaimed there would be
no more whipping in the ranks. Then
my father told me that, since could
have no peace at home | should be off
to the war AMI done with it.
We were working near the road
that day. Thrust Miles came gallop-
ing out of the woods, waving his
cap at us. We ran to meet him
my father and l and the children. He
pulled up a moment his horse lathered
to the ears.
"Injuns," he shouted. Cit out o
here quick n mex fer the Corners!
Yell be ell massacrced eff ye don't"
Then he whacked the wet flank of
his horse with a worn beech bOugh. and
off he went.
We ran to the house in great panic.
l shall never forget the crying of the
children Indians had long been the
favorite bugbear of the border country.
Many winters evening we had sat in
the freight, fear-faced, as my father
told of the slaughter in Cherry Valley;
and, with the certainty of war, we all
looked for the red hordes of Canada
to come, in paint and feathers.
Ray" my father called to me, as
he ran, "ketch the COW quick an bring
'er long"
| caught her by the horn and brought
Ter to the door quickly. Mother was
throwing some clothes in a big bundle.
Father met me with a feather bed in
his arms. He threw it over the back
of the COW and bound it on with a bed
cord That done, he gave me the lead
ing-rope to tie about her horns. The
hoofs of the flying horse were hardly
out of hearing when we were all in the
road. My mother carried the baby, and
my father his sword and rifle and one
of the little ones. | took the three
older children and set them on the
feather bed that was bound to the
back of the COW. They chung to the
BEDFORD, their hair flying, as the old
COW ran to keep up with us, for at first
we were all running. In moment we
could hear the voices of people coming
| behind. One of the women was weep
| ing loudly as she ran. At the first
| cross-road We saw Arv Law and his
family coming, in as great a hurry as
we. Arv had a great pike-pole in his
hand Its upper end rose 20 feet above
his head.
What We goin' t. dew with thet?'
my father asked him.
Coin t run it through the fust In
jun l see," said he. 81 We broke the
lock O my gun"
| There was a crowd at Jerusalem
Four Corners when we got there
Every moment some family was arriv-
ing in a panic-the men, like my ia.
Their, with guns and babies and baskets
The women, with the young, tool
refuge at once in the tavern, while the
men surrounded it. Inside the line
were youths, some oddly armed will
sings or clubs or cross-guns. | ha(
only the sword my father gave ne
and mighty longing to use it. Ar
Law rested an end of his pike-pole
and stood looking anXiously for red
devils among the stumps of the far
Their clearing An old fiint-lock, on the
shoulder of a man beside him, had a
barrel half as long as the pole. Da-
vid Church was equipped with AK and
gun, that stood at rest on either side
of him.
A Evening came, and no sign # In
dams. While it was growing dusk
borrowed q pail of the innkeeper anC
MIXED the COW, and brought the pail
heaped with froth, to my mother, who
passed trimming cups of milk among
the children. AS night fell, we boys
more daring than our fathers, crept tC
the edge of the timber and set the
big brush-heaps afire, and scurrie(
back with the fear of redmen at Oul
heels. The men were now sitting il
easy attitudes and had begun to talk
Don't blieve there S no lnjun'
comm" said Bill Foster. EFF the!
wus they'd come"
"Cordin' t my observation" sail
Arv Law, looking up at the sky, In
juns mos gen ally comes when they gi
ready"
An t amt when yer ready t he
EN-, nuther," said Lon Butterfield.
"B'lieve they come up n peeked on
o the bushes n see Arv with the
air pike-pole, n med up their mind
they hedn't better run up ag'in it,
said Bill Foster. "Scairt 'em-thet'
whuts tn matter"
Man ct meks light O. this pol
| nue htnr hey [, carrX II - said AIRY q