Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-01-21
A Strange Pocketbook.


Sarah Caldwell was a little girl IL
years old, when, toward the close of the
Civil war she had a pcrilous drive, and
yet one which l am sure any OF you boys
and girls would envy her one night.
after she had prepared her lessons for
the next day and had little thought Of
any adventure ii might hold in store for
her, her father asked. We'll. little WON
an, how would YOU like to drive with
me tomorrow to LoWsviner"
Now, Louisville was thirty miles from
the little Kentucky town in which they
ilVed. and there was nj that time NO rail
road between the two places The drive
was one fnll of danger. Sarah knew. for
the euerrlliaS. a desperate band of plum
derers and highwaymeu, who did 50
much harm during the war, were con
stantly waylaylng travellers. robhinG
banks and raiding the little towns. So
when ner father proposed the drive her
feelings were mixture of surprise,
doubt aud delight. Our little heroine
was always ready tor adventure; and
having the greatest confidence in her
fathers ability To defend her. if neccs-
sary, She seized the chance TO go to the
city with him. She cared not to know
his errand, hut felt instiuctiyely that it
was an important one, for he was a busy
lawyer. judge and president of the
bank of their town.
So, unqueStiouingly. Sarah prepared
that night to start early the next mora.
ing. She noticed her mother was I'M
usually busy sewing on the dress she
was 10 wear, although She knew Of no
stitches necessary to Toe made on it. Yet
she did not wonder, hut with childish
confidence went to bed. radiant and rX-
peetant of the coming days pleasure
You children who travel 81 frequently
these days, in which trains run every
where AT all times, cannot appreciate the
keen delight of Il boy or girl forty years
ago, whose trips from home were red
letter days.
The next morning fou1:! Sarah M for
an early start II was late spring aud
the day glorious one. The drive lay
over the state Pike and led past
grassy fields and woods full of great
beech and oak trees, whose tender green
leaves were pecping forth The country
Is SO eNquisitely rolling that often at the
top of gently sloping but high Hill u
great panorama of beauty lay before
them. Along the roadside ran gray stone
fences. and now and then a tiny chip
munk would bob up from a crevice be-
sfween the stones, and Scnrrying along.
disappear as il by magic The noisy hlnc
jays were disc0rdantly crying in the
trees, aud the busy woodpeckers indus
trlousy hammering. while from time to
time a gorgeous rodbnd would hy by,
and all the birds seemed inspired hy the
splendor of the morning 10 sing their
sweetest.
Watching eagerly all this. aud unhced.
ing any danger that might lie in their
way, our travellers reached Boston Tay-
ern, midway between their town and
Louisville. 1t still stands at the foot Of
Boston Hill ana is long, low, rambling
structure, closely resembling the inns ot
old England. There excitement regncd
The stage coach stood at the door, and
its passengers were telling of an attacI,
made on them a few miles back by a
band Of gucrrillas who had stolen their
money, watches and the mail carried by
the coach. Here Sarah's courage way.
cred. for she had heard SO much of these
terrible men. But on her fathers rrus
surfing her that they would be too busy
escaping after this robbery to modest
them. she was eager To start again He
must have felt great uueaSiness, but his
daughter felt that her father was al
bravery and that nothing could harm hen
under his care
And nothing did harm them. although
along the path through q big woods Ian
mail strewn by the escaping gnerrillas
They reached Louisville in safety. IL
spite Of the fact that they were to bC
there hut for the day. Sarah's father toob
her to hotel On reaching their room
liz grayely told her TO take off her dress
and not being accustomed 10 questioning
him. she wonderngly obeyed, Reaching
out his hand for the dress and opening
his knife he began to rip the skirt frou
its lining: and to our little lady's aston
ished eyes appeared bank note after hank
note. amounting to thousands of dollars
Her mother had carefully sewcd them III
her skirt the night before. that the money
which her father had TO take from his
bank for deposit in the city might be car
ripd IN safety from the gucrrllas
This was the end Of an adventure hut