The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-08-30

his brother, determined to found
home for his family in the wilderness
of the fertile Aroostook valley.
Railway facilities were not good in
Maine 40 years ago; even stage ac-
commodations were limited, and did
not extend to the remote region to
which he was bound to go.
Grandmother Ruth was the eldest of
the family; then came Edward,
sturdy lad of 10; Joseph, but two
years younger, and nearly as large;
John, who was almost nine, and three
girls, Sally, Molly, and little Jane, the
latter not quite two years old.
The uncle's family, settled upon the
next lot" of land, was much the same.
In these woods were the homes OF
numerous wild beasts, many of them
dangerous when startled or hungry.
More than once they had seen the
black form of bear lowering in the
edge of the clearing, watching the lit
tie flock of sheep, doubtless with the
thought OF a mutton dinner More
than once they heard terrific screams
beyond the clearing in the silent night,
and though Great-grandfather Winslow
knew the sound very well, he kept his
own counsel, only commanding that
the children should stay near the
house in the day time and be within
doors before nightfall.
He also purchased new musket
and loaded the old one, over the door,
while every animal was safely housed
at night.
He even drilled the boys in target
shooting, and tried to have my Grand
mother Ruth learn to fire a gun. Once
she did attempt it, but her frightened
face pleaded her cause so well that
she was excused.
Il need not tell you that 1 obeyed
my father faithfully" laughed Grand
mother Ruth, when she told this story.
Il seldom went more than two rods
from the door, and l watched the
others in nervous agony" A needy
neighbor was hired to help in the
spring cleaning that spring, Mrs. Wal
dron, by name, an energetic Province
woman.
Law, now! You don't tell me that
you amt heard of the Injun Devil
that's prowlin' these parts now" she
said in surprise, when they mentioned
those mysterious screams.
What is it?" asked my great-grand-
father, coming in that moment, .sus-
pecting the truth by his wifes terrified
looks.
THE Injun Devil, Square Winslow.
You don't mean to say you didn't
know the critter was 'round?" asked
the gossip, curiously.
NO, / don't mean to say any such
thing, for l did know it," he admitted
reluctantly.
"Oh. father!' 1t was the terrified
voice of my Grandmother Ruth.
And that's why you bought the new
musket! Why you kept the animals
housed; and why you were so anxious
that we should all stay near the house
for awhile?" cried my great-grand-
mother, nervously.
Just that, my dear" he replied,
calmly. 1T is always well to be pre-
pared. But there isn't the slightest
danger, mother We will keep snug
awhile. and the brute will soon go
somewhere else. They never stay long
in one place, I've been told"
But, when weeks passed and moth
ing more was heard of the animal,
everyone concluded that he had gra-
ciously decided to leave them in quiet
for awhile.
One fine morning, toward the last of
June, my great-grandfather said as he
pushed his chair back from the break
fast table: II think that your mother
and have earned holiday, Ell. Ruth
A new family has moved in and set
tied at the creek, two miles down the
river-I suppose We ought to be neigh
borly. You boys must husk what lit
tie corn there is in the barn loft, then
YOU can go over and ask your cousins
to a candy-pull."
Then my greatgrandfather and
mother made ready and departed on
their neighborly visit, with one last
emphatically repeated caution not to
leave the clearing until they returned
The rest of the story will be better
perhaps, If told in Grandmother Ruth's
own words, as she told it to us. her
almost incredulous, but admiring
grandchildren:
when the boat went around the
bend the boys rushed away to husk
the corn, hurrying as fast as possible
with the thought OF delicious, waxen
maple candy to urge them on.
81 had the work nearly done up, and
was almost ready to take my knitting
and go out and sit under the great
maple tree by the door, when by
chance I glanced from the open win
dow, and a sight met my gaze which
seemed to freeze every drop of blood
in my veins, and chain me to the
spot.
81 stood and stared in speechless
helpless horror. heard the soft love
notes of the pair of robins which were
building their nest in the great maple
tree. | heard the boys laughing in the
loft. and Edwards triumphant shout
that the corn was nearly finished