Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-08-29

Forty-fve years ago my great.grand-
father Winslow left his comfortable
home In the western part Of the old
Pine Tree state and, accompanied by
his brother, determined TO found a
home for his family in the wilderness
OF the fertile Aroostook vall-v.
Railway facilities were not good In
Maine As years ago; even stage ac-
"cummodations 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, a
gturdy lad Of Is; 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 seer the
black form of a 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 a new musket
AMI loaded the old one, over the door,
while every animal was safely housed
al 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 Il. but her frightened
face pleaded her cause so well that
she was excused,
Il need not tell you that ! ooeyed
my father faithfully" laughed Grand
mother Ruth. when she told this story.
4 seldom went more than two rods
from the door. and / watched the
others in nervous agony" 4 needy
neighbor was hired TO help in the
spring cleaning that spring, Mrs Wal
drun, 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 wife's terrified
looks.
The lnjun Devil, Square Winslow.
You don't meal to say you didn't
know the critter was 'round?" asked
the gossip, curiously.
No, ! don't mean to say any such
thing. for ! 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 aShile?" cried my great-grand
mother. n%ervously.
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 SINUS
awhile, and the brute will soon &C
somewhere else. They never stay Ions
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 quio
for awhile.
One fine morning, toward the last o
June, ny Sreat.grandfather said as h
pushed his chair back from the break
fast table: Il think that your motbe
and I have earned a holiday, Ell. Ruth
A new family has moved IN and set
tied at the creek, two miles down tn
river-I suppose we ought to be neigh
borly. You boys must husk what III
tie corn there is in the barn loft, thel
you can go over and ask your cousin
TO a candy.pull.'
Then my great.grandfather AM
mother made ready and departed OF
their n%eighborly visit. with one las
emphatically repeated caution not t.
leave the clearing until they returned
The rest of the story will be better
perhaps, If told in Grandmother Ruth
own words, as she told 1t to lis, he
almost i~ncredulous, but admirin
grandchildren:
When the boat went around III
bend the boys rushed away to hus
the corn, hurrying as fast as possibl,
with the thought Of delicious, wake
maple candy to urge them on.
Il had the work nearly done up, an
was almost ready to take my knittin
and go out and sit under the grea
maple tree by the door, when b
c1ance ! glanced from the open vii
dow, and a sight met my gaze whic
Zsemed TO freeze every drop of bloc
in my veins, and chain me TO tn
spot,
Il stood and stared in speeches
helpless horror. ! heard the soft Low
notes of the pair Of robins which weI
building their nest in the great map
tree. | heard the boys laughing in II
iOlli ana EuNdlu triumphant SnOl
that the corn was nearly hnishe
while a new fear came, the fear thi
1t would be finished sooner than
wished.
i heard the girls sun merrily cour
ing their needles, and s~huddered VIII
Sally cried out that she had only "
more to knit before her stint W