The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-02-09
The Father
of His
Country
By FRANK E. CHASE.

1t would have been a striking spec
tacle upon a New England country
road, and it lacked its due effect un-
der its present circumstances only
because, as far as the eye could reach
over the treeless and illimitable prai-
Tie, there was not living creature in
sight to behold it. 1t was a caravan
of three vehicles, drawn by sorry
looking teams of horses. One clumsy
wagon, covered with a tilt that had
once been white, was the prototype
of the prairie schooner" of later
days. The others were gaudily
painted vans, boldly inscribed with the
legend:
PROF. TODHUNTER'S GREAT MORAL
WAX WORKS.
Day after day, week after week, it
had crawled along over the untraveled
plains, toward the golden promise of
California. The railroads which now
make this journey trifling affair had
not then been built to simplify the
managerial problem, but in managerial
energy the dauntless Todhunter was
ahead of his time, and he did not per-
nit mere difficulties to stand between
him and the professional rewards Of
the new Eldorado. There were, be-
sides, compensations. He had exhib-
tied, with varying fortune, as long as
there were settlements to provide au-
diences; and if the pace of his little
procession was that Of a snail, it
characteristically carried its house
along with it, for the canvas-covered
cart bore all his household-his wife
and two children. Altogether, his
progressive domesticity had been
a rather pleasant business, his
closet containing but one skeleton
the noble redman. But now the end
of his long journey was near at hand,
and the dread Of this peril of the road
had all but worn itself out and given
place to pleasant sense Of security.
Thus 1t was with him in the after
noon of an oppressive day when, all
at once, the horses, guided by some in
stinct, suddenly pricked up their ears
and quickened their weary pace, and
the driver on the foremost wagon,
looking ahead, saw the tree tops that
told of water and camping place. He
announced the ong-hoped-for discov-
cry without excitement.
There y'are, guv'nor-right ahead"
he called out, lazily
~ +hn
sound from the seat of the tilt-wagon
at the rear of the caravan, and from
this elevation peered ahead under his
hand without speaking, AS he did so
the curtains behind him parted and a
womans face looked out.
What is it, Bill?" she said.
Matthias seen suthin'," replied her
husband, still staring intently ahead.
mot Injuns?" she asked, anxiously.
At this word two children, boy Of
12 and little girl, appeared at either
side of her.
mo, not Injuns, Mria," he said, re-
assuringly. Gods country ag'in.
Trees. An grass. Giddap!" And sit
ting down again he smote his horses
a leisurely and impersonal blow with
the reins, at which they slightly quick
ened their pace.
Amt they goin' to be no Injuns,
pop?" said the boy, an active lad,
brown Of skin and resolute Of eye.
you don't wanter see no Injuns,
SAM" replied the father.
Eyes, do" said the boy, sturdily.
That's all come for"
Prof Todhunter chuckled proudly at
this as the boy climbed to seat at
his side and looked sharply about him
after the manner ascribed by his ia
vorite writer's OF fiction to that just
ly celebrated connoisseur of Indians,
Comanche Dick,