The Washington times., 1913-06-19
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
HOW FREDA. SAVED THE FORT.
<t-REDA. FREDA." said the lit

<I IbII<A, cdiu thC nv
IL; And Dutch s s,r' %ssss'; %,ss blue skirt
wooden shoes, and bonnet or
her head came running out of the COW
shed.
You have always wanted to be boy
child" laughed the mother. Now Ii
the time to show what a girl can do. II
What Is your task. mother mine,
asked the girl. I'm sure 1 viii
stand by 1t as sturdily as Hans"
No, No! I do not expect you to fight
the Indians" returned the mother. But
all the grown folks of the town are
going to the woods today and We will
leave the children in your charge. There
Is no reason to fear any trouble, for all
the Indians about are friendly. but II
anything unpleasant should happen. run
into the fort and shut the gates tight.
By the whole party of grown folks
were out Of sight and all the children
gathered in the yard Of the Van Huten's s
home. There were not many people or
children either, for the village was one
Of Dutch settlers in colonial days on
the land that Is the present site. OF
busy towns In New York. But the
children were not afraid. for they had
become accustomed to living in a wild
country.
At noon Freda brought out some
lunch. which the children ate under the
trees. The house stood on a short hill.
with the fort few hundreds yards away
on the edge Of the river. As Freda
stood looking out over the water: she
saw a canoe suddenly shoot out from
the opposite shore, then another and
another till there was string of
at least ten. All were full Of Indians
in CAV blankets. their faces painted and
their heads crowned with war-bonnets
of bright feathers.
..The Indians are coming!'' cried
Freda. but do not be frightened-we
will run to the fort and bar the gates"
The children sat out at full speed. and
in a few moments were within the fort.
Freda. with their help, swung the heavy
gates shut with a clang. Then they
rushed to the upper part Of the fort and
peeped out of the tiny windows. On the
river below the canoes Of the Indians
came swiftly gliding toward the place
Freda knew all about loading a mus
ket, for she was the only girl in a
family Of six boys. In the fort was a
plenty of powder and several dozen
muskets, and these guns could be
stuck through the tiny holes and fired
below at the Indians without there
being any danger at all to the person
in the fort.
Il will load a dozen muskets and fix
them in the windows pointing at the
spot on the beach where the Indians al
ways land" explained Freda to the rest
of the children. You must not be
frightened-we can scare the enemy on
till our parents come"
So the girl quickly loaded a dozen
muskets, fixed them firmly in the tiny
windows so that they pointed at the
river landing. and then she ran to the
storeroom and brought out a dozen uni
forms that the soldiers had discarded.
She selected the tallest children and
told them to dress up as soldiers. pull
ing the caps down over their eyes.
Now march back and forward on the
roof behind the posts in view Of the In
dams" commanded Freda. 'When you
do go / will be firing the guns and the
Indians will think the place is full Of
men"
Most OF the children were girls. but
they filled out the uniforms well, held
their guns straight, and marched about
manfully TO and fro. Then they would