Year: 1877

DY REV. IRvIN0 l.. BEAMAN.


John Link was sent ia haste on
IN errand to his uncle's mile dis
tant. His way led along q we'll
trodden path across belt oi
woods.


II was in Western Pennsylvania
in the dark days Of Indian 0kars t;
but the savages had not been seen
in that vicinity for some time, SO
that no danger was feared from .he
lad on such q short trip. Indeed,
he had passed over the same road
almost every day since his father
moved into the Prespue Isle country
two years before, and had never met
anything stranger than wild tur-
key or q deer.


John was a brave athletic boy OF
fourteen, quite noted in the SETTLE
ment for his punctuality, and as
sure to return as an express As he
left the door he noticed that it was
one o'clock, and said in jolly tone
to his parents


"Now, for race with the shad-
ow shall be back before it reach
es the two mark"


So many years ago the pioneer OF
the borders measured the fight OF
tune by sort of sun dial on the
cabin floor. A spot was selected
where, in clear days, the sun shone
full through the narrow window,
and when some officer having a
watch was present, the line OF the
shadow made at noon by the per-
pendicular window-c ing was
drawn along the floor Then the
hours and half hours were spaced
off on either side, the noon mark for
the forenoon aud afternoon. This
kind Of clock answered very we'll
when the sky was clear, but 10
cloudy weather q settlers family was
sadly adrift on the flood of time.


When the sh ,dow had crept a.
cross the two mark, the mother not,
ed it, and said to herself, 'for once
John is outdone.' When half past
two was reached she went to the
door and looked for him when the
three mark passed she felt very anx.
ious about him, and called to her
husband who was in q field near by
But their confidence in the young
fellows ability to take care Of him
self was such that they waited
though uneasily, until after four
when the father slung his gun a.
cross his shoulder and started up the
path by which the absentee was ex-
pected.


Mr.. king was q fine specimen Of q
border man. tall, strong, steady
nerved. brave and intelligent. He
was an experienced hunter and 9
successful Indian fighter.


But now leave him, as with a cat.
like step and o watchful eye he
treds the belt OF woods, let us go
with John and discover the cause o.
his unusual delay


He had done his errand, his aunt
had stuffed his pockets with parch,
ed corn. and on his return he had
reached certain bend in the patti
where he had sat down on o mossy
bank to tighten the strings OF his
coarse shoes. Just as the matter was
finished, O noise caused him to look
sharply among the trees, when he
espied within q few rods, running
toward him with tomahawk, an ex-
oeediugly large Indian. A glance
was enough to start the lad to hil
feet and prompt him to his besl
speed for safety. But the warriors
position was such as TO cut him of
from tho path to his home, or to hi
uncle's 90 that no way was left fol
him but to strike into the untrot
forest and run for life. He haf
gone but q little distance when b,
heard the step Of bis pursuer rapid
" overtaking him, and knew that he
could not escape by fight. And te
aggravate his case, he saw ct thil
instant, Just before him, large tre,
upturned by the roots and lying di'
rectly across his course.


His fate seemed sealed f, every In
slant he expected TO feel the edge o
the battle-ax and such o horro
had he OF the knife, and Of having
his scalp stretched over Q hoop Il
dry, that he involuntarily put up hi
hand to save his head, Q fact sbou
which In after years, he used +
laugh heartily. The tree, towar'
which desperation impelled the boy
feet bad grown into three parts, an
~ Il fell the largest was uppsrmos,
some six or seven feet high, and th
other two directly underneath lik
the rails Of fence while the gres
fakes Of earth adhsrine . IL root
masla a Oroaa anCkion ri call Avn tae