" % *
3T 7' " * 7 T * v Tft" WUf r
Conservative *
children into the court-house unless
they preferred to remain , at home , and
then place a picket guard around the
town to give the alarm in case of at
tack. A huge bonfire was built in the
court-house yard and a bell rung to call
the people together. When all had as
sembled and the picket line had been
thrown out it was thought best to get
the opinion of all present as to what
had best be done to insure the safety
of those present.
Squire Garviii inpuuted a dry-goods
box and made a speech , trying to quiet
the fears of the townspeople. He
argued that "as the Indians had not
already made an attack it was not
likely that they would do so at all , " and
also that "it might all be a mistake and
no attack was intended. " This had a
soothing effect upon the more timid
ones , although it was plainly to bo seen
that the Squire was badly frightened.
This was followed by an address by
Lawyer Slocum , who loudly denounced
all Indians in general and the Mnsqua-
kios in particular. As he grew more
eloquent he seemed to desire a conflict
and exclaimed eloquently that "the
brave and patriotic spirit of true Ameri
can citizens burned in the bosoms of all
present" and that "when fighting for
their homes and lives the victory was
sure to bo theirs. " This brilliant burst
of oratory had a good effect , and some
of the braver ones even ventured a
timid cheer.
Nancy Perkins , the old maid of the
village , declared that she was not
afraid. "Just let them come , " she
cried. "I'm going home and put on a
boiler of water and have it hot , and if
an Indian shows his head in my house
he will got a warm reception. " She de
nounced the government roundly for
sending all the men away to war when
"they were wanted so much at home. "
This caused considerable merriment
among the young people , badly fright
ened ns they were , and some of
the boys laughed outright.
Rev. Goodhue suggested that the boys
who saw the Indians be recalled and
questioned. So Frank and Bert were
brought before Lawyer Slocum and put
through a severe examination , but the
excitement made their story if anything
more alarming than when first told.
As it was now past midnight , it was
decided that if an attack were intended
it would soon be made. So the only
thing to do was to wait and bo ready.
All sorts of weapons were to be seen ,
guns , pistols , axes knives and pitchforks
wore hastily gathered together.
Many now went homo and darkened
their windows so no light could bo seen ,
barricaded their doors and prepared to
defend their lives to the best of their
ability. Others went into the court
house which was guarded by the main
fighting force of the town. No one
slept and the warning alarm of the
sentries was momentarily expected.
Thus the long night wore away and
the first streak of gray announced the
dawn of approaching day. It was now
decided that as there had been no at
tack made during the darkness of the
night there would be no disturbance be
fore the next night , and probably not at
all.
all.A
A committee of three was chosen to
mount horses and venture cautiously in
the direction of the Indian village.
Early on that spring morning Silas Holt ,
John Cooper and Alexander Anderson
rode silently away not knowing whether
they would live to return or not. As
they passed along not a living thing waste
to be seen except a few birds twittering
their early morning songs in the tree
tops and a couple of red squirrels chat
tering saucily on a branch by the road
side , little thinking that one of their
kind had caused all this trouble and
alarm. A log cottage now appeared
around a bend in the road , the first that
they had seen since leaving town. The
farmer was just going to the stable with
his milk pail on his arm , all uncon
scious of the danger through which he
had slept. When told of the excite
ment in town ho was nearly as much
alarmed as the rest had been. As other
houses were reached and , it was found
that no one had been molested , their
courage arose and they rode on with
less fear than at first. At lost the
tepees of the Indian village came into
view. Smoke was issuing from the
group of rude wigwams as breakfast
was being prepared by the squaws .while
the male population leisurely cared for
their ponies or sat arouncjf and smoked.
When they saw the white men approaching
preaching the Indians were nearly as
much frightened as the people of the
village were the night before , for they
thought the pale-faces were offended at
something and that the Great Father in
Washington was going to send them
away from their lands. When the
chief had heard the story that the boys
had told , he called the Indians togethei
and questioned them. Two of them
promptly stepped forward and ex
plained the whole matter. They saic
that they were lying under a tree rest
ing when they heard the report of a gun
and a squirrel dropped at their feet
from the branches above them. They
jumped up and seeing the boys , picked
up the squirrel and started to carry it
to them. As the boys began to run they
ran also to overtake them and give
them their game. When they
suddenly disappeared around the hill
the Indians gave up the chase and re
turned to their village , carrying the
boys' guns , hats and squirrel which they
had picked up and cared for , and now
brought forth.
When the committee returned witl
their report there was great rejoicing
ind it was impossible to find anyone
vho would admit that he was much
frightened. Even Frank and Bert ,
vhen others laughed at them for mak-
ng such a fuss because a couple of
friendly Indians wanted to give them a
squirrel , maintained that "they were
lot very much scared. "
The events narrated occurred more
than a third of a century ago ; many of
the actors in the scenes related have
crossed the portals into another exist
ence whore fear of savage Indians never
enters ; others yet living will recall the
events set forth.
The Indians are still on their lands
and have ever since lived quiet peaceful
ives , never in any way giving their
white brothers any cause for alarm , or
the Great Father at Washington any
unnecessary trouble. They still retain ,
to a large extent , the ways and habits
of their ancestors but engage in farming
and stock-raising to a limited extent.
Recently the government has estab-
lishcd an Indian school at Toledo which
is supplied with a largo modern build
ing and all the appliances of a first-class
institution of learning. Considerable
interest is shown by the younger gener
ation in their pursuit after knowledge
and it is thought by the government
authorities that this civilizing influence
will work great good among its semi-
savage wards.
Omaha , Neb. , August 29 , 1901.
PUSHING MR. BRYAN'S PRINCIPLES.
Whenever the Washington Post prints
a cartoon it is pretty certain to bo one
that is worth its space. Its latest il
lustration of Mr. Bryan's declaration
that "the principles I represent will bo
vigorously pushed , " is the best that has
illuminated its pages for weeks past.
It represents Miss Democracy standing
on a chair by an open closet door , vigor
ously pushing a bundle labeled"Bryau's
Principles" into the remotest corner of
the top shelf. Mr. Bryan himself is
peeping around the door just in time to
get a view of the operation. The Post's
idea of the pushing process may differ a
little from Mr. Bryan's , but it strikingly
sustains his declaration that his princi
ples will be "vigorously pushed. "
Another and a more practical illus
tration of how Mr. Bryan's principles
are being vigorously pushedoccurred in
Boston last weeek , when the Massachu
setts democracy , after a lengthy con
ference , decided to throw the free silver
issue overboard , and did so without
much ceremony. They then arranged to
hold a state convention in October and
start out on now lines. It is said that
since the decision to eliminate the free
silver issue from the state platform , Mr.
Richard Olney has consented to preside
as chairman of the state convention and
use his influence in getting the Mas
sachusetts democracy in shape again.
This action of the Massachusetts demo
crats in dumping free silver into Boston
harbor may not stir the country as did
the throwing overboard of the tea issue
on a previous occasion , but the same
spirit of determination to get rid of an
article that has brought trouble to the
country was manifested in it. Charlotte
( N. C. ) Observer.