The Cabin on the Prairie

INDIANS.–A

Are you all dead?" and a s

dren depended on her to awaken them in the morning, they were sleeping too

u, Joseph?"

here shall I put this?" taking a quarter of venison from his s

ou've got b

for you came near ne

t with any mishap," sa

scratch from the bullet of on

en fighting with the

m well; but after this, if any of 'em get in my way,

ppen to shoot at you

e after my long tramp, and cook us a venison steak, and I'll tell you all about it;" and

ple salve, which she always kept on hand for family use. "You look tired and pale–bringing hom

ing head first upon the floor; for, having seen his father, he had scrambled, without cer

d shouting, "Dad's come home!" while Bub bellowed at

" replied his mot

t does!" he answered,

rom his brothers and sisters, which Bub

Mrs. Jones, "sto

night before, one of Tom's old shirts for a night dress, he now found it difficult

hy don't you hush. Your marm's spoke

th dignity, as he tri

lind, they're so

s been shot at by the Indians, and came very near

his father's knee, his blue eyes wide with wonder; "taus

ich the children felt half ashamed, considering

he Indians," observed Tom, "and she was so m

doing any mischief about here

d I told mother that t

the cabin with its savory

d get washed and dre

h outside the door, with much discussion as to who should have

n words well chosen, and even elegant. He hated society, and was despised by the settlers for his lack of enterprise; and yet, when circumstances drew him out, they were wonder-struck at the variety and accuracy of his information. These inconsistencies made him a mystery; 51 and he was looked down upon, and looked up to, as his neighb

Jones, as the rest of the children were gree

d how Tom had been h

old us how you rec

y deer in there, one of us'll start them out.' Well, I'd got within a few yards of the trees, when, the first I knew, I 52 heard the crack of a rifle, and a bullet came singing through my side. Says I to myself, 'That's a red-skin's compliments!' and making believe that I was a gorner, I pitched forward and lay still as a door nail, in the tall grass. I hadn't lain there more 'n a minute, when, sure enough, a red-skin popped out from behind a tree close by, and made for me, to take my scalp. I had my revolver read

so burdened on his account at the very

y a settler who called to ask if they ha

Mr. Jones, going to speak to the caller,

ack? and what 53 luck?" rejoin

replied Mr. Jones, "and ha

h shorter than I am, and as good with the rifle as the best, who would like a sight at the varmints. But if none of your folks

le were yours?" in

and the other

y large, with very w

ticket," s

t night, going down t

as Brindle

, "but some men w

ians!" cried T

hand, with a case-knife, and drowned his words, so that th

l-knit frame indicated remarkable physical strength. He was a bold and athletic man, skilful with the rifle, and a lin

s the ox driv

, I should th

he men

es

sentence was lost in the distance, for the old man had already touched the trail of the stolen ox, and

r. Jones turned to

the men that

es

didn't you s

r. Allen would never find out who took his cattle. If he shoots one Indian, it wil

ht. They'll only prowl around and steal a little beef, and shoot at a fellar unaware, from under kiver–that's all they'll venter on–you can depend on that!" Then he took down his r

hat Tom's head was actually blown from his body, and that 56 he replaced it so that it was on better than before, he gave the impression that something as extraordinary had been achieved by his medical and surgical skill. And through the day quite a number called to satisfy their curiosity, or show their sympathy. It proved, therefore, quite an occasion for the Jones children, and they feasted their eyes and ears to their hearts' content. As for the mother, weary of the unwonted interruptions, and wishing to commune with her own heart, she willingly bade the last visitor "good by," and, calling Robert, she directed him to bring in some wood and make a fire, that she

s around the 57 stove, watching her with interest. And having taken off the last c

eating, had looked out to see if he was in sight. "No; it isn'

rushed in a body through the door, upsettin

n black, with gold spectacles and

tier, the children, overawed by his appearance, shrank behind cabin and pigsty, in spite

bowing, as, abashed, she answere

plied, wondering h

,–for Mrs. Jones was too conf

ldren for the Sabbath school we are to organize next Sunday, I thought I woul

ered Tom, as his mother nervo

tice the mother's embarrassment, stepped to Tom's side, and

e not seriousl

ess. "My face was burnt pretty badly by the powder; but i

the year? Boys sometimes get burned with powder on Ind

ntured to inquire, for he l

ssure you–all the louder, of course, because it was in the house; then, slipping on my shoes, I went into the streets, leaving the old folks to go to sleep again if they could. My first use of the powder, you see, did no harm to me, unless it made me careless. When I got into the street, I found crowds of boys and men were there before me, making all the noise they could, firing off crackers, pistols, and guns, and making the foggy morning air resound with the music of tin horns and drums. Meeting a boy with a large horse-pistol, I bought it of him at a foolishly high price, and banged away with that till breakfast time. At the e

the ocean," i

les and miles over the prairie–I mean a rolling prairie, that in

," answ

ever saw,–the ocean would look so; only remember that it is always in motion–ebbing, and flowing, and roaring,

nestly, "if I coul

om's expressive face a

hen put one end of a strip of match-paper in the top of each, and lighted the other end of the paper; this would burn slowly down into the top of the powder-hill; that would take fire and send up showers of sparks for quite a while, as it gradually consumed. This amusement fascinated me. So, buying a quarter of a pound of powder, I made a hill like those I had seen, and lighted the matc

Tom; "but it is co

; "and I dare say you worried almost as muc

ld never come off,

I have found out since that there's

hat?" ask

rt!" replied

epeated Tom, in do

folks worried more about that, and less about their looks, how

d disfigure it,–as we did our faces, my son,–that can heal the injury, and bring the skin out all fresh and fair, so there is a great Ph

spered Tom

d the mother, wi

d stood listening spell-bound to his recital–"will come to Sunday school next Sunday?" And getting a pr

ss, their clothing old and worn, and their manners uncultured. He loved them for his Master's sake, and for their souls' sake: for this he had left the elegances of his eastern home, and come out in

omewhat over the excitement caused by the missionary's call; and putting her hand into the oven t

I certainly set them in her

ed at each other

a; and noticing for the first time that he was

" called t

nto every nook and corner that they could think of. But 64 there was no answer

s his

said his mother, although she

he suddenly added, "Ah, you little rascal! I see you!" Then turning t

b, comfortably seated by the fawn, the cakes in his lap, eating them and feeding the

the Fawn