The Faithful Nurse.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4124, 22 September 1883, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Faithful Nurse.

The following sketch is from a work lately published, palled "Thrilling Adventures Among the Indians,'' by Professor Frost :—

A few years after Boston and its neighbourhood were settled by the English, a party of Narragansett Indiana who were out hunting stopped at the hou.se of Mr Minot, in Dorchester, and rudely demanded food. On being refused, they went away with evident marks of displeasure, and Oquamelmd, their chief, threatened to be revenged. For this purpose he left in the bushes, near the house, an Indian named OBfimeo, who had long been known in the neighbourhood for his uncommon ferocity. The next morning Mr and Mrs Minot wont to Boston, a distance of only three miles ; the Indian saw them from his hidingplace, and prepared himself for an assault upon the house, which ho supposed was left without any defence. However, although Mr Minot had no apprehension of an attack of this kind, he had taken the precaution to Rive strict charge to the maid-servant to confine herself, with his two little children, to the house, and to open the door to no person until his return.

The girl was trusty ami watchful, and she soon espied tlio Indinn drawing cautiously towards the honso. After I;x.king about, apparently to make sure that there was nobotly near, ho rushed furiously against the door. but it was s-o securely bolted that it withstood all his force, and he next attempted to get in thrnnph the window. The young woman had hidden her master's childrun under two brass kettles, charging tliem not to stir, ;inr make the least noise ; she then loaded a musket belonging to the house, and bravely stood upon her defence. The Indian, probably guessing her design, fired at her, but mi.=sed liis mark. T!ie r-irl then fired, and the bullet entered his shoulder. Stiil he persisted in his attempt, and had succeeded in Retting half through the window, when, with great presence of mind, s!-:o /fcized a pan full of red hot cinders from the stove, and threw them in his face. They lodged in his blanket, and tho pain they (■•rented was too much even forOsamee.;. He fled, and hia dead body was found next day in a wood on the borders of the town.

The circumstances being made- known to the Government of Massachusetts Bay, this courageous young1 woman w;is, by their, order, presented with a silver bracelet, on which her name was engraved, with this motto, "She slew the Narragansett Hunter."