he lights which the children brought into the room exposed
the whole scene, and it was one which I could not describe if I
would--my husband's body lying upon the floor, weltering in blood. I
tried to lift it up to the bed, but could not. I then, with the
assistance of the children, rolled it up in a counterpane, and we sat
down and watched it till morning--fearing that, if we did not, it might
be carried off by wolves--a large number of which howled about the house
until day dawned. Oh, sir, it was a sorrowful night! The next morning
several of the neighbours called in, and after expressing their horror
at the deed of blood, assured me that they would aid in bringing the
murderers to justice. That they knew them, and that they resided on the
Sabine river. Would you believe it, sir? Two of the very sympathizers I
knew to have been concerned in the murder of my husband.

A coffin was made, into which my poor husband's body was laid, and then
the neighbours buried him, but in such a manner that he lay but a foot
or two below the earth's surface. I have been afraid the beasts of prey
which infest this region would get possession of his corpse; so, with my
children, I build every night a fire near his grave.

"Now, sir," added the woman, "I have told you the painful story, and you
will see in what a dreadful situation I am. I am here in this dreadful
place, with perhaps one hundred dollars in money, and five children,
nearly all of whom constantly require my watchful care. Can you not
assist me in my wretchedness?"

I told the poor thing I would endeavour to do something for her. I had
hardly done so, when Edmonds passed the door of the cabin on his way
back from the choppers. Seeing me, he turned back and said, as I passed
out to meet him, "Well, Green, what do you think of the widow?" My reply
was, that she was so shy and distant that I could not learn much about
her, one way or the other; that she appeared unwilling, or afraid to
converse.

"It is well enough that she did," was Edmond's reply, "she does not know
what she talks about. When she does choose to speak, I believe her to be
either crazy or foolish, and d----n me if I know which."

Edmonds invited me to go with him to his home. So I went along. I found
there a man, named Scoggins, with whom Edmonds got into a very free
conversation. I heard him say, "We must send that woman away; she talks
to somebody every day; she must be taken care of in one way or the
o