Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

266 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
McGannon riding along in the woods on a good horse and
halted to ask him the time, and found it was just a little after
noon. He rode on into the deep, dark forest on that Fourth
of July we were celebrating a few miles away, to meet a tragic
death. Once again our hearts sank with apprehension.
In the spring, April lo, 1863, a little babe came to Brother
WiUiam's home, bringing a bright gleam of joy in the midst
of shadowed days. She was named Helen May — our "Little
Nell." Small and delicate indeed she was, weighing about
five pounds at birth. She was quite a contrast in appearance
to the first, Rosamond. The latter was round faced and brown
eyed, while Nell had very blue eyes with a fair complexion and
a forehead of the Watkins type, high and full. They were of
that pleasing contrast which made them a pretty pair together.
In a very few weeks after her birth the baby began to thrive,
and what a joy she was to us all! Many times I held her in
my arms as though she were my own. Her little mother had
gone through much distress from the awful fears of those days,
for though naturally brave, it was impossible for her not to
feel terrible forebodings when such tales of massacre and flight
were coming to us daily. She had little nourishment to give
her baby until she was back in her old home in Ohio, and then
there was plenty. Many a midnight hour brought Sister
Julia to my bedside with her little hungry baby, and glad was
I that I had more than CharHe boy needed; those days drew us
all together. It is good that her bright mind and John
Truesdell's scholarship are not without a witness, though in
their youth they passed from the scenes of earth. Their son,
William Watkins Truesdell, has already reached young manhood,
and we are thankful.
When Nell was about six months old, Brother William decided
to return to Ohio. The Indian massacre, the drought,
and the uncertain state of our country all made it seem wise for
them to leave, as Brother William's attainments were of more
value in a state like Ohio. I can imagine how happy Sister
Julia was when she saw once more the wide, sheltering roofs
of her relatives and with her two dear little girls was safe in a
land of established homes. They never again went out of that