In September came the news of the raid at Osawatomie and that thirty out of the fifty settlers had been killed by the "border ruffians." This brought especial gloom to the Anthony homestead, as the dispatches also stated that the night before the encounter, John Brown had slept in the cabin of the young son Merritt, and for weeks they were unable to learn whether he were among the thirty who died or the twenty who lived.

At last the welcome letters came which related how the coffee was just ready to be put on the table in the cabin when the sound of firing was heard, and how without waiting to drink it, John Brown and his little band rushed to the conflict.

The old hero gave strict orders to Merritt not to leave the house, as he had been very ill, but as soon as they were out of sight he seized his gun, staggered down to the bank of the Marais du Cygne and was soon in the thick of the fight.

When it was over he crawled on his hands and knees back to his cabin, where he lay ill for weeks, entirely alone and uncared for.

A letter from Miss Anthony to this brother shows the tender, domestic side of her nature, which the public is seldom permitted to see: [Illustration: SUSAN B.ANTHONY.
AT THE AGE OF 36.