Mother-Courage of a Lioness

Mother-Courage of a Lioness
Written by James H. Martineau

Upon another occasion Mrs. Martineau, (Susan Ellen Johnson) returning to the house after a short absence, saw her little daughter, Elvira (Susan Elvira Martineau – Emma Johnson’s mother)
Crouching upon the floor, the picture of deadly terror, an Indian standing with tomahawk uplifted over her head as if about to dash out her brains.

Nerved with the mother-courage of a lioness she flew upon him, jerked him away from her daughter, and beat h him so soundly that he was glad to get loose from her grasp and make an inglorious retreat. Courageous while the struggle was on, when all danger was past she weakened for a few moments.

The Indian had demanded bread, and when told there was none, told the little girl she lied and said he would kill her. He might not have hurt her, but Indians, with their ungovernable passions, are not to be trusted when they are enraged.

During several years of the early settlement of Utah, especially in the outer settlements, incidents of startling character were not uncommon; but unaccountable as it may appear, women, afraid of a little innocent mouse never quailed in the presence of an angry savage, even if he stood knife in hand threatening instant death.