nce the country grew rapidly in
population of a hardy kind."

"Until the War of 1812."

"Yes; and it was in that war that Harrison did so much to distinguish
himself as a patriot and a brave and skilful officer."

"And it was then he built the Fort Meigs you are taking us to, papa?"

"Yes; at the Maumee Rapids in February, 1813. It was named for Return
Jonathan Meigs, who was then Governor of Ohio."

"Return Jonathan! what an odd name!"

"Yes, and there is an odd story connected with it. Years before the
Revolution a bright-eyed coquette was courted by Jonathan Meigs. On
one occasion he pressed his suit with great earnestness and asked for
a positive answer. She would not give it, but feigned coolness, and
he--growing discouraged--resolved to be trifled with no longer, so
bade her farewell forever. He took his departure, but had not gone far
down the lane when she ran after him and at the gate called out,
'Return Jonathan; return Jonathan!'

"He did go back to her; they afterward married, and were very happy
together; and when the first son was born they named him Return
Jonathan.

"He was born in 1740; was the heroic Colonel Meigs who did such
valiant service in the Revolutionary War, and was one of the early
settlers of Ohio, going there in 1788. His son Return Jonathan was
elected Governor of Ohio in 1810 and held that office until 1814.

"Harrison arrived at Fort Meigs on the 12th of April, 1813, and was
glad to find there 200 Pennsylvanians, patriotic men, who, though
anxious to go home to put in their spring seeds, assured him that they
would never leave him until he thought their services could be spared
without danger to the cause. He discharged them on the arrival of
three Kentucky companies.

"While on his way Harrison had been told of frequent appearances of
Indian scouts in the neighborhood of the rapids, and of little
skirmishes with what he supposed to be the advance of a more powerful
foe. That alarmed him, and he despatched a messenger to Governor
Shelby of Kentucky asking him to send to the Maumee the whole of the
3000 men who had been drafted in that State. He brought with him about
300 men in all, but was agreeably surprised to find, on his arrival,
that there were no signs of the enemy being near in great force.

"But that enemy was at that very time preparing to strike a
destructive blow at Fort Meigs. Tecumseh was even then at Fort Malden
with almost 1500 Indians. Proctor had fired hi