Hardscrabble; or, the fall of Chicago: a tale of Indian warfare

"Hardscrabble; or, The Fall of Chicago: A Tale of Indian Warfare" by John Richardson is a story set in the early 1800s, during a time of unease between settlers and Native American tribes before the War of 1812. It starts near Chicago, where Mr. Heywood, his servant Ephraim Giles, and a boy named Wilton live a simple life on the frontier. As they go about their daily routines in their farmhouse, a shadow of threat falls over them when word spreads about Native Americans nearby. Mr. Heywood grows worried as he realizes they could be in danger, and these characters must figure out how to survive as tensions rise and their relationships could mean the difference between life and death. The book begins amid suspense, highlighting living and surviving in the frontier during a time of trouble.