Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-14

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ful sentinel posted to guard his sleeping
fellows, aud each morning the signal
was made to arise, and were you to lis
ten, when duty was done and dismissal
announced, when surrounding the mess,
in addition to the joke, and oft told tale,
and the Boosting Of their valour, you
would hear these well paid faithfui sub
jects of their King, denouncing as reb-
els all who dared to oppose the author
ity of his majesty, and smiling with con-
tempt at the ,emerity Of those poor un-
disciplined countrymen who presumed
to stand before their regular troops.
81 have endeayoured to describe TO
you the appearance Of the British.
now must present to your view that
which was termed "the rebel army."-
Ii was true, they were encamped, and
the same precaution was observed to
protect them whilst darkness ruled the
earth, aud the same process was repeat
ed to draw them from their slumbers,
but their files did not display the uniform
fso!dier-likc appearance Of the foe;-
their irregular broken march manifested
their want Of discipline, and the manner
in which they were generally clad, be-
spoke thcir poverty; yet their counte-
nances beamed with Intelligence and
life, as if their hopes were founded Oh
the justice Of their cause; and when
the duties Of the field were finished,
could you observe them, you would hear
in their own simple language detailed,
the many acts Of oppression under
which they suffered, whilst at the same
time, they burned with Indignation to-
wards the cause OF them; still you could
perceive that much anxiety was mani
tested as 10 the SUCCESS of their efforts
against so powerful an enemy.
"Such," said my uncle, as his coun-
tenance Frightened with animation,
"was the situation and appearance of
the men who have astonishcd the world,
by mighty revolution, the effect Of
their apparent feeble efforts, Of their
resistance, when resistance seemed in
vain Of their success, when destruction
seemed enevitable.
"Cur little army lie waiting the orders
of its beloved commander; by permission
had strolled away some distance from
the camp, musing upon our situation,
when passing along an unfrcquon;od
path my progress was arrested by the
sound of voices. ] listened and found
il proceeded from an enclosure: ap-
preached still nearer, desrous of uscer-
tanning the nature of Ill conversation at
this eventful period. Through the
opening Of the trees l beheld those who
who were engaged in talking: lest l
should disturb them, i placed myself at
the side Of a tree from whence could
hear, unpreceived. bcheld a female
her hair fell in loose ring lets and locted |
in the air; her tears glstened, and SEEM
ed to drown the lustre Of her sparkling
eye, until relieved by falling on check
which We'd with the beauty of tho roses;
her dress hung carelessiy and neglected;
regardless of her appearance, her mind
seemed engrossed by the object before
her. She addressed young man ap-
parcnty about two and twenty; he wore
the American uniform, and Tie epaulctte
on his shoulder, designated him more
than private; his sword rested on the
ground, and his countenanoe seemed
wrapped in amazement, as the fair crea-
ture at his side remarked, "there Is
scarce hill or valley, Frederick, for
miles around, but has witnessed our in
nocent gambols, and many are the flow
ers that we have p!uckcd to decorate |
each others heads, how often have we
watched the setting sun, and as it dis
appeared in the west, its distant spIendor
fingered on the clouds, displaying colors
more brilliant than the artists pencil |
could invent, until the dark and gloomy
cloud was seen rising, and the forked |
lightning playing in its folds. Pale
Cynthea's beams, how often have they
lighted US in the fields, when you told Of |
passing events, or listened to my song,
and when none could hear, but you and |
your Amelia, and he by whom the soft
est whispers breathed are heard. You
promised you would never forsakc me;
Frederick; you have been a kind and |
obedient son, and in all this country
round there is none more beloved than
you, and you have believed-and it is
not till now, that l have found you false;
you do not love me-" As the last
words fell from her lips the eye OF the
young man flashed, and his countenance
became flushed; placing his hand on his
sword, "Tell me-" exclaimed he, "the
wretch who has dared to whisper in
your ear this foul SANDER, and my
sword" "Stop," said the agitatod:giri,
"none have slandered you; but if YOU
loved me, Frederick why, forget your
promise, that you would never leave me,