The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-04-22
THE COW BOYS.
"Ilread you matter deep and dangerou.
Full of peril and adventurous spirit"


Thread you matter deep and dangerous
Full Of peril and adventurous spirit
The intervening period from the commencement
of the year 176 to the close of 10, was an eventful
time for the infant Republic. They had declared
their independence had thrown off the yoke of Brit
ain, and the time had now arrived when in the
words of patriot, " it to be seen whether Amer
ica had virtue enough to be free not" The year
rs particularly distinguished by the evacuation
of Philadelphia by the British by several brilliant
engagements in the "tepded field" which shed an
undyIng lustre upon the American arms, and for
the multiiarlous bands of predatory rufians who
infested the forests in the vicinity of New Y ork,
Philadelphia, and the "neutral ground" They
composed of renegade tories and villains of all
descriptions, principally native Americans They
were fierce and cruel savage alike in their manner
of living and mode ofwarfare, and indeed, verifying
the assertion of the poet, that
He who loves no, his country, can love nothing"
II was a balmy morning in June ; the sun shone
with intense brllancy, and its burning rays refec
ted upon some parts of the of solitary eques-
trian who vending his way from West-Chester
to Philadelphia, His horse might have seen better
days, well as himself-boh appeared jaded and
worn with toll The former large, black, and
noble looking animal; the maugre appearance of
his ribs which stood out in bold relief, " bore testmo
ny ample of his meagre and snted fare His rider
was man whose demeanor stamped him at once as
one of the Z" brave sons of liberty" certain ex-
preston aboutthe mouth the hold and fearless glance
of black eye, and the noble contour of his FORM
spoke of him as the "bravest of the brave" when
deeds of danger were nigh. His holsters contained
pair of pistols, which were the only visible.
military rather worn, and a rough foraging cap
completed his warlike accoutrements. An air of
determined bravery was blended with a humorish
expression which fingered about his yisage and upon
all this
middle age
Had slightly passed his signet sage"
"By Joyc exclaimed he, "here is Old Bakers, they
told me of at Chester."-and spurring his Rosnate,
he soon dismounted at the door of a miserable inn,
and giving his noble beast into the of atten-
dant he made his way into the interior of the
dwelling.
The landlord was alone. Our adventurer knew
him for a staunch Wing, and greeted him cordially.
ell Baker said he " there any news strringl'
s. None OF consequence, sir-are you going to
the city2" "Yes,-what is the disance2" About
five miles TO go the direct road, but-but''-"B Bat
what, prayl' Why the Cow Boys" are as
thick as backberries-a band of twenty robbed two
men yesterday, and only last Monday there was man
murdered outright" The man stepped to the win
dow and unused anxiousy." Baker" observed he
at last, 81 have been told YOU are honest, and
doubt not. My name is Burton, and | am pay
master in the army, and with me have several thou
sand dollars. TO 90 through this forest you speak
of, as | am now, were an act of consummate folly
Can you rig with poor horse and countrymnn's
dress, with W g and quaker hatl "Ies, Major
| have the very things. If you'll come this way III
show YOU"
In n few minutes Major Burton returned having
undergone n complete metamorphosis, A pair o
homcspun brceches, drab cast and broad brmeC
beaver had superseded his military equpage ever,
trace of which had disappeared, and his soldierlik,
bearing had given place to the dcmure aud quiet de-
pertinent ofthc honest Quaker. Albeit his bold eye
flashed occasionally from under the broad brim o
his upper integumcnt and sadly bclcd the staid and
suffering disposition which became him tn assume
The money was carefully deposited in n pair o
saddle, bags and Major Burton mounted. Good NOR
ming Baker" said Burton, "take good care of my
beast" Twill, shouted the worthy landlord, ano
luck be with ye.'
The Major rode on in silence and thus communeo
with himself: this is indeed making virtue of ne.
cessity, to be compelled to ride this sorry jade
: 1t a transformation with vengeance, anC
8 no one would there have recognized any but the
. honest quaker. lie had proceeded into the for
, est about mile and was turning short angle
in the road when he commanded, in a stem
torian voice to Z" stand" But two men were nea
him, and these two asvillainous looking being
, as would wish to look upon. Squad wretch
cdness was depicted upon every feature, and III
voice, rendered hollow by misery, they demande,
his money. Alas, my friends" said worth,
quaker, have but little, which will bestow upoI
thee, fthou demand it, But friend, Ito the one h,
had his hand upon the bride) release my beast, an'
!; fear not that shall attempt to escape thee. VIII!
dost thou pursue this running both body AM
t that immortal part which dieh not | would hav
i that ye clcave unto some calng-and ifye will i'm
brue thy hands in blood of thy fellow man, JOIN tia
4 forces of your country d,-"Look here,' shou
ted one of them you Internal canting hypocrite
stop your hugo-gve us your money and curse you
preaching" The quaker fumhed first in one pock
ct and then in the other, and producing some change
he handed it out to them in silence. They eyed tn
paltry sum with looks in which shame and wrat
struggled 70 rnasery.
: "Three fps and four coppers!" mumbled one