Richmond Indiana palladium., 1838-04-07
STORY OF THE REVOLT TION.

/ In The commencement OF the differences b,
tween the American Colonies and the parei
country, many persons were disposed TO ad'ocat
the cause Of Great Britain.
Whilst the most of tia who did so were acfu
ated bv sordcd interest and the fear of the los
of property. there were some of generous fee
ngs. who maintained their allegiance from intcs
ritv Of principle and purity OF motive. OF tn
latter class poor nrn III the western par
o. Massachusetts,, who was i'll the habit of attcn
ding all the meetings that grew olt OF the OF
prcs>ions and usurratons OF England.
AT the same time ,ha, he did not attempt TO is
t'lv the measures of the Parliament. he ondca
vored in his plain. rustic way, to palliatc. them
and deprecated the active measures of the colo
MES rs sl5vcfsion of all order. and the INTRO
duc.ion OF anarchy and confusion. He was {
simpic-heartcd man, but eminent for integrity cns
Il love of truth, much so, that IN his own neigh
borhooi his word considered as good as 4
bond therefore, while his arguments against the
resistance Of the Colonies were not permitted to
egh feather in the STALE of public opinion his
undoub!cd honesty of heart exempted h!m from
the hatred which the stories, Us they were cali
ed al the time, SO commonly excited, and from the
exhibition of that hatred in the usual forms o! for
chile ab.ution and a coat of tar ana tea ncrs.
Aff,ir= at length reached = crisis. The battles
of Lexington and Concord rcuso! tho people TO
arms. and the Congress which assembled at Wa
tcrtOwn resolved to raise thirty thousand troops;
and the business of cnlisting aud draughting was
immediately commenced with great vigor. Thee
was. therefore, no alternative left for the simple
rustic. OF whom have been speaking. but TO take
up arms against England. contrary to his con-
science or Join the forces unier General Gage
He determined on the latter. and IN 50 dong he
experienced all that bitterness which Is incdeDt
10 civil war, in leaving his vile and children an
provide for. and to the protection OF those who
necessarily would become his enemies.
1t was a beautiful evening in the early part OF
Nav The labors Of the day were over, and the
father had returned 20 en- " the hours OF rest
with his little family. He occupied the usual seat
in the a:,our by the door OF his wh!tc-~ashcd
cottage Before him were two children playing
Oh the green grass plata third lay N the cradle,
and beside the mother Watching It's siumLcrs.
How many were the plcasan, images of past con
ugal happiness and paternal love that busy me-
,ory conf rcd up in the stiffness ct that soft
ang hour! but the very recollection of them eau
sed melancholy forebodirgs 10 cast gloom over
ID. spiriis-!or now they were TO be forgonc for a
forever.
The hour of prayer arrived, and oh! with wh1t
did the parent wrestle with heaven,
md implorc its protection for the young and the
helpless he was leaving behind. The parents shed
:cpious from the overflow ing sensioiiitics Of
sature, and the children wept from sympathy and
rom an iudcfinablc sensation of evil, which they
.ould not comprehend. Yet there was relief in
hose ,oars, and the sanc,fving efficacy Of prayer
aimed the tumlts of the breast, and poured
ooihin1 balm into the wounded feeling, winch
vas not of earth.
Tie children put TO rest. The father
sscd them atfcctionately as they iav smiling IN
lumber, unconscious Of the bereavement they
vere about to sustan-embraced hrs d disconsoiate
wife again. took up his musket, and aided by the
hades of night, started for the royal army. As
e pursued his wav. the moon, that had been Oh
tbo ,DVf ,iS nd ,
..rnine TO take a look at his dwelling. the lamp :
hone through the open door m which mis- wife
tood to catch the last echo of his footsteps. The
Oh, Of heaven and Of faithful love he felt were
nited 10 cheer HIM on his way. +,
On the evening of the following day. as he ap- {
reached Boston. he fell in with the scouts Of the
american army then parading in the vicinity,
nd his answers not proving satisfactory. he was s
aptured and taken before the proper officers.
lie did not disguise his ntentIons but made known
is determination Of joining ,he royal army. He
Tas accordingly sent up into the country and ,
,dged in II, in one of the western towns TO await
is trial. The place was almost thirty miles from
is own home. and whatever Of interest trans
ired was made known through the different
Of correspondence, the true character
the prisoner was soon learned The pieiy, the
ndoub,ed honesty Of the prisoner. the affecting I
circumstances which he bad left his family, and
ne of Furnishing man with death who had 6
,l,owed the dictates Of his conscience in what he
eIier ed to be his duty. all conspired TO awaken
,t.nSe interest in the breast Of the sheriff, and
c determined to give him an opportunity to cs
ape.
lie accordingly observed TO him evening
these chains. I fear, will gall volr ankles :
rilI therefore, substitute smooth pieces Of leather
,r the ron bands. but dor t Won cnt them oil. and
reak on; for will certainly catch Won ifvou do
.You need not fear me-" replied the prisoner. as
smile passed over his features. ard bade the
eeper god night. The sheriff retired TO bed
ri,h q light heart. determined 70 take mp in the
morning Of an extra length but he disap-
oin'e. for the loud voice of the prisoner, chant
ng his morning psalm as usual. broke his s.umber.
The next night on leaving his prisoner. he in
o-med him that. "there was some; thing the n.t-
or with the kew. and thai. unable TO lock the
'oor. he would tie If with rope on the outside.
At the same time he charged him not to think Of
escaping. as he had very feet horse. and would
certainly catch him. As he walked away, he