Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-08-06
THE TWINS.
"l'Il tell it to you as twas told to me-"

"lll tell 1t TO you as twas told TO me.
In the summer O. lS--, had occasion
10 visit the town OF N, beautifully
situated on the west bank of the Connec-
ticut river. My business led me to the
house of B, lawyer of thrce-score
and ten, who was now resting from the
labors, and enjoying the fruits. of life
strenuousy and successfully devoted to
his profession. His drawing-room was
richly furnished, and decorated with sew
eral valuable paintings. There was one
among them that particularly attracted
my attention. 1t represented a mott er
with two beautiful children, ore in either
arm, light veil thrown over the Q CUP,
and one Of the children pressing its lips
10 the cheek of its mother. THAT" said
|, pointing to the picture, SIS very beauit-
ful. Pray, sir, what is the subject Of ii. :"
at is a mother and her twins" said
he; "the picture il itself is esteemed o
fine one, but | value it more for TIE re
collections which arc associated with it,"
/ fturued nv eve upon T.; he looked
communicative, and | asked him for the
story. "St down." sad he, "and ! will
tell you it," We accordingly sat down,
and he gave the following narrative.
curing the period Of the war Of the
revolution, there resided, in the western
part of Massachusetts, farmer by the
name of Stedman. lie was a man of
substance, descended from a very respect
abe English family, well educated, distin-
guished for great frmness Of character
in general, aud alike remarkable for IN.
flexible integrity and steadfast loyalty TO
his king. Such was the reputation he sus-
taincd, that even when the most violent
antipathies against royaism swayed the
community, il was still admitted on all
hands, that farmer Stedman, though to.
ry, was honest IN his opinions, and firmly
believed them to be right.
"T'he time came when Burgoyne was
advancing from the north. 1t was a time
of great anxiety, with both the friend:
and foes of the revolution, and one which
called forth their highest cxertion. The
patriotic militia aocked to the standard o
Gates and Stark, while many of the TO
ries resorted TO tie quarters of Burgoyn'
and Baum. Among the latter was Sted
man. He had no sooner decided it to be
his duty, than he took kind farewell 0
his wife, woman Of uncommon beauty
gave his children, twin boy and girl,
long embrace, then mounted his horse
and departed. lie joined himself to tb'
unfortunate expedition of Baum, and was
taken, with other prisoners Of war, by tht
victorious Stark.
"He made no attempt to conceal hi
name or character, which were both sool
discovered, and he was accordingly com
mtted 10 prison as a traitor. The jail Il
which he was confined, was in the west
crn part of Massachusetts, and nearly il
a ruinous condition. The farmer wa
f one night walked from his sleep by seve
raj persons in his room. Come sal
they, you can now regain your liberty
: we have made a breach in the prison
through which you can escape. Il
/, their establishment, Stedman utterly re
J fused to leave the prison. In vain the,
cxpostuIated with HIM; in vain they rep
resented to him that life was at stake
His reply was, that he was true man
and servant of King George, and b
would not creep out Of hole at nigh
+ and sneak away from the rebels, to say
h neck from the gallows. Finding It al
together fruitless TO attempt to move him
his friends left him with some expression
! ofspleen.
! "The time at length arrived for the tri
5 al Of the prisoner. The distance to tb
: place where the court was sitting wa
about sixty miles. stcdman remarked t
the sheriff, when he came TO attend him
that it would save some expense d inconye
nieuce, if he could be permitted to 60 alon
} and on foot. And suppose said th
; sheriff, that you should prefer your safet,
10 your honor, and leave mo TO seek yol
in the British camp ! had thought,