The native American., 1840-05-02

"The cock is clear game, said the officer
turning to his companions with laugh, bu
he had better ruffle his feathers on his own
dunghill y
Ditson, by the aid of soap and warm water
got rid of his feathery coat; but the idea of the
insult chung to his mind, burning deeper and
deeper like the shirt of Nessus. He longed fol
an opportunity of revenge. TWAS the theme
ofhis thoughts waking or sleeping. He dreaml
Iof it by night he pondered on the means OF
accomplishing it by day. But how was ne to
accomplish it!
An opportunity was not long wanting fol
that purpose His country flew to arms to re.
dress its public grievances and ne to revenge
his private ones. As soon as he heard that the
British had marched to Concord, he seized
his rusty musket, and ran to the scene of ac-
ton.
"What are you going do ?" said his neigh
bors, as they saw him unyoking his team in
the midi lie of the field, at an unreasonable
hour of the day.
"Pm going to pay the red coats for the tar
and feathers" said Dltson, setting his teeth
firmly together. "Come on, and you shall
see sport"
"But YOU are not going 10 take that Old
rusty piece p said one.
uBlt am though, said Ditson; II shall
take none the worse sight for its being rusty
He fastened to the field of fight, and his
neghbors went with him. Having selected
the boughs of thick tree by the way side,
whittier the Britons were on the retreat, he
climbed into them, and there securely en-
sconsed, and taking deliberate aim every shot
from the old rusty musket told.
] al ,rlyy at tho
officers, and the first man dropt was thec com
mander Of the tar kettle. That did me more
good that the best dinner, ever ate IN my life
/" There !" I couldn't help exclaming, Il told
| YOU I'd have my revenge" Half dozen
Shots were fired into the tree, but they were
| fred at random, for was we'll secured in the
boughs, and only two bullets went through
nv hat. NV bosom felt lighter as soon as
the officer fell. The tar seemed as it were to
loosen from my skin, and felt SO per cent
I better. But still had not completed my re-
venge. The tar had not all dropt off. 1t was
there still in my Imagination, and the feathers
chung to it, The British would make fight
ING cock of me, and was determined they
should feel the length ofmy spurs"
Ditson was again present at the battle OF
Bunker Hill, where he had an opportunity OF
using the old musket to still greater advantage
thaa at the battle of Lexington. Reserving
his fire, agreeably to the mode enjoined by
Putnam, until he could see the enemies eyes,
he brought down his man at every shot, and
several more, whose countenance he recolfec-
ted as having belonged to those engaged in the
tarring and feathering scrape, fell victims to
the strength Of his memory, the accuracy OF
his aim and the sure fire of his rusty old
piece. He was the last to leave the ditch
and when his powder and ball were expend-
ed, he fought like a tiger with the butt of his
musket-and as he dashed it into the skull OF
two or three of the regulars in quick success
sion, he exclaimed, "That's to pay for the tar
and feathers" He was at last wounded, and
was with difficulty brought off by his COM
panions. He suffered much in consequence
tsbut," as he used to exclaim in after years, ~
didn't mind that-for had my revenge"
He recovered from his wound, and fough
all through the war-and although naturally
brave and attached to his country, his courage
and his patriotism were not a little stimulated
| bv the remembrance of the tar and feathers
No single arm sent greater number of the
enemy to their final account. He at length
saw his country free. Her injuries were re-
dressed and so were his own.
He lived to be an old man. Poverty visited
his hut Every thing that could be spared
was sold, except the old musket. He would
shoulder that,
"And show how fields were won."
Then as his eye cleaned at the recollection
of the never to be forgotten insult, he would
exclaim, at was all owing to that tar and
feathers. But Ihad nay revenge !"
sTHEY.-A great many excellent people
have had their worldly prospects entirely de-
stroyed, and hundreds, nay thousands, have