The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-12-02
THE COW BOYS.
"rll read you matter deep and dingerous'
Full of peril and adventurous spirit"

The intervening period from the COM
mencement of the year l776 to the close
of rs, was an eventful time for the ne
public. They had declared their inde.
pendeuce, had thrown off the yoke OF
Britain, and the time had now arrived
when, in the words Of patriot, II was
TO be seen Whether Americans had VIZ
tue enough TO be free or n2t- a'ic }caF
'7S, was particularly dlsl:ng"!s"e" Ter the
evacuation of PHILADELPHIA by t.'e bTil'sA'
for several brilliant engas se'1enis on the
tented field, which shed an undylng Ius-
ire upon the American arms, ana for the
many bands of predatory rutiians who in
,.>sted The forests in the vicinity Of New
Work v, and "the neutral ground" They
.rsre ns' composed Of renegade tories and
r;I'sius w Of every description. They were
fierce savages, verifying the assertion of
the poet
nHe that isyes not his country, loves nothing
Twas balmy morning in June Inc me
.,n shane with intense briliancy, and his
burning ravs were reflected IRON '"e al. a.,
NOR Of a solitary equestrian, ~"o "as as
vending his way from West IheS'S
philadelphia His demean'r s'a'npsIr
him at oncr as sc OF the ofI'e so"S oi
libcr,y. A. az. # determination ana
fearlessne,, =. a., .,.~nded with humorous
cxpressio, whlch fingered about his VS.
age. upon whc''.
"midLlc age
Ha. slightly pressed her signct sage"
"Jove!". exclaimed he, "hcrc IS old
Baker, ,hfy told me Of al Chester and
spruag i;s adsi Rosemante; he soon dis
moun;,a al he door Of miserable Inn,
and giving his noble beast into The hands
of an attendant. made his way into the
interior Of the dwelling.
The landlord was alone. Our adVen.
turer kaew him for a staunch patriot, and
gree;cd l.im ac.'jr .ugly "Weli, Baker,
sai.. :c. ",- ,.,er@ :,ay news stirrIng!
"N,nt Of ,,nseq"encr. I, sir. Are yon
going t, ~ cI'y!'
"Ye.; n..lt's he dis,ance?'
."Aha4; nv. miles by the district road,
but"
"Bo: wta:, pray?"
"NFhy; the Cow Boys are as thick as
biachDerrieS. A band Of twenty robbed
.Wo men yesterday. a.! only last Monday,
there Vas . .aan u1iered outright"
The man stopped at window and mu-
sed anxioas!y At length he said, in
subdued voice." Baker, have been
told Won are honest | am paymaster in
The srmr. and with me I have several
thousand dollars. To 60 through the for
est as an no~, would be all act OF con-
summa;s fciiv. Can you rig me with a
poor horse aut country dress, with
a wig and quaker hat"
Yes, Major, have the very things.
If you'll come this way I'll show you"
In few minutes Ma jor Burton return
ed, having undergone complete meta
morphosis. A pair Of homespun breech-
es, drab coat, and broad brimed beaver,
had superseded his military cqaipage, eve:
ry trace of which had disappeared, and
his soldier like bearing had gwen place to
the denure and quiet department of the
honest quaker. Albeit his bold eye fash
ed from under the broad brim Of his up.
per integumant, and sadly belied the meek
disposi!ian which i, became him to as
SutGe. ne H!uaeN "H7 IH'Siulit '.'''"N!'
ed in apair Of saddle bags, which were
tbrewn across the saddle, and Maj Bur-
ton mounIed.
"Good morning, Baker. Take good
care Of my beast"
III wiH," shouted The worthy landlord,
land luck be with YOU"
The Major rode on in silence, and thus
cemmunei with himself: "This is indeed
making virtue of necessity, to be com
pelleate ride this sorry jade 1t was
transformation indeed, and no one would
have supposed him any other than peace
full and harmless quaker.
He had proceeded about mile into tht
forest, and was turning short angle II
the road. when he was commanded, in
stentorian voice, to "stand!' Two mel
were near him, as villanous looking be
ings as one may often look upon. Squa
lid wrelchedness was depicted on every
feature, and in voice rendered hollow b!
misery, they demanded his money.
~AisS! my friends" said our gentle qua
ker, 81 have but little filthy lucre, ye
even that little l will bestow upon thee
If thou demandest it. But, friend, re
lease my beast, and fear not that shal
attempt to escape thee. Why dost tho
pursue this course, running both the DO
IL Il /, -