The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-07-23

| tCrS - edward Mallory ; SILKS anu
laces" - "and here was the house that
Washington stopped at''-"John Kniph-
erhauscn, tobacConist, land here was
where the pretty Quakercss lived, who
used to furnish the commandcI-in-chlei
with information as TO the encmy's move
mcnts, "-"alI, all, are changed time has
been busy with every thing but the sea-
sons-thcy are the same--the sun and
the rain-thc evening and the morning
the icicle and the dew-drop - the frost
and the snow-drllt change not: but man
and his habltatlons-ayc, the very names
Of places and people have been altered,
and the New York of the Revolution is
not the New York of 81"
As the old man said this he seated
himself upon marble doorstep, and
wiped the PRECIPITATION from his brow ;
for he had walked long way that morn
ing, and the thousand associations that
pressed upon his memory wcaried him.
A company of volunteers, in all the
pomp and circumstance of city war, now
approached by a cross street. The
bugIc's shrill note, mingled in with the
clarionct and cymbais; and the glance OF
the sun upon their bayonets and polished
helmets, lit up the martial fire that sumb-
cred in the old mans soul. lie rose
upon his feet.
alt is pleasant enough now TO look
upon such gatherings said he, "but
those who have heard the drums beat to
drown the cries Of the wounded and the
dying, cannot forget their meaning, tho
youth and joy accompany them, and
though the smiles of beauty urge them
on" And the old man wept, for the
men of other days stood about him and
the battle fields, then silent and deserted,
teemed with the dead and dying and the
blood formed in pools amid the trampled
grass, or tricklcd in little rlls down the
smoky hillside.
A servant now came out of neigh
boring house and invited the old man in.
lie thankfully accepted the hospitality OF
the polite citizen, and soon stood in n
comfortable breakfast room. A young
man of twenty-onc received him with
kindness; and tall, prm woman OF
cighty-six cordially insisted upon his
joining her family at the breakfast table.
A beautiful girl of eighteen took the old
mans hat and cane, and wheeled up an
old arm chair that had done the family
some service in ancient days. The old
man as she seated herself beside him,
pattcd her upon the head, and a firm
"God bless YOU escaped from his wrin-
killed. and paIIid lips. The old lady sud-
denly paused in her tea-tabIc duty, and
looked earnestly at her guest. The old
mans eyes met hers-they had seen each
other before - but the mists of time
shroudcd their memories, and blended
names and places and periods strangely
together.
"Will thee have another cup Of tea p
said the matron to the old man.
Il have heard that voice." thought the
stranger, as he took the prollered cup
with gratitude, and finished his breakfast
in silence.
ooh! Grandmother" said the maiden
springing to the window, "hcre come the
Iron Greys; how splendid they look"
81 cannot look at Them" said the mat
ron, in trembling voice-"thy grand
father was killed by the Brunswick,
Greys at Princeton"
"What was his name ?" said the Ole
man, fixing his dim eye steadily upon
the speakers face,
"Charlcs Greedy" said the matron
shedding an unexpected tear.
"Charles Greedy p said the old man.
springing up - "why he was LiI,
Guardsnan, and died by my side bu
ried him at the hour Of twilight by the
milestone
"And thou art!" said the matron, car
ncslly.
"Old Hugh Maxwell, a corporal o
Washington's Life Guard, at your ser
vice" said the stranger guest.
ooh! well do | know thee" said til
matron. wccping-."it was thee who gay
me directions where TO find him, an
, delivered to me his dying sigh. Thi
, is an unhappy day to me, Hugh Mas
. well, but thy presence lends an lnteres