Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-26
'TfiE RESCUE.
An Incident Of The Rerotaticn.
By R.irAMILToN.

begun to don their niantles of gorgeous colorS.-
TIE fields shorn of their harvest treasures, lay
like golden lakelets in rich and mellow sunset.
The noble highlands, like giant warriors,
clothed in their panopy Of rock and foliage,
threw their sullen shadows far out upon the
bosom ofthe glorious Hudson, who rolling on
his path in beauty, CLEANED like fallen rain
bow in innumerable tints of accidental glory.
For in the distance lowered the Cro'nest, be-
grt with dadem Of purple and gold. The
first was twinklng on the brow of twilight
deep, dark clouds were encircling the zone of
creation, rock and mountain, tree and shrub,
hil dale, and rivulet all commingled in one
hazy softness, rendering it scene Of indiscri-
bable loveliness, beautiful as in those days of
primitive innocence, ere sin was known, or
dcsoldtion and decay had fallen upon thc bios
SONS ofour earthly Eden.
Such was the evening when u barge was
seen TO leave the promontory of West Point, in
the ncighborhood of which we locate our mar
ratve, in the year l7S2. In it were several
| attlred in the military costumeof TIE period
who, with the well measured stroke of their
oars made it to dart over the golden water like
a ray of light. In the stern was seated man
ofabout fifty years OF age, his head was unco.
vered, and revealed TO view wide and capa.
cious brow; his features were marked ard
( masculine; his mouth was peculiarly churac-
tcrlscd 10y Il c!oscucss of the lips, that gave
him look of determination, vet which in no
way impaired the mild and morcitul cNprcs-
/ sion which reigncd ovcrliis general aspect
! Like the others in the boat, he wore a dark
! blue coat with broad buff iacings, closely but
| toned to the throat, heavy golden cpaulcttes,
buckskln small clothes, high military boots, with
! spurs of steel, with belt of buff oncirced his
! waist in which was fixed straight sword.
! Such was the costume OF the parsonage who
was destined to achieve the liberty of his
country, and TO burst the ictters of oppression.
Need we say who it was In your mind :
| eye does he not stand before You Is not his
name the watchword ofou independence; and
his memory enshrined in the heart Of every son
of freedom 1t was George Washington!
As the barge gained the opposite bank, one
ot' the ro~crs leared ashore, and made it fast 10
the root of the willow which hung lis broad
| thick branches over the river. The rest of the
party then landed, and uncovering, saluted
! their commander, who rcturaed their courtesy
by ten O'clock you may expect me- said
! Washington. BE cautious: hook well that you
are not surprised. These are no times for tr
fling
Depend upon u.s. replied one of the party
Il do he responded, and bidding them fare
wei, departed along the bank ofthe river.
That evening party was to be given al the
house ofone of his old and valued friends, X
which he with several other American officers
had been invited. IL was seldom he had par
ticipated in festipty, more especially at tha
period when every moment was traught wit
Observation-Disclosures, in respect TO an OLE
acquaintance backed by the solicitations of Rub,
Rugsdale, the daughter of the host, he had con
scnted 10 relax from the toll of military duty
and honor the party for iew hours with hi
presence.
After continuing his path for some distarc
along the rivers side, he struck off intc a mar
row road, bordered thickly with 5rushwood
tinged with thousand dyes of departed sum
mer; here and there a grey crag peeped on
from the foliage, over which the green ivy an
the scarlet woodbine hang in wreathy dalliancG
at other places the arms of the chesnut an
mountain ash met III lofty tondness, aud cast
gloom deep almost as night Suddenly q crash
ing among the trees was heard, and like dec
an Indian girl bounded into The path, aud stoo
full in his presence. He started back with SUI
prise, laid his hand upon his sword-but III
Indian only fell upon her knees, placed he
finger upon her lips, and by sign with her han
forbade him TO proceed.
'Whst seek you, my wild flower, said III
General. She started to her feet, drew a sma
tomahawk from her belt of wampum, and i'm
tsted the act of scalping the enemy f., then
gain waving her hand, as forbidding him TO a,
vance, she darted into the bushes, leaving hi
lost in amazement
There is danger said he to himself, after
short pause, and recovering from his surprise
That Indians manner betokens me of no goo
but my trust is in God he has never yet d
serted me, and rcsuming the path, he short
II reached the mansion of Rufus Rugsdale.
+ His appearance was the signal of JOS amor
r. the party assembled, each Of whom Wed Wi
S. the other to do hun honor. Although grave
council and bold in war, yet in the bosom Of d