Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-08-04


s.s.s,o TIE In.kse Ball. a3
rALE OF THE AMERICAN 'RxvoLuTIoN.
Holmes Hole is harbor well known to
all navigators Of the coast Of New Eng
land. During the year 1881, while The
hopes and fears Of the American patriots
were alternating, half dozen British frig
ates were lying snug in the Holmes hole
harbor. Time hung heavily on the hands
of The officers on board these vessels, and
they avaiied themselves on every oppor-
luni,y Of breaking in upon its .edium.
The project of ball on shore was got
PIP, and the hearts of the British officers
bounded merrily a. the prospects of the
pleasure in store for them. The Yankee
girls, although notremarkably disposed to
smile on British uniform. were never
,heless NOT averse to indulging in li,,le
Irritation with those who wore the red
coats. Ladies wore the bump Of Irritation
on :heir head the wesld over, and i. is
therefore not to be wondered that the girls
in the neighborhood of Holmes. Hole were
willing 10 have few hours qualification
at the expense Of the enemies Of their coun.
try. TO bring the lion hearts Of these Of
fcers to terms of capitulalion, was an OBJ
ject not 10 be resisted; and accordingly
these damsels arrayed themselves in their
bright smiles, and repaired TO ME festive
ball at the time appointed.
Brilliantly shone every thing on that
evening The officers were there forget
full of the errand Of bu,chery on which
they were come TO the country. and intent
only on winning honeyed looks and love-
lit smiles from the breathing forms around
them. The dance went on; and, as fair
and sylph.like forms wrea.hed through the
mazes, the proud Britons forgot their sweet
hearts al home, and yielded up their devo
lions to the fair strangers before them.
Swiftly few the winged hours away, and
the solemn chime Of midnight swelled the
air before the sounds of music ceased, and
the parties separated, with the promise of
many such meetings in future.
Il was TOO late TO return to the ships
tina. night, and the gallant officers. after
discoursing on the comparative merits of
the beauties by whom they had been en-.
tranced, drank toast to w0man's smile.
and prepared 10 retire for the night.
Pleasant dreams charmed their slumbers
fairy forms fitted around their pillows
away their spirits bounded over the
wide expanse Of water between them and
their distant homes, and there revelled in
half-awakened scenes of former bliss-and
sleep TO them was repose and blessing.
No thought, no suspicion had they Of
coming evil but, busy with he past, all
forge.inl were they Of the power of the iu-
ture 10 bring saddening change over their
hearts, and they slept away with the
smiles Of tranquility playing upon their
sealed features.
But all were not asleep that right.
There were others, counting on future
gains and glories, whose wakeful cutters
prize banisled slumber from their eye-lids
and filled their hearts with those high sen.
sations which deeds of chiyalrous daring
always foster. TO these it is now our
duty 70 turn. 70 5aai gafslei ~
The Vineyard Sound is abou. Eve miles
over. While the dance was In progress
{" ~ = Z. =
on the one shore. preparations Of another
kind were in progress on the opposite one.
I he ,idings Of the ball were spread through
out the vicinity, and eighteen brave tel
lows agreed TO make that night reple,e
with gloomy as well as brilliant reccollec-
lions 10 the British officers. ssas s,as.,,,.
The moon was in her last quarter. and
as she sunk below the horizon, and her
gifdling light vanished from the heavens:
a company Of resoluts fellows descended
the bank and made to the waters edge. 4
couple Of boats were soon unmoored and
launched on the unstesdyi element 6i'ed
with - gallant crews 40 ever started on -
eventful enterprise. Every spirit swelleu
high as they clssred the foam Of the break