Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-07-04
From the Ladies National Magazine.
THE DEATH STRUGGLE.
A LEGEND OF THE REVOLUTION.
by JAMES II. DANA.

The little town of Chichester, situated on
the NJ river, was once far more mpor-
tant than it is at present ; for while every
thug else in this wide country prospers, it is
falling surely but slowly TO decay. Many
years have passed since | visited il, and even
then it was "A melancholy sight. Houses
which | could remember as once inhabited,
were tenanlcs, and often roofess--an fields
which when last saw them were waving
with corn, now Law white and desolate, scorch-
ed by the RAYS Of an Augus. suu. Fences
were torn down-tenemcn,s were tottering
TO ruln-thc skeletons Of old sloops lay bleach
ing on the shOre-eyen an ancient church,
yard hard by, was turned into desola,e
common, and over the whole scene decay
appeared to reign with melancholy sccplre
1t was different once, though that was
years ago. But ] only alnde to the place to
call to mind how fleeing every thing is in
this care worn world.
About mile back Of the village stands an
old, weather-beaten house, built of thick
hewn logs, and consisting Of single room
below, and narrow garrett above. 1t now
forms the kitchen of more modern struc-
ture, but at the period Of the revolution, and
indeed, until within few years, it stood
alone. 1t is aplain old tenement, and stands
at right angles with the road. Behind it, is,
or was garden, stretching down to little
swamp, through which runs stream of
clear, cold water, of which many a time |
have drank. An apple orchard once stood
on the right of the house, and modest barn
in front, though time may have leveled both
Ia, ~, al, Al, ID.
neither here nor there-so viii! 90 on with
my story.
1t was a bright day in early summer, when
young girl stood in the door of the house.
looking anxiously up the road, as if watching
for some expected one. The sun was just
sinking behind the forest trees, pouring his
mellow light along the sandy road, and over
the dark sombre green of the melancholy
pines. Every thing was in repose. Scarce
ly a breath of air stirred the eaves--the low
ing Of cattle was heard faint from afar-the
ripple of the little stream came pleasantly to
the ear, and the hum Of insects growing ev-
cry moment more low, died at last away
STILL the young girl watched. She was beau.
tiful, but it was the beauty of high resolve
and Of proud form. Neither did she
when you looked at her second time, ap.
pear so young as she first seemed. She was
perhaps eighteen, she could no, be over TWEEN
~, and yet had II not been for an air OF
womanly digaily about her she might have
passed for a girl of sixteen only.
What can detain him 2 at length she
said as shading her eyes with her hands, she
looked anxously from the door.
The words had scarcely been spoken be.
fore figure emerged from the woods up the
road and with a glad smile, she was rushing
forward pace or two to meet the conner
when suddenly she checked her steps, she
turned as pale as death, and scarcely eiacu-
ia'ing The Refugee! = she hurried back to
the house.
The cause of her emotion was easily ey.
Plained by The character of her approaching
visitor. The Refugees were at tina, day, the
brlgands OF the country. Taking advantage
OF the turmoil OF the times, and the absence
Of most OF the male population TO the CONT,
mental army, they ravaged the country a
will, pundering and burning farm houses
and even in some instances, COMMITTING ner
sonal violence on females. They were con
sequently the terror of the whole country.
OF these men David Rowel, or as he wa
Familiarity called. from the darkness of hi
complexion, BLACK Davy,' was the mos
notorious. Sometimes moving alone, an
sometimes accompanied by others, but al
ways making his track with some outrage
he had gained for himself noiorieiy a
wide spread as il was terrible, 1t was til
sight of this individual which checked I'll
steps of the young girl, and drove her trem
bling, to seek refuge in her home.
But her fear, it seemed, soon vanished
She had scarcely crossed her threshold be