The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-04-11

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There was something very beautiful
in that picture! The form of the young
girl, framed by the square massive wind
ow, the contrast between the rough
ltimbers, that enclosed her, and that
rounded lace, the lips parting, the hazel
Ieye diating, and the cheek warming
and flushing, with hope and fear; there
was something very beautiful in that
picture,, a young girl leaning from the
window Of an old mansion, with her
brown hair, waving in glossy masses,
|around her tace!.
Suddenly the shoutsto the south grew
nearer, and then, emerging from the
Ideep hollo W, there came an old man.
running at full speed, yet, every few
PAGES, turning round to fire the rifle,
which he loaded as he ran. He was
pursued by a partyoften or more Brit
sh soldiers, who came rushing on, their
bayonets fixed, as if to strike their VIC
tim down, ere he advanced ten PAGES
nearer the house. ,s sis
On and on the old man came, while
his daughter, quivering with suspense,
hung leaning from the window; --he
reaches the block-house gate-look!-
He is surrounded their muskets are lev
elled at his head, he is down, down at
their feet, graphing for his life? But
Hook again! He dashes his foes aside,
with one bold movement he springs
| through the gate; an instant, and it is
locked; the British soldiers, mad with
rage, gaze upon the high wall of logs
and stone, and vent their anger in
drunken curses.
| NowIook TO yonder window! Where
the young girl stood moment ago,
quivering with suspense, as she beheld
|her father struggling for his life, now
stands that old man himself, his brow
barred, his arm grasping the rifle, while
| his grey hairs wave back from his
wrinkled and blood-dabbled face That
was fine picture of an old veteran,
nerved for his last fight; stout war
rior, preparing for his death struggle.
/ Death-struggle? les!-for the, old
man, Isaac Wampole, had dealt too
many. hard blows among the British,
soldiers tricked, foiled, cheated them
| too often to escape now! A few mo-
ments longer, and they would be rein
forced by strong party OF refugees;
| the powder, the arms, in the old block
house perhaps that daughter, herself,
| was paid their reward. There was
scarcely hope for the old man, and
vet he had determined to make a des-
perate fight.
"We must bluff off these rascalsw
he said with grim smile, turning to
This child "Now, Bess, my girl, when
4 fire this rifle, do you hand me another.
and SO on, until the whole eight shots
/, are fired! That will keep them on the
other side of the wall, for few mo-
, ments, at least, and then we will have
, to trust to God Tor the rest?'' sg
Look down there, and see, hand
stealing over the edge of the wall! The
, old man levels his piece--that British
trooper falls back with crushed hand
j upon his comrades heads! ei
No longer qaivering with suspense
; but gro wn suddenly .6rm, that young
) girl passes loaded rifle TO the veteran:
5 grasp and silently awaits the result.
, For moment all is silent below, the
I British bravoes are somewhat loath tc
/ try that wall, when stout old "Rebel,
4 rifle in hand, is looking from yondel
& window! Here is pause-low, ,deel
t murmurs-ihey are holding a council
!, A moment is gone, and nire head
are thlust above, the, wall at once -
. bark! One--two-three! The old vet
+ eran has fred three shots, there ar.
three shots, there are three dying men
!, grovelling in the yard, beneath th'
5 shadow of the wall! ~
i, "Qulck, Bess, the rihes!'' uG,sg...
: And the brave girl passes the rife
i to her fathers grasp; there are fou
shots, one after the other; three NOR
9 soldiers fall back, like weights OF lead
! upon the ground, and a singlsred-coa
3 s,seen, slowly mounting to the top 9
! 1.-THE wall, his eye fixed upon the hal
!; ldoor, whichh will force ere a momen
IS is gone! ss g5
e Now the last ball is fired, the old mai
a stands there, in that second-story wind
g low, his hands vainly grasping for an
q other loaded rifleiA AT this moment
. the wounded and dying band, below
# are joined BY q party Of IS olne twent.
$ refugees-who, clad in their half-robbe
!, uniform, came rushing. from the woods
q and, with one bound, are lea ping 70
/ the summit Of the WALL s.s. " .l .ss.rr sloss1
d rs'Quick Bess, myrifek III 'rs1st alia
!, And look there, even while the vet
8 eran stood looking out upon bis foes
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