Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-10-16
MISC Ell l. A N Y.
STORY OF THE REVOLUTION.
THE TEMPER AND THE TEMPTED: BY J. T. HEADL,

,ur rruprER AND THE TEMPTED: BY J. T. HEADLy
Il was morning-a bright COOL glorious morning In au-
,unn-aer the terrible battle Of Bandywne and now The
grateful beams of the sun gliding The tops of the trees
which formed the great forest lying within sight Of the A
merican encampment below Princeton The disastrous re-
sui, Of this memorable conflict had welngh crushed the
hopes Of the bavest cooniss, and the
himself was dispirited and heart stricken
Hundreds of his brave companions in arms had bitten the
dust in that Inflated foray many OF his best officers had
been cut down the energies VI his Spartan band were GRIP
ped, winter was approaching and the prospect was filled
indeed but with gloomy promise. The soldiers were with
on, shoes scarcely single decent left with the
army the ground was frozen and rugged and as The men
were forced over it, their bare feet were exposed, and ma
nv ruefl cash had caused bloody footprint TO be left
behind them.
But on that bgh; and lovely morning, within the edge
of that broad forest there sat aged oyailSt Whose SYM
pahies had at,ery inclined towards the American interest,"
but whse personal veal had until now induced him 10 pu
sue ar inactivity neutrality between the two pares.-
And vet this man had sun in WashingOns camp, mere
bv in years who had taken his musket and joined The A
merican force some months previously lhe ather had
learned of the defeat of the COLONIAL army he knew that
they had been forced retreat and ne came TO Inc hegh
borhoud of the army (Which had halted but Tor an hour or
,,yo) to learn, if possible the fate Of his boy.
He dared not approach abruptly and having reached
the deem wood which last lay between him and the dis
an camp he mounted knoll, from The summit OF which
he had view of the vauqushed but still determined band
who had compured themselves vaianty but little time
previously but who hasening toward Princeton
The fathers heart throbbed audby, he gazed beyond
him At the remains Of the gallant army and questioned if
his child were there whether fate might nave numbered
his boy among the three hundred noble spirits which had
been sacrificed few hours before on held OF oa''e
And a, he strained his aged sight, far down toward The
CAMP white horse suddenly came in vlew ana approach
ed at length toward the forest.
The 6gure which bestrode this noble animal was COM
mandnG and graceful and the old man quickly noted lha'
his ,se urey coat and chapeau indicated him an American
officer He was soon at the verge of ihe forest, and Turn
m his s,eed aside he secured the animal 10 tree, and
disappeared within the confines Of The wood.
Who could it be and what his purpose at this hour
alone in the dark forest? The man turned slowly aoou''
as the gure of the stranger moved past hlm anu lie e
ced that the intruder did observe him, Tor he coud
now satisfy his curiosity.
The stawar iorm the proud STEP the manly face' 'he
solemn movements Of the stranger greatly interested 'e
watcher who saw that deep burlhen weighed upon MS
heart and as he uuked again. he that noble form oen
, and nm his knees, the old man heard GEORGE WASH
xcroN send ~ ferven prayer to The uod ol
Banles. for the devera"ce Of his country from waf oP-
nression and peri-an ardent suppcatlon IN oeha o Ills
suffering cuuntrymen!
tear of sympathy gshed from the grey eye OF the aged
rk,oh hroua
rovast but he dashed aside The falling Drop Inc oa'e
,,r rose from his knees and was slowly vending his
o hack toward the spot where his sieed was secured
when another figure from opposite dlrec'0n' suuoe"y
hove in seh,-and haing sood in the pain o 'e A'ne'-
lean commander in chief.
In an instant the hand of Washington casped MS sworn
b and he youd have drawn the blade from his scaooaro'
b, The man who confronted him muoned him In Kindness
and tho v,rror s,ood in his tracks, Drawing himself up
to his heuht he gazed for moment upon the lace o 'e
other and quickly recognizing him, he eScaihea WIN 0'
ident surprise
"SIR WILLIAM HOWE 2"
The same-and by favor Of his majesty, commander Oi
the British forces in these colonies"
"The tool of an unwSe sovereign who rolls IN spend'a
exavagance and ease while the poor coonstS who should
have beep the objects of his especial regard starving
,brouuhou, the land :" quickly added Washington.
"A truce to this sir" replied ,he British General, quick
". "His majesty seeks 10 put an end to the contention
and strife that unfortunately has existed too long here-
..You speak ,ruy?' exclaimed Washington interrupt
ing the General, and deeply interested in his words.
"On my honor, sir the king would see this conflict
speedily terminated and but repeat his WORDS w"en
say that he looks to Washington oths result-so desa-
BILE 10 the colonists and the mother land"
The American General advanced toward Dir william
Howe-he looked into his eye--he measured his iorm-
and thousand emotions Of hope joy, fear susPclon mo-
menary thrust themselves upon the mind Of the sagaci-
Gus warrior,