The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-03
THE TEMPTER AND THE TEMPTED.
BY J. T. HEADLEY.

IT was morning-a bright cool, glorious
morning in autunn-af the terrible bat.
tie of Brandywine, and the grateful beams
ofahe sun, were gliding the tops Of the
trees, which formed great forest lying
within sight Of the American encampmenl
below Princeton. The disastrous result
Of that memorial conflict had we'll nigh
crushed the hopes OF the bravest colonists
and the commander-in-chief himself was
dispirited and heart stricken.
Hundreds of his bravest companions in
arms had bitten the dust in that ll-fated
fray; many ofthe best officers had been
cntdown; the energies olhis Spartan band
were crippled, winter was approaching
and the future filled indeed with gloomy
prospects, The soldiers were indeed with
out shoes; scarcely decent tent was with
tlsarmy; the ground was frozen and rug
ged, and as the men was forced over it,
their bare feet were exposed and many a
rueful gashha caused bloody foot print
to be left behind them.
But on that lovely and bright morning.
within the edge of that broad forest, there
sata royalist, whose sympathies had late
ly inclined towards the American interests,
but whose personal veal had until now in.
duced him to pursue an inactivity. a neu-
trality between the two parties. And yet
this man had son in Washingtons S camp,
mere boy in years. who had taken his
mhsket and joined the American lorces
some months previously. The father had
learned the defeat of the colonial army. he
knew they had been forced to retreat, and
he came 10 the neighborhood Of the army,
and halted an hour or two, to learn if pos
sible the fate of his boy. .
2He dare not approach too abruptly and
having reached the deep wood at last which
lay between him and the distant camp. he
mounted knoll. from the summit OF which
he had a view Of the vanquished, but still
determined band. who had comported
themselves so vallantly, but little time
previously, but who were now Fastening
towards Princeton. H.a,'.a t.# H-l..
sphe father's heart throbbed audibly. as
hegazcd beyond him at the remains OF the
gallant army. and questioned if his child
was there or whether fate might have num-
bsred his body among the three hundred
noble spirits who had been sacrificed but a
fewihours before on the field of battle
And ashe strained his aged sight far down
toward the camp, white horse suddenly
came in view, and approached, at length,
towards the forest.
The figure which bestrode this noble
animal was commanding and graceful
and the old man quickly noted that his
loose. grey coat and chapeau indicated
him an American officer. auu el
afls was on the verge Of the forest; and
turning his steed aside, he secured the an
imalt TO strss. and disappeared within the
csnfines Of the wood. ll0aoh eysg @
nWho could he be, and what was his
purpose at this hour, alone in the dark
forestl This man turned slowly about,
and he,rejoiced that the intruder did not
observe him, for he could now satisfy his
curiosity. sqr yi1dl ,uota ,stnad dpah Ge
.,The stalwart form, the proud step, the
manlysfaces the solemn movement of the
stssngsr greatly interested the watcher,
who saw that deep burthsni weighed up
on his heart, and as-he looked again he
saw that noble form bend low, upon his
knees, when the old man heard George
Washington send up fervent, earnest
prsyst 10 the God Of Battles, for the deliv-
eFsrce This country from war. opposition
shd peril3and ardent supplicatioiis in be-
hat ot his snfferibg 6 country men. s''9'1
Va tshr Of sympathy gushed from the
gfsyAeye oi the royalist, but as he dashed
aside the fallen drop, the brave warrior
HsspfpEm by 6is knees, snd ts was was. slowly wend-