Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1851-05-09

So, il you want my daughter, you know how
lshe is 10 be won.'
Thus speaking, Squire Harwood took An
nette under his arm, and bowing very kindly
but firmly, TO the astonished lover, disappearel
within the house.
e Edward remained standing Tor moment up
! on the spot where they had left him, as il Try
ing TO realize what had passed. He then turne
away in silence, his cheek burning with tn
! glow of amorifed and sensitive spirit.
The profession which he had in view wa
that OF clergyman; and although not deficien
; In courage or patriotism, he had suffered hii
5 brothers to take the field and the deck while h
| remained at home. The words of the Squir
T sank deep into his spirit. He walked slowl
homeward, very sad, and filled with the pain
2 inl Idea OF losing her who was so very dear +
him. As he came upon the bridge he had mad
, up his mind. He stopped, and, speaking alou
said firmly
III Annette is only 10 be won by my takin!
-lup arms, | will enlist Tomorrow It's honor
able to serve ones country. am not yet
Clergyman, and can therefore act freely. Thi
is the last day the reproaeh shall be throwI
} upon me, that remain dalying at home Will,
my brothers are abroad exposing their hos
oms TO the weapons OF their country's foes
Il While he was speaking. he saw that the
lship which he had noticed half an hour before
at distance, had drawn close in with the land
and had dropped anchor about mile abreas
lof the inlet. The sun had already set, yet he
could see her distinctly, and discover that she
was merchant ship. He remained for some
time watching her, and listening to the distant
drum of detachment of the militia of the
nelghborhood, which was retiring homeward
lrOm tha m fall flha af a. J.,.
died away in the distance, beyond the mill.
and the low dashing of the waves against the
bridge fell upon his ear.
We'll, Tomorrow, too shall march to the
measure of pipe and drum! will enlist as a
private and make my way up. Annette shall
be WON'T
He paused, thinking he heard the sound of
oars. He looked seaward but the twilight rem
dered objects too obscure to detect any boat ap.
proachlng. Yet each moment the fall of the
sweeps came clearer and nearer, and he was
soon enabled to discover barge pulling in to-
] wards the bridge. His position in the shadow
II " au oferhang1ng iinh. shieided him from 5b
servaiion. He saw that the boat contained al
least tw enly men. Ii moved slowly as il drew
near land, and person standing up in the
stern directed its landing. 1t struck the shore
close by the bridge within the inlet; and al.
most beneath where he stood the party debark.
ed. He now saw that half of them were sea-
mel men and half marines, and that all were armed
ihey were commanded by young midship.
man. who, forming them into column, march
ed them up the bank and on the bridge. Ed.
ward as they came near, drew himself up in
to The limb, and was concealed by is foliage.
while he observed with surprise their siealthy
movements.
How far is the grist mill hence, Saml' ask
ed The young officer, looking about him after all
MS party had got on the bridge. save a man 10
guard the boat.
'rhe first mill am bout third of a mile up
de creek, ana The io'other one, where the most
grist be. is mile. There ia a good path along
the creek shore = answered man in the true
Yankee negro inionaiion, but speaking with
manifest reluctance.
If you deceive me, darkie, you are dead
mani said the young MILDLY positively.
Il knows dat we'll 'nuff, SO tells YOU de
truth, tho hates to mighiily knows all
bout dis place, COZ used to lib here once =
Ober dar is whar Squire Harwood live, and
ober dat way am widdur Ogilvie, an wish
dis nigger was safe in dare Kitchen nebber
60 cook again in Boston ship nor no oder one
a Ter beln taking prls'ner by the British as
am dis time. | wish may never see blue wa
ter again, if gets my liberty dis limel'
'HIst! with your noise! each OF you march
forward in silence. We are in an enemy's
country, and must be cautious
Yes, guess you BETTER said the negro,
sulkily. III de country people know'd you
was skulkin' here arter corn, and -four, and
sheep, and oxes, to keep from sIarvin' 10 death,
as We have been week past, they be round
as thick as snakes in de grass, and debble one
OBJ you ould get ba, X to your boat! SO, ! ad-
wise you, massa, 10 keep sharp eye 10 the wind
ward Guy ! how mad all on 'em he in de
mornin', when dey find out you land here in a
prize ship wild only two gun aboard and thirty
men, an carry of clear 10 Halifax de gr;st from
desc two mills, and sheep and turkeys, too,
for the ieulenant's dinnerl Dey sware den,
and expec' de Squire swear enuff fcr whole
regiment!
Forward = cried the MILDLY. Silence, all
of you, and advance swiftly and with eau
lion y
They filed of the bridge, and taking the patl
along which the negro led the way, they were
soon lost to the sight of Edward in the gloom
of The overhanging banks of the creek.
I These men, then, are English J. he reflect.
ed, as he le. himself down upon the bridge /;
the vessel is prize, bound TO Halifax, with a
dnd fWo duu lutu-lWtuAy
here and ten remaining on board My course
: lis decided on 1t will take them an hour to
/, visit both mills. Halt of that time is enough
for me. shall know where to seek the mill
: tia party with the fife and drum-and il can
fad twenty brave men among them to put them
selves under my orders, will win Annette be.
fore to-morrow's sunriseh
! As he spoke he glidtd noiselessly away
from the bridpe and, after getting beyOnd hear
ing Of the man in the boat, he flew like the
!, wind across meadow in the direction Of what
was called the Gross Road cluster of vii
= = age habiiaions, the principal Of which was a
a a large country tavern where he knew he should
\ find assembled many OF the militia men who
= = had borne part in the review in the neighbor
q ing town. This inn was about mile distant
n from the bridge; on road in the rear Of Squirl
HarwOod's farm, across which lsaPing fenc'