The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-01

| the " Painted Chamber" was standing al one OF
the narrow windows of the old house, watch
ing the progress of an OK sled as II swept down
the street, leaving two broad, smooth tracks
| glittering in the sun. Planted on the 'front.'
beam Of the sled, with his feet far apart, alter
the fashion of the pictures Of the Colossus al
Rhodes" stood that same ruddy-cheeked man,
and behind him, clingng close to the beams 10
guard against tumbling off, sat two tall, laugh
| ing girls Now, as nothing ever seems strange
in dreams, or by the freight at midnight, was
| not at all surprised TO recognise IN those tail
maidens the little girls | had seen before, nor
| in the bright-eyed boy, who one moment sioou
| planted on the sled in imitation OF his iather,
| trying in vain to maintain his position without
| touching his hand to the stakes for support,
and the next was measuring the length Oh ms
new boot-tops in snow-drlit, the oaoy
BROTHER who had excited their curiosity ana
| delight in the former scene.
watched them until they tumbled on IN
front of low, brown building, which, from
the number Of children about the door, ana
other unmistakable signs, knew to be schooi
house, and 10 new picture grew clear anu
bright in the cleaning light.
1t was no longer winter, but glorious spring
morning. The beams of the rising sun had
tipped the highest points OF the surrounding
hills with fire, while from the meadows ana
glens rose the light mists, chnglng TO thelr
bases, or creeping slowly up their sides, ike
clouds of incense around 6re-crowned affairs
The winds were still asleep in the cedar boughs,
but occasionally shower Of gtterlng dew,
drops fell to the ground, as some belated bird
sprung from its leafy perch and scared upward
with its morning song of thanksgiving. On a
little knoll, a few rods distant from the old farm
house, flock of sheep were shaking the dew
from their lately washed feeces and near the
bars of the pasture on the left, stood group of
Young cattle, some stretching their sleek necks
over the fence to crop the forbidden clover,
some interlocking their white horns in playful
warfare. The whole scene was full of peace,
but within that old house was strange hustle
and confusion, while every heart there was
struggling to keep down the rushing tide of
emotion.
Near the open window, carefully examining
the lock of long gun, known in those days by
the name of" Queens am," stood my old
ACQUAINTANCE, for such | began to deem him,
the father of those children. But his bent form,
gray hair, and furrowed forehead, indicated
that sickness as well as Time had laid its grasp
upon him since had seen him last. The old
happy smile was gone, and his face was very
grave. Observation-Disclosures stern. At table
near by stood the mother, filling an old-fash-
toned wallet with douabnnis. WHICH was beld
open by gray haired old negro woman. The
TWO daughters were folding homespun linen
shirts, on which their tears fell fast, as they
placed them in brown knapsack that lay
upon the table.
The brother, now a tall, handsome youth,
was counting the cartridges in a box which
rested on the broad window sill before him, and
though his mothers and sisters eyes, and even
the old slaves, were dim with tears, his look,
like his fathers, was firm and resolved, heroic
even, though once or twice iancied that his
lip trembled, and his eye grew misty as IT rest
ed upon his mothers face.
should have been puzzled TO understand
this tableau, had not the words " No taxation
,eiikoh representation" written In clear,
round hand, on the smooth mantel-plece, given
me clew to its meaning. The echo OF those
scattering shot discharged at Lexington had
reached even this remote corner, and this brave
boy was one of the hundreds Of stout hearts that
were arming at the sound.
A puff of smoke, retreating before the blast
| that shrieked and roared in the old chimney,
| completely obterated this scene, and when
| ventured to look up, strange landscape lay
| before me.
There was nothing familiar about it but the
moon, which looked down on deep, dreary
dale, along which, half buried in snow, were
scattered multitude of small huts and tents.
Something whispered me that this was VALLEY
FORGE, and within these miserable huts, watch
ed over by the beloved chiefain, were gathered
| those half starved, half frozen, half naked
| troops on whom rested the hopes OF the world.
| But instinctively, as it seemed, my eyes turn
| ed to the extreme outpost OF the camp, where
the moonbeams brought out in full relief the
| gaunt form and hollow cheeks Of a sentinel,
who stood leaning against the decayed trunk OF
an old sycamore. As he slowly raised his
| sunken eyes to the moon, | started-ior there
was something in those wan lineaments that
| seemed familiar Could 1t be that noble boy
had seen arming at the old farm -house2
| looked again. AT length, slowly and feebly he
| bent forward, and with the point of his bayonet
traced some words in small space OF untrod-
den snow before him, and, as he again looked
up, faint smile passed over his face. That
smile, that look, convinced me - it was the
volunteer of the farmhouse, the baby brother
of the 50 Painted Chamber"
An hour later, when his comrades came to his
relief, they found One mightier than they had
| preceded them. He was dead. frozen stock and
stiff and by the faint light of the setting moon
they traced, in the snow before them, these
words" Home .Mother!"
Gone! two!" chimed the old clock, and
started, rubbed my eyes, and stared in kind OF
bewilderment around the old chamber. The
soldiers, the valley, were gone-and the only
thing there, bearing the least resemblance to a
tent, was the tall bedstead with its ample cur
tains. Had been dreaming, or had the magic
freight really limned these pictures for me2
know not. The only clew had to the
matter was the reply of the master Of the man
sion to question Of mine, few hours previ-
| Gus.
EYES," he had said, "David Truesdale
their only son, enlisted for the whole war, and
was either frozen to death or died of small pox
that winter our army lay at Valley Forge"
|