Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-06-03

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 and confusion, while ove-
ry heart there was struggling to keep down
the rushing tide of emotion.
Near the open window, carefully examining
the lock Of a long gun, known in those days
by the name of Queens arm" stood my
old acquaintance, for such began to deem
him. the father of those children. But his
bent form, gray halr and furrowed forehead
indicated that sickness as well as Time had
laid its clasp upon him since had seen him
last The old happy smile was gone. and
his face was very grave, thoughtful almost
stern. Alta table near by stood the mother,
filling an old fashioned wallet with dough-
nots, which was held open by gray haired
old negro woman. The two daughters were
folding homcspun linen shirts. on which their
tears fell fast, as they placed them in a
brown knapsack that lay upon the table.
The brother, now a tall, handsome youth,
was counting the cartridges 10 box which
rested on the broad window sill before him I;
and though his mothers and sisters eyes,
and even the old slaves, were dim with tears,
his look, like his fathers, was firm and re-
solved, heroic even, though once or twice !
fancied that his lip trembled aud his eye
grew misty. as it rested upon his mother
face.
| should have been puzzled to understand
this tdbiednr, had not the words, mo
taxation Without representation, written ia
| clear, round hand on the smooth mantle
piece, gwen me clue 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.
I A puff OF smoke retreating before the blast
that shrieked and roared in the old chimney,
completely obliterated 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,
we're scattered multitude Of small huts and
tents. Something whispered me that this
was Valley Forge, and within these misera-
BILE huts, watched over by the beloved chief
tain, 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
turned to the extreme outpost of the camp,
where the moonbeams brought out in full re-
lief the gaunt form and hollow cheeks of
sentinel, who stood leaning against the decay
ed trunk of an old sycamore As no slowly
raised his sunkcn eyes to the moon, Istarted,
for there was something in those wan Inca
ments that seemed familiar. Gould il be that
noble boy ! had seen arming at the old farm
house? looked again. AZ length, slowly
and feebly be bent forward, and with the
point Of bis bayonet traced some words IN
small space of untrodden snow before him,
and as be again looked up. a faint smile
passed over his face That smile that look
convinced met was the volunteer of the
farm house, the baby brother of the painted
chamber"
An hour later, when bis comrades come to
| his relief they found One mightier than they,
had preceded them. He was dead, frozen
stock stiff, and by the faint light Of the set
| ting moon they traced in the snow before
them these words--"Home Motherr
Zone twol" chimed the old clock, and /
started, rubbed my eyes, and stared in a
kind Of bewilderment around the old cham
Der. 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 curtains. Had been dream
ing, or had the magic freight really limued
these pictures for me?
know not The only clue had to the
matter was tho reply of the master of the
mansion TO question Of mine, few hours
previous.
"Yes," 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 Val.
ley Forge"