The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-04-05

80 fifN uffltHF MNFIfUfNt INK uNIiINt anu NNNNf
rosted moment, dll, amer her nine miles
walk, slio had placed the child w the arms
of lla dying parent
The energy and promptness Of action dis-
played bY Anna Warner in This incident
were retained hy her ~ Mrs liAiey,And oven
b. old age. She WAS noted for bold, deter
mined spirit quirkuefs Of feeling, prompt
repartoe, yig0r and agility Of frame, and vol
utility Of speeeh. liHt tlIn predaminaia feel.
ing Of her life was deop rooted hatred ~
Everything Enaliah. Her preludicoH were
lFfnioTirsoua; toe lre kindlod in her bosom
~ Tthe n0liipa az Iiia nOlbing fouId dAtins
giiAl, The fearful SCENES Of the JarHoy pris-
on-ship, from WhOsa n0isOme hold sOme of the
friends of her youth bad barely escaped With
life, and who're she firmly believed "a 300
dgucncai", GH hh anil numbered had perisii-
ed, (ior 20 aho onon repeated I'D and the
home tcrrors Of the Grotnn massacre hal 10
cmHligrpl Der retmtiye feelings, that fhe
could never speak Of the lintish nation with
out somG yiiuperauvc cpithoL When, thcro-
fore. the last war with Great Britain broke
egt -as s.--- r-a.l,- for the cTnrrrrnry Sha
gloricd IN the Declaration Of War in 1879,
almost as much ~ In the Declaration Of lndo-
pcndcncc in 20, Her cordial manners, aud
her vehement political predictions and hn-
upatlios, made her house noted partisan
Officers and soldiers oi both army and navy
frcqucntcd her dwollinghnd met with a warm
hearted hospitality that made her threshold
appear % them more like home than n tay-
orn,
But the vide nnioriety OF Mira Bailey Is
founded on a single incident which happen
cd in the summer Of lsi3-an incident ludi-
eroua ia itaelG but which has boan widol,
circulated, and yet 10 much more frequently
alluded 20 than actually told, lnt simple
detail Of the hci seems requisite.
Tho squadron of Com. Decatur had been
chased into New london harbor by a superb
or British fleet, and an attack upon the Town
was momcutarly expected. II was of great
importance pint the fort on Groton Heights
should be ilnmcdiately prepared for a vigor.
uus drfrucc' Major Simeon Smith, with n
band Of volunteers from New London, has.
icned 10 the reinforcement of the garrison,
aud preparations were made 20 give the enc.
NV = warm reception, when IL was discover.
cd that they were short OF cartridges Wad.
ding was wanted, and messenger was sent
io haste through the village 10 procure fan
ne, The inhabitants had mostly packed their
goods, and were carrying them of 20 places
lcss exposed. Mrs Bailey was sending AWAY
her effects, and bad only few necessary ar
iirlra lcit ia the house. She was crossing the
street 10 n ncighbor's DIOR when the ufcsscn-
ger having trtyoscd tho village, asking in
vain at eyory no use, for flannel 10 make cart
rid.v- ReccStcd'hcr and made known his et-
rand and his III success. Without q moments
dolay--quick ~ thought---shc slipped her
haudinto her pocket hole ,loosobryt her skirt
shook IL Oh, and lining II up presented IL ic
the mcwGngcr With n right hearty good laugh
/ expressing a wish, tho import OF which was
that lt might do it, work promptly and eilec-
tua,ly.
The bysiandcrs we're much amused, and
uttered shout OF admiration. The mcsscn-
ger hastcncd with his prizo 20 the fhrtres.
and mndc his report The story was rohchrs-
] ~ 10 lhe Mhule g-lffisal- -Iill-Al4r!i..4.l
/ skirt was received with loml ncclamaiions
I the men rearing il upon their pixies, declared
[ that they would fight under il 10 tho las,
drop Of thcir blood. Had the British actual.
/ " made an attack at that timc il is quite
-fpahahle- tho IneInaIabla ..E4l,a..t r.4s.ld
( have been run mp the flagstaff, and allowed
to throw out It's folds upon the wiad as a
! banner.
/ This anccdotc went forth into the ncwsla-
pcrs, and was soon spread throughout the
| Union. Mrs Bailey was exalted to the pi4,-
| naclc Of uotorcty, NJ the greatest Of female
patriots. She was toasted, visited, carcssod
letters, tokens, and presents were sent to hei
from all quarters. AZ the great military and
naval ball, given in New London not long ar
! forwards Mrs Bailey appeared in antique cos
tune, and was led out upon the floor by the
officer highest in rank that was present OF
the occasion. Since that period stranger
stopping mt Now London have made il n point
10 visit Mrs Bailey. Two Presidents Of IN,
United States, Mnnroe and jackson, in Their
respective tours through the Northern States
after visiting Groton Fort, went in statel,
al. Al
heroine of Grotun.
\ The writer ef THE article FIRST saw he,
when she was upwards of seventy wears Of
age She would dance all about the room
singing national glees, rail Mt the English ant
J defenders Of English measures and Qlorif,
! America, the masonic fraternity, AMI
General Jackson--her fhyoritc tonics--witl
n zest and lightncss of heart that filled th,
beholdcrs with amnzcment The walls of he
room were adorned, or rather dsfgurcd will
- "--t-e-s-.isloss s4 hhrrsl sss7r-, ise-
aud coarse caricaturos, among winch no les
than oiglst hkoncsscs of her fAvoritc her,
were intorspcrscd this she observed wa
mono too nhSoh of q good thing. IL is but Jus
tice 20 add that shd exhibited the woodbinet
that shaded hor piazza, and her large flower
ing 'Dcrangy, - (IIydrangcn) with as mucl
exulta;ion as Decatur'S ship, or oven Genera
Jackson's ycncratcd countcnancc. She re
latcd inc Stnil oltNiV. llanuci III u HNcll
sportivc manner, observing (what no ono VIII
! knew her devotion could doubt) that she woul,
have given all the blankets in her house will
as much goodwill had they been within reach
and, adding in relation TO the skirt, at wa
=. n right good article--noncSefs sour scant-o
skirts, but over three yards wide, and boun,
with good quality binding" This amplitud
| of dimensions may he readily perceived, 70
its owner was OF masculine proportions.
This sketch would be incomplete il W
were fi1t 70 add that Mrs Bailey was warn
| friend, kind and obliging noighbor, and II
= +rerreaehahIa re ~ a irite--II Her -hiishaaey 'rh
died at the age of 90 August oath, 1s4s, wa
iuEt three weeks older than herself Fhe,
lived together about G5 years, but had N
children. Aiicr tho death of her eompanio
hfrr Bailey lost much of her usual 1cheerfil
ness, and was no longer tho gay excitabl
Girl of IS that she SAd boon at 20 and s.
. wears of age. She Ind often declared he
nors1nsion that she shot1ld live 10 number
: hundred years, and this perhaps might hay,
! ibccn the case had not her pvcptfui life beel
| tctit on I'M manner 20 sudden and Hwfut,sl
r J i,,tr,Y. Nxaa ooaflv nkainsls d.,