The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-23
For tho National Era.
MOLLY GRAHAM:
OR. HOW JOHNNY WON HIS FIDDLE
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

TALE VI IHE hENOLU
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
Do, Molly answered voice, apparently
from over her head, "why, ride, girl, ride !
There is Lightfoot she'll be right glad to get
mOu'full of granther Graham's clover agin,"
and before the girl could give vent to her terror
by scream black ball dropped lightly from
the limbs of an old willow, to her feet, and,
springing up, displayed the misshapen figure
of poor Johnny.
why, you here, Johnny" she said, Z" How
could you scare me so ="
Yes Johnny thought he'd come AFTER ye
to zee that the spirits didn't get we. So when
he seed you squatted down yOnder like an old
goose, he climbed up the tree to hear what
devltry cross Mat and Bill war hatchin."
And did you heart" asked the girl.
Didn't |! Haint Johnny got ears as well
as other folks? But ride, Mol, ride, or John
ny'll lose his fiddle
Ride where 2" she asked, willing in this
extremity to take counsel of one who not I'M
frequently manifested an acuteness of intellect
strangely at variance with his usual childish
manner, and whose attachment to her was one
of the most prominent traits in his character.
Where shall ride ?"
He did not reply in words, but pointed with
significant gesture in the direction of R.
And what then?' she asked.
Tell EN- to send down a whole lot of
troopers to catch cross Mat and the rest on
EN- and then Johnny'll get his fiddle in spite
of 'em. But mind !" he continued, earnestly,
after pause, they mustn't hurt Bill" See
ing that the girl didn't speak, he added
"Mebby Johnny'll go HIMSELF" and he began
to chant, in II low tone, distich from Mother
Goose
Ride away, ride away,
Johnny shall ride" &c.
Whist whist Johnny said the girl, lay
ing her hand on his arm, as she stood for
few seconds, painfully revolving the expedency
OF the plan suggested by his words and its
possible consequences to Bill Glover, who, rude
and reckless as he was had always indicated
ms claim to manhood by treating her with
respect.
=" If don't 90, the blood of young Stanforth
will rest on my head. And Harry Lawten-l
know he'll blame me, too! If do go, then
may bring ruin on Bill and his family y
thought the maiden; and, perplexed, uncer-
tam what course to take, she clasped her
hands in despair
Johnny" she said at length ~ know you
can keep secret if you've a mind to-"
Can't ?" returned he, with quick look
=" intelligence. Didn't see somebody meet
somebody on this very spot one night, and
ui .m lie snug among the leaves in the old
willow yonder, and see somebody kiss some
BODY and never let on a word about il TO Bill
nor Hetty,p W
IL seemed the maiden knew something about
~ LOT bright flush mantled her cheek. and
she SAID hurriedly-
.n nonsense' Johnny. Come, let's 20 home,
ihey walked on in silence until they reached
the stone wall behind the house. Here Johnny
paused ana saying, with one of his peculiar.
,i'ciiigent chances, "Johnny'll saddle Lightfoot
nlhsei darted over the fence and went to-
"arus 'he heid known rs the three-sauare.n
s'oo:Ining The end of some old dtty, while the
maiden made her way into the house.
10y uioVer was no consumer of the mid.
h'ght OIL, and Molly had scarcely announced
ner success in finding the jacket, when the
hiatron advised OF rather commanded her 10
90 to bed 0"'oo' "e' W
pl'i ana Mat are off again on some FOOLS
, Trent or other" she said. @They may thank
,nelr stars if they don't run their necks into q
halter YETI INV
"oiy started, for the words seemed to echo
nef own painful thoughts but Hetty was too
oh absorbed " her own troubles to mind
ne,' She was about to bar the door. when the
sIi rel reminded her that Johnny was still out.
III warrant it. He's alters a ktein of
Solne erS when he hadn't ought to be. He
any stay out Tor what care Pm not gwine
~ 'ea'e the door on the latch, and nobody in
'ne mouse but women and children
she ana bar the door, but the mother in her
got the better of her ill-humor for as abe left
The room, Molly saw her withdraw = nail from
over one Of the windows, 30 that the bow could
gan admittancc, il he chose.
roor Hetty Glover There was much in her
domestic life, aside from the never ceasine
.are' OF maternity, that went 10 account for
"er sour looks and querulous temper!
In the capacity Of guest for the maiden was
,oniy on visit TO the house Of her who had
S'en her uncle's wife, Molly occupied the spare
Jea-room which no family exigences could in. |
,b uce hetty Glover to give up II was quite at
.ne opposite end Of the house from the one |
IIoSnap'ed by that dame and, closing the door |
hs en,nd her, the young girl threw herself on
a.s knees by the bedside and sought guidance |
s s' support from Him to whom her old grand |
,a'ner had eyer taught her h leok in time Of
uoubie' Half an hour or ~ had passed. and
ms'ty's heavy breathing indicated the sound |
s e's OF her slumber, when Johnnv's voice
A"g'hg fragment Of an old Scotch .ors