The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-01-07
Its glHdes of reedy grass,
Its safe and silent islands
Within the dark morass,

SosG OF MLRIoS's MHS.
1t was severa days aftere the events THE
last chapter, and the scene was one of wild
and woodland beauty. Huge expresses rose
on every hand, festooned with parasite plants;
broad glades opened here and there in all
directions: and vast arcades stretched off in
the distance, groined and vaulted like Go
thic minister. 1t was just such a spot as Ro-
bin Hood might have chosen in old Sherwood.
Here were knarled monarchs of the crest
which had braved the lightnings and the
storms of a thousand years; hefe we're naru-
ralbowers, formed by the interlacing branch
es Of the trees, such as fair Rosamond might
have been sheltered in; here were vines,
dropping from the huge branches, like cur
taius, or hanging in festoons across the way,
like the draped banners Of mighty host.
The whole scene was full of picturesque beau
ty. And the effect was heightened by fires,
which glimmering here and there between
the trees, cast wild and tiiekering shades a
long the sward and gave the prospect the air
of an enchanted forest. Fragrant plants fill
led the evening atmosphere with delicious
perfume--the laurel the shrub, and more
exquisite than all, the sweet-scented jessa-
mine. ...
This, as the reader may have imagined,
was Marion's celebrated camp at Snow Is
land. Itwas a place of high river swamp,
nearly altogether enclosed by water, and de-
Tended by its natural position from surprise
and siege alike. Here, after his attacks, he
was accustomed to retire and recruit his men,
exhausted by long and rapid marches, often
sixty miles day, which they frequently
made. Perhaps the great secret of this re-
nowned psrtisan's success, next to his indom-
liable courage, which reminds US of that of a
knight of chivAlry, was the care which he
took to give his followers sufficient rest be-
tween his enterprises. His maxim was to
lie low and feed high until the hour came to
strike; but then his motions were as rapid,
and the blow he struck as decisive as the
thHnderbelt.
The present occasion was one of those on
which his men, having returned from sue
cessful expedition, were resigning themselves
like true soldiers, to the pleasure ofthe mo-
ment. The sentinels were indeed posted at
the outskirts; but inside the camp was uni
Eerssl wassai and song. The reins of dis
cipline seemed for the time to have been re-
laxed The different messes were gathered
.ogether over their meals; the cheerful cup
circulated from hand to hand and many a
merry jest was told, or lyric of war or love
was sung by those jovial boon companions.
One of those groups seemed even more
merry than the rest. 1t was composed o
about dozen men, prominent among whom
was Preston's sergeant, Macdonald, who ac-
ted as the director of the ceremonies for the
time being, end saw especially to the circu-
lation Of the cup.
keep it up, boys" he said, handing a
round the bottle, sit isn't often we get such
real old stuff as this, for it is not every day
we have the ri1ing Of rich 'rory's cellar as
we had last week. A short life and merry
one is my motto. Hello! my excellent friend
Jacob, why don't you drink? You needn't
sit showing us your teeth all the time, tho
they are so handsome. Comrades, here's s
the he aith of Jacob Snow-that's you, my
old chap, l suppose-he serves as pretty a
mistress as there is in the thirteen colonies.
and boasts shin bone that curves like a
preaping hook, Jacob Snow, anding, egadP'
"Lor, Massa Macdonald, I'm deeply OBJ.
ligated for, dis honor" said the old butler
for i was indeed he. 81 am really discon'
founded for words to distress my feelings,
here he laid his hands on his heart. 5
''That's it--blaze away, old fellow" said
the sergeant slapping him on the back. q
knew You could talk as glib as a pArson, So
you were at Mrs. Blakeley's when we were
before that place, were you? You remem.
Der my sending in for my baggage?"
"Gor Almighty, yes!" said old Jacob full
ofrevereHtial admiration. "And you'Se dc
gentleman too dat shot Lieutenant Torrianc
AZ three hundred yards. Yaw! yaw! yaw
dat made 'em furious. Major Lindsay sale
you we're an Injuu and no better dan can
non balD--he, yawP' ss. s,,
brave, suppose. But that hitting of th'
lieutenant Was but trife to the way / serv
ed Major Gainey. Wasn't it, lAds?"
4 SAY, was it!'' echoed half dozen voices
"Tell it to him-tell it." ....n 4.ss
"Shall II" said the sergeant, addressing
F. old Jacob with something of drunken grayi
ty; for the whole party, by this time, hsc
done ample justice to their fagons.
Old Jacob nodded, and Macdonald began
! rWell, then you must know, my jolly OLE
bladc--but fill your cup again, and drirl
perdition TO the Englishmen- that a party o
us had a brush down at Georgetown, not lony
!. ago, with some of the British regulars, VIII
were killing beeves at Whites bridge, VI
, soon whipped the red coats, AID chased then
towards the town. But their friends there
hearing the firing, came swarming out lk
, bees, and SO we went at it again, hip AM
thigh as the good book says, and for Will,
] it was the toss of . six pence which woul'
win. We fought a pretty smart bit Of tn
slday; but at last the red coats gave groun'
again. ! had noticed among them an office
whom took for Major Gainey, fellow ths
had the impudence to boast he'd carry Ma
+ rion a prisoner on his saddle into George
i town; and 50 ! singled him out, resolving I
TRY his pluck and comb him down a spell
J But no sooner did he see me, coming dow
on black Bess, than he clspped spurs to hi
horse--,arld acursedly, good one it assam
made straight for the toyu, like an old woma
who sees . mad dog, Down the road VI
went. clattering and laundering; but devil
bit for a long whils could gain on the Ma
jor. !, | might have cut down half doze
strapping fellows as T dashed along, but
had made up my mind to have nothing shol
LOT the leader himself Old Black Bess di
wonders that dayl The trees and fence
lshot past as ifrunning race. The major
lblooded horse went AZ Il never saw 4 beas