Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-06
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY,,
From the Richmond Bulletin
ALICE MORTON; OR
A CHILD's STRATAGEM n
BY SOPHIA ELLSWORTH


A CHILD'S STRATAGEM IN d
BY SOPHIA ELLSWORTH.
During my travels several years since, as fl
l passed through the eastern portioa OF )
Virginia had occasion TO stop at the little b
village Of Il, where was detained n
several weeks, on important business affairs a
While there. I become acquainted with Mr.. =
Morton, wealthy old farmer, with whose {
intelligent and interesting family was 50 i
pleased, that most Of my leisure hours were {
passed in their society. Fl
Ore evening, as the younger members OF /
the family andsmysef were seated frou'd
ta1aa Evssil es.gagea n tihe--Sa Weight
full amusement Of storytelling, we were
joined by Mr.. Morton, who proposed telling
us, to use his own words, a real genuine
tale, with the heroine of which, we were in
timately acquainted Involuntarily, | CLAN
ced around our little circle, and my eyes
rested on Alice Morton, beauty of some
eighteen summers, whose confusion showed
that it was she upon whom the hattering ap
pellation of heroine was bestowed.
The following tale, as it may be cIassed
among the thrilling incidents, and cannot
fail to interest, with the permission of the
reader, we will relate in the words Of our
old friend:
You have doubtlessly noticed upon my
premises, but short distance from the house,
tall old building. The attic, in which
there is large door opening over the yard,
was used as sleeping apartments for the ac-
commodation of travellers whom we might
happen TO entertain. This building was
once used as store-house, Infer, from the
fact of there being a projecting beam over
this door, probably placed there for the pur-
pose Of raising goods. But to be brief, We
were one night seated around the table wher
two strangers entered, and begged accom-
modations for the night, saying they ha(
travelled far, and were greatly fatigued.-
They were rather rough looking fellows, AM
cast many scrutinizing glaces around the a
partments, but their lively conversation sool
dispelled any disagreeable impression whic
might have been produced on me. Alic
) was then about twelve years of age, an
; naturally very timid, which perhaps was th
cause of her suspicious being SO easily e.
, cited
, had just recovered from asevere Hines
and consequently we retired quite early
The strangers were shown to a room in tt
!, attic; myself and my wife occupied one
that she was quite we'll, / thought NO mo
> of the matter, and soon fell asleep.
> But not so with my little girl !; she S
: apparently gazing from the window, uni
. the other children were first alseep
. Then she stole noiselessly out, crept sol
Il ly up stairs to room adjoining that occ
e pied by the strangers, and which was ser
e rated from it by only thin partition A
IL plying her ear to crevice, she listened.
Is They were not asleep, for she distinct
4 heard whisper! ....... ....
y But what shall we do with the brat
Oh said one.
le Kill them too,' was the reply.
u She strained every nerve she even tri
Oh to still the almost audible beating of her hes
to listen but her brain was so bewildert
that she could distinguish only few U
connected words as murder! money cC
ceale3 ! old Morton
"a She almost few down into her room.
y She gazed frantically upon her little bro
Mt ers and sisters, who slept on, unconscic
7: of the impending danger. What was
e to do? She had overheard enough to C.
C vince her that their lives were in immint
!" danger. Her father on account of his
Ae cent illness, was unable even to defend h
e- self. There was only one man servant
y that time on the place, and him she da
"a not trust. There we're no neighbors wit
n several miles. She thought Of the accou
ne she had read, where, by presence of mi
" alone, many lives had been saved. I'll
at SIZE knelt and prayed that God would g
OF. her power to save those so dear to her.
0i She arose she paused but an instal
u then walking to the foot of the stairca
Gu noiselessly, that the family might not be
40 q wakened, she hastily ascended, and ran
Oe the assassins' room, exclaiming; fly fly
y! your lives the lower part of the hous
LEI on fire, and the flames have nearly reac
so the powder! We shall be DESTROYED
ne way quick hasten down these steps
lbs The men waited not farther bidding,
rushed DOWN.!
:, She had purposely opened the doc
Iue which | called your attention at the G
Ia mencement of my story, and the men, 1
ing on pile frocks beneath, were inst;
OF ly killed.
ng was walked by shrieks, and at the s.
eF time Alice ran into the room, and fell ia
Sc ing at the side of the bed. It was sev
eat hours before she was sufficiently resto
9 a to communicate to us the facts of the
tr- u rible tragedy and SO greatly was
l"i- 1i shocked, that for many days her life
MS despaired of. The men were recognize
md criminals who had escaped from prison,
yer not doubt remained, but that the "
family would have been muredred. ha,
uld not been for the remarkable presenc
:, mind of my daring daughter. l found
de- little village of L. so very attrac
her that | remained some time after nv busi
I'D, affairs were completed, and when retu
are to my home, | was not unaccompanie,
ons Gentle reader, if you would become fa1
acquainted with my sweet companions,
ure peep sill vous plat into our parlor,
admist the groups of merry faces you
llch recognize that Of the brave and beau
the Alice
A man in Detroit has been fined $50
ont sent to jail for 60 days, having whippe,
wife the second night after marriage.