The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-29
The Wife's Sacrifice.

who lived during the perllous times of our
country. He was ardent and patriotic, and
thirsted to be sharer in these glories which
our brave armies plucked from the bristling
bayonets of the enemy, yet he had been with
held from joining the ranks by aged and infrm
parents, whose only support and comfort he
was. As he looked upon the feebleness of
their old age, and thought of the perils they
would be exposed to, he would sigh for the des-
TIMES of his country, and resign himself to the
duties of the small farm that was their only
support. He could not desert them and leave
them on the mercy of the vagabond straggers
from the enemy's camp, and worse traitors to
his own country. Instances were too fresh IN
his memory of reverend heads and hoary locks
having been crushed to the dust by midnight
plunderers and assassins, and his love for the
authors of his being, left him nothing but pray
ers for his oppressed country.
But he had other affections growing in his
breast like spring flowers, shedding perfume
of holiness upon his spirit, like the christians
inspiration. There had existed since their child
hood, an attachment between him and the only
daughter of widow who resided but few
rods from his fathers, and that attachment had
ripened to mutual declaration Of love, when
the parties became sufficiently old to appreciate
the glow of true devotion. A time was set for
the consummation of their vows, which was
the evening of the memorable Goth of Decem
ber, 1776, at the time that Washington was
making his perllous triumph across the Della
ware, amid the floating ice, and suffering from
the intense cold of the season. +
The two familier were now united, George
removing his bride and her mother to the house
of his father. But still he was not happy-he
could not Danish from his mind an oppressive
anxiety for the welfare of his country, and the
doubtful struggle which she maintained in the
hopes of obtaining that freedom for which
every heart SO warmly prayed.
In week from the night of the passage OF
the Delaware, Washington met a detachment
of the enemy at Princeton, which he defeated
with small loss, with the exception of several
officers, among whom was the gallant and
brave general Mercer, while that Of the enemy
was upwards of hundred killed and, the re-
mainder three hundred taken prisoners. The
general then retired to winter quarters at Nor
ristown, which he did not leave until the latter
end of May, with an army amounting to bu
little over seven thousand men, although con
gress had offered recruits, bounties in land with
increased pay.
At this time George burned to enlist in tht
ranks of his countrymen, and share their sui
ferings and their glory. But his young wife
looked in his face with weeping eyes, whose
eloquence added to The inirmitles OF his pa
rents, deferred him from the sacrifice. Beside
as the roads become more passable, and tn
season more temperate, robberies and midnigh
excursions of struggling Hessians and skinner
were more frequent, and the house OF one G
their neighbors had been pillaged, the inmate
brutally murdered, and the dwelling set on fir
within the sight of their friends, who coul
offer them no assistance, expecting every me
ment to meet a similar fate.
In this state of inquietude, passed away tn
summer, until the intelligence reached Georg
of the engagement between the American an
English armies at Brandywine, on the 11th {
Sept, when the republican forces were CON
pelled to retire after day hard fighting, wit
a loss that was estimated at 800 killed, abor
500 wounded, and between 3 and 400 mad
prisoners.
This reverse of the American arms arouse
anew the patriotic feeling of George, and n
at once communicated his intentions to hi
father, who offered no impediment to his mme
diately Joining the army, and helping to retrev
what had been so unfortunately lost.
$50, my son. said he, Il am beyond sci
vice myself, but, like Abraham of old, l al
willing to offer my son to the sacrifice Lit
the plea of protection to your parents be
longer an excuse to keep you from the ranks
those brave and devoted men who follow WASH
ington, but receive our blessing, and bid fare
: well to your young wife, whose love of he
country am sure cannot be less than her a
fections for yourself. If you fall it is in jul
and holy cause.
f This was heroic advice, but no wise uncon
It mon in the mouths of our venerable sire
George communicated his design to his mothe
: and afterwards to his wife, but the latter woul
) not listen to his arguments, and wept and bt
: seeched him not to leave them to the mercy
n the mercenary robbers that overran the cou1
o try in the neighborhood of the British armle
Earnestly did he plead the sufferings OF b
: countrymen, and the necessity OF his present
+ among those who were battling for the bles
/ ings Of liberty-to nothing would she listen
d no argument could convince her. What was
y single arm in the mighty strife! Despalrln
and impatient our hero resolved to leave 1or I'll
army the ensuing night, and for this purpos
uC lllduS Oil oIlS hCCSoc1iy
J, ,,lsecret departure. His gun and knapsack wei
y deposited in the barn, and a letter OF farewe
: written which he would leave to be read ate
V his departure.
Midnight at length came, melancholy an
gloomy to George, but he arose from his Pee
to which he had retired in the early part OF tn
evening, to lull suspicion, and kissing his Wi
affectionately as she lay asleep, he hurried
the barn, accounted himself as well as his te
= equipments would allow, and was soon 0
his was to join the army. He had not tar !
travel as Washington had encamped with
y l8 miles of Germantown, and but half tn;
distance from his own residence, and long el
daylight on the first of October, he had prt
sentedI himself within the lines of the Amer
can army, and made known his desire to enils
and that mornings reveile, as it beat the t, tim
to rise, was answered by the presence OF de'
Madden.
:, But what CONSERVATION did the morning
: drawn bring to the hearts of his wife and P;
: rents. Hisnon-appearance was at first scarcel
noticed, till the former perceived letter lynn