American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-09-01
DEFENDING THE HOMESTEAD:
Or, TfxN JUDGES DAUGFxTNR
An Incident of the Revolution.

tionary struggles, in the then small
village OF s., i'll Pennsylvania, liv-
ed Judge ", one of the firmest apd
truest patriots within the limits of the
sold IAtrteen," and deep in the con-
fidcnce of Washington. Like most
men of his time and substance, he had
furnished himself with arms and am
munition, sufficient to arm the males of
his household. These consisted of him
self, three sons and about twenty-five
negroes. The female part of his house
consisted of his wife, one daughter,
Catharine about eighteen years of age,
the heroine of our tale, and several
slaves. In the second story of his
dwelling house, Immediately over the
front door, was a small room, called
the "armory," in which the arms were
deposited, and always kept ready for
immediate use. About the time at
which we introduce our story the neigh
borhood Of our village was much an
noyed by the nocturnal prowling and
depredations Of numerous tories.
ltwas on a culm, bright Sabbath af-
ternoon, in the aforesaid summer, when
Judge V. and his family, with the ox-
ception Of his daughter Catharinc, &
an old indsposed female slave, were at
tending service in the village church.
Not breath disturbed the serenity of
the atmosphcrc-not a sonnd profaned
the stiffness Of the day; the times were
dangerous, and Catharine herself and
the old female slave remained in the
house until the return of the family
from church. A rap was heard at the
front door. Surely said Catharine
to the slave, "the family have not
come home, church cant be dismiss
ed. : The rap wac repeated. 81 will
see who tits, said Catharine as she ran
| upstairs tugthee armory. On opening
the window and looking down she saw
six men standing at the front door, and
on the opposite side of the street, three
of whom she knew were Tories, who
formerly residediu the village. Their
names were Van Hant, Finley & Shell
don; the other three were strangers,
but she had reason to believe them to
be OF the same political stamp from the
company in which she found them.
Van Zant was a notorious character,
and the number and enormty of his
crimes had rendered his name Infamous
in that vicinity. Not murder or rob-
berry was committed within ten miles of
the place that he did not get the credit
OF planning or executing. The char
actcr of Finley and Sheldon were also
deeply stained with crime, but Van
Iant was a master spirit in iniquity.
The appearar;e Of such characters, un-
der the circumstances, must have been
truly alarming to oayoung lady of Cath
crimes age, if not to any lady, young or
Old. But Catherine " possessed her
fathers spirit: the spirit of the times
Van Iant was standing on the stoop
knocking at the door, while his com
panions were talking in whisper on
the opposite side Of the way.
is Judge V. at homo?" asked Van
Iant, when he saw Catherine at the
WlndoW ABOVE. .....
He is not" said she.
owe have business of pressing im-
portance with him, and if you will open
the door," said Van Zant, 1--WE will walk
in till he returns"
"No," said Catherine, "whcn he
went to church he particular dircc-
tions not to have the door opened until
he and his family returned. You had
better call when church is dismissed"
"No, I'll not" returned he, "wc1l
enter now or never.
Impossible, cried she, you cannot
enter until he returns
"Open the door," cried he, cor we
will break it down, and burn you and
the house up together So saying he
threw himself with all his force against
the door, at the same time calling upon
his companions to assist him. The
door, however, resisted their efforts.
"Do not attempt that again" said
Catharine, or you are dead man,
at the same time presenting from the
window heavy horseman's pistol olready
cooked.
AT the sight of this formidable wea.
pon, the companions of Van Hant, who
had crossed the street at his call, re-
treated.
"Whot," cried The leader, 'youcow-
ards arc you frightened at the threats
OF q girl? and again he threw himself
violently against tho door. The wea.
pon was Immediately discharged, and
Van Iant fell.
The report Of the pistol was heard
at tho church, and males and females