Demoine courier., 1855-08-16

LYDIA

LYDIA DARkAH.
On the second day OF December. l777
late in the afternoon. IN officer in the
British uniform ascended the steps Of .
house in Second street, Philadelphis, i'm
media,ely opposite The quarters occupied
by General Howe, who at that time had
full possession Of the city. The House
was plain and neat in it's exterior, and
well known to be tenapsed by William
and Lydia Dsrrah, members Of the So.
cie.y Of Friends. Ii was the place cho-
sen by the superior officers of the army
for private conference, whenever il was
necessary 10 hole ~consulsaiinns on sub
jects OF importance; and selected, per.
haps, on recount Of the uno5,rusive char.
acler Of it's inmates, whose religion IN.
culcated meekncss and forbearance, and
forbade them to practice the arts Of war.
The officer who seemed quite familiar
with the mansion. knocked at the door.
Il was opened; and in the neatly furnlsh.
ed parlor he met the mistress, who spoke
to him. calling him By lame. 1t was
the Adjutan, General; and he appeared
in hss,e to give az order. This was 10
desire thal the back room above stairs
might be prepared for the reception that
evening Of himself and his friends. who
were to meet there and remain laie.-
.And be sure, LYDIA" he concluded,
".lat your family are all in bed at an
early hour. shall expect you TO attend
torahis request. When our guests are
ready to leave the house, l will myself
give you a notice, that you may le, US
out, and ~ex,inguish the fire and candles"
Having delivered this order with an
emphatic manner, which showed that he
relied much on the prudence an3 discre.
ton of the person he addressed, the ad
jutans general departed. Lydia besook
herself 10 getting all thiags in readiness.
9nt the words she had heard. especially
the injunction 10 retire early. rang in her
ears; and she could not civesi herself of
the indeinable feeling tia. some thing
Of importance was in agitation. While
her HANDS were busy in the duties tina.
devslved upon her, her mind was no less
actively at work. Tie evening closed
in, and The officers came 10 the place OF
meeting. Lydia had ordered oil her
family 10 bed. and herself admitted the
guests, after which she retired TO her
own department. and threw herself
without undressing. upon the beS.
Bat sleep refused to visi. her eyslids.
her vague approximations gradually as.
suned more definite shape. She became
mote end mere useasy, till her nervous
ressiessness amounted 10 absolute terror.
Unable longer 10 resist the Impulse
not Of curiosity, but surely OF q far high
e. fet ling--she slid frem the bed, and,
taking of her shoes. passed noiselessly
from her chamber and along the entry.
Approaching cautiously the apartment.
IN which the .sficers were assembled,
she applied her ear to he key hole. Fer
a few moments she distinguish tu, q
word o u Two amid The murmur Of voices;
sni. w4aa. she did hear but stimulated her
ger desire TO learn the importan, 90
sa.'of the sonclsave.
At length there was profound silence,
and q voice was Heard reading . paper
aloud. II was an order for the troops 10
qnis The city on The night of the fourth,
and march out 10 q secret attack upon
the American army. then eacamped n
White Marsh.
Lydia had heard enough. She re.
treated softly 10 her own room, and
laid herself quietly on lhs bed. In the
deep stiffness that reigned through the
house, she could hear the heating Of her
own hears-ihe heart now ,~hrobbing
with emotions to which no speech could
give ~nt,erance. 1t seemed to her that
but q few moment. had elapsed when a
Knocking was heard q. her door. She
knew we'll what the signal meant, but
took no heed. It was repeated, and more
loudly; siiifshe gave nc answer. Again,
and yet more Loudly, the knocks were
repeated; and then she Dose quickly and
opened the dosr.
L was the adjutant general. who came
. inform her they were ready TO depart.
Lydia let them out, fastened the house,
and e~x.fhguished the lights and 6rs.-
Again she returned to her chamber, and
10 bed, but repose was a stranger for the
rest Of the night. Her mind was more
disquissed than ever. She though. Of the
danger thai tire a,sned The lives of thou.
sands Of her countrymen. and of the
M sK h VIZ L