The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-12-26
THE HERO WOMAN. .

quaint old fabric built Of mingled logs and
stone, and circled by pasade wall. II had
been erected in the early days Of William
Penn, perhaps some years before the great
apostle of peace first trod our shores--as
block house, intended for defence against the
Indians. ....,. ,I t.s.l. d -t-
And now it stood, with ITS many roofs, its
numerous chimney, its nassive square win
dows, its varied from. Of Iogs and stones, its
encircling wall, through which admittance
was gained by large and stoutly built gate;
1t stood in the midst of the wood with age-
worn trees enclosing It's veteran outline on
every side. ft
From its western window you might obtain
glimpse of the Schuylkil waves, while a
large easement in the Southern front CON-
manded view of the winding road as il sunk
out Of view, under the shade of thickly.clus
tering boughs, into deep hollow, not, more
than one hundred yardstfom the mansions.
Here, from the southern easement, on one
of those bamy Summer days which look in
upon the dreary Autumn, toward the close of
November, farmers daughter was gazing
with dilating eyes and half clasped hands. y
Well might she gaze earnestly to the south,
and listen with painful intensity for the
slightest sound Her brothers were away
with Washington, and her father, {, grim old
veteran-he stood six feet and three inches in
his stockings-who had manifested his love
for the red coat invaders in many desperate
contest, had that morning left her alone in
this small chamber, in charge of some ammu
milton intended for band of brave farmers
about to join the host of freedom. Even rs
she stood there, gazing out of the southern
window, n faint glimpse of sunlight from the
fnded leaves above pouring oyer her mild face,
shaded by clustering brown hair-there, not
ten PAGES from her side, were seven loaded
rifles and keg of powder.
Leaning from the easement, she listened
with every nerve quivering with suspense to
the shouts Of eombatants, the hurried tread OF
armed men echoing from the South.
There was something very beautiful in that
picture! The form of the young girl, framed
by the square MASSIVE window-tlc contrast
between the rough timbcrs that inclosed her
and that rounded face, the lips parting, the
hazel eye dilnting, and the cheek warming
and flushing with hope and fear; there was
something very beautiful in that picture, a
young girl leaning from the window of an old
mansion with her brown hair waving in CLOS.
sv masses around her face!
Suddenly the shouts to the south grew
nearer, and then, emerging from the deep
hollow, there came an old man, running nj
full speed, yet every few PAGES turning round
to fire the rifle, which he loaded MS he ram
tic was pursued by n party Of ten or NOR,
British soldiers, who came rushing on, witt
bayonets fixed, us II to strike their victim
down ere he advanced ten PAGES nearer Tn,
house.
On and on the old man came, while hi.
daughter, quivcrng with suspense, hung lean
ing from the window: he reaches the block
house gate-lOok! lie is surroundcd-thei
muskets are leveled at his head; he is down
down Mt their feet, grabbing for life! Du
look again! He dashes his foes asidc--witl
one'bod movement he springs through I'll,
gate; an instant 1t is locked. The British sol
diers, mad with rage, gaze upon the high wal
of logs and stone, and vent their anger il
drunken curses.
Now look to yonder window! Where tn
young girl stood moment ago, auiverin!
with suspense, as she beheld her father strug
| Cling for his life, now stands the old maj
himself his brow barred, his arm grasping tn
rifle, while his gray hairs wave back from vi
wrinkled and blood dabbed fuce That wa
fine picture of an old veteran, nerved for hi
last iight-a stout warrior preparing for hi
death struggle.
Death struggle? Yes! for the old mar
Isaac Walpole, had dealt too many hard blow
among the British solders-tricked, foiIec
cheated them too often to escape now! a sey
moments longer and they would be re in
forced bya strong party of refugees. Th
powder, tho arms in the block .hOuse--per
haps the daughter herself-was to be thei
reward. There was scarcely hope for tn
old man, and yet he determined to make
erate fight.
I'VE must bluff off these rascals |" he sale
with grim smile, turning to his child. "No,
Bess my girl, when fire this rifle do yo
hand me another, and so on until the .whol
eight shots are fred. That will keep thel
on the other side of the wall for few mo
ments at least, and then we will have to tris
to God for the rest"
| Look down there and see, hand stealth
over the edge of the WALL The old man le,
els his piece--that British trooper falls bac
with crushed hand upon his comrade
heads. fN.r
No longer quiyering with suspense, bu
suddenly grown firm tharyoung girl passe
aJoaded rifle to the veterans grasp, and 81
ently awaits the result.
For moment all is silent below; the Bri
ish braves are somewhat 10th of that wal
when stout old Rebel" rife in hand,
looking from yonder window. There is
pause; low deep murmurs, they are holding
council.
A moment is gone, and nine heads u,
thrust above the walls ut once. Hark on
two, three The old veteran has fired thr,
shots; there are three dying men, grovelling
the yard, beneath the shadow of the wall
"Quick, Bess, the rflesw
And the brave girl passes the rifles to h
fathers grasp. There aye four shots, one aft
the other; three more soldiers fall back upt
the ground like weights of lead, and sing
red coat is seen, slowly mounting on the wa
his eye fixed upon tho hall door, which
will force ere moment is gone!
J Now the last bail is fired, the 'old mi
J stands there, in that second story window, i
hands vainly grasping for another load,
, rifle At this moment the wounded and d
} ing band below are joined by party Of son
twenty refugees, who, clad in their half rol
ber uniform, came rushing from the wood
and with bound are eapng from the sunni
. of the wall. tr-. .....,
1"Quck, Bcss, my rifle !"
And look here; even while the Seterah1k
, looking upon his foes, the brave girl, for sic
!, der in form and wildly beautiful in the fac
she is brave girl, Hero Woman; had ma
|, aged, MS II by instructive impulse, to load
!, rifle. She handed il to her father, and tn,
. loaded another, and another. Wasn't that
!. beautiful sight! a fair young, girl, sraspi'