Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-12-04

Look down there, and see hand steal
ing over the edge of the wall! The old man
levels his piece--that British soldier falls
back with crushed hand upon his COM
panions heads.
No longer quivcring with suspense, but
growing suddenly firm, the young girl pas
sed a loaded rifle to the vetran's grasb, and
silently awaits the result,
For moment all is silent below. The
Bri ish brayocs are somewhat 10th to try
that when a stout old "Redel," rifle in
hand, is looking from yonder window =
There is IA pausc--low deep murmurs, they
are holding a councill
a moment is gone, and nine heads are
thrust above the wall at once--hark,-On
--two--three. The old veteran has fired
three shots--there are three dying men
goyeling in the yard, beneath tie shadow
of the wall!
"Quick, Bcss, the rihesp'
And the brave girl passes the rifles to
her fathers grasp. Three or four shots, one
after the other-three more soldiers fall
back, like weights of lead upon the ground,
and single rcdcoat is seen, slowly nelnt-
ing to the top of the wall, his eye fixed up
on the hall door, which he vii force ere a
moment is gone
Now the last ball is fired; the old man
stands there in that second story window,
his hands vainly grasping for another load
ed rifle! At this moment the wounded and
dying band below are joined by a party Of
some twenty refugees; who clad in their
half robber uniform, came rushing f.om
the woods, and with one bound are lcaping
from the summit of the wall!
Quick, Bess, my rifle
And look there--even while the veteran
stood looking out upon his foes--the brave
girl, for slender in torn, ,and wildly bcauti
full in face, she is a brave gill, Hero Wo-
man"--had managed as if by instructive
impulse, to load rifle She handed it to
her father, and then loaded another and
another. Wasn't that beautiful sigh,?-
\ fair young girl, grasping powder and
ball, with the ramrod isiny and falling in
her slender fingers,
Now look down on the wall agaiu.' The
refugees are clambering over its summit
again horrid cry, ard another wounded
man topping down on his dead and dying
comradesl
But now look A smoke rises there, a
fire blazes up around the wall; they have
fired the gate A moment and the bolt and
the lock will be burnt from their sockets
the passage will te free. Now is the fiery
moment of the old mans trial While his
brave daughter loads, he continues 10 fire
with that deadly aim, but now-oh horror.
he falls, with Il musket ball d.ivea INTO
his breast! The daughters oat9tretched
arms receive the father, as with the blood
spouting from his wound he topples back
from the window.
All, it is sad and terrible picture:
That old man wri:hing there on the oak
en- floor, the young daughter bending over
him, the light from the window streaming
over her face, over her fathers grey hairs,
while the ancient furniture to the small
chamber affords dim background to the
scene.
Now bark! The sound Of axes at the
hall door--shouts-h -hurrahs--curses. We
have the old rebel at lastl'
The old man raises his head at the sound
makes an effort to rise; clutches fora rifle;
and then falls again, his eyes glaring, as
the fierce pain Of that wound quivers through
his heart.
Now watch the movements ofthat daueb-
ter. Silently she loads a rifle, silently she
rests its barrel against the head of that
powder key, and then placing her finger
on the trigger, stands over her fathers form
while the shouts of the enraged soldiers
come laundering from the stairs. Yes
they have broken the hall door to fragments
and they are in possession Of the block
house, they are rushing towards tha. cham.
Der with murder in their hearts, and in
their gla"ing eyes. Had the old man thou
sand lives they were not worth a farthing's
purchase now.
Still that girl, grown suddenly white as
the kerchief around her neck. stands there
trembling from head to foot, the rifle in
her hand, its dark tube laid against the
powder keg.
The door is burst open. Look there
Stout forms are in the doorway, with mus
kets in their hands, grim faces stained with
blood, glare into the chamber.
Now, as if her very soul was coined in
the words. that young girl with her face
pale as ashes. her hazel eye cleaning with