Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-18

The lady advanced and soon overcoming
her timidity, her white hand shone like whip
ped foam among the waves of flaxen hair.
'sAh, this is like clipping tangled tags OF
gold lace" she cried ssbut see, it is hall
straw
ssBut the wearer is no man Of straw, lady
were free, and you had ten thousand foes.
horse, foot and dragoons-how like friend l
could fight for You! Come-you have rob
bed me of my hair; let me rob the dainty hand
of its price. What | afraid again ~
"No, not that, but
ssI see, lady; l may do it by your leave, but
not by your word-the wonted way of ali the
ladies. There, it is done. Sweeter that kiss
than the bitter heart of the cherry
When at length this lady left, no small talk
was had by her with her companions about some
way of relieving the lot of SO knighly and un-
fortunate aman, ,whereupon worthy. judicious
gentleman of middle age, in attendance, sug-
gested bottle of wine every day, and clean
linen every week. And these, the English
women-too polite, and too good to be fasti-
dious-did actually send to Ethan Allen, SO
long as he tarried a captive in their land.
The withdrawal of this company was follow
&c by different scene. A perspiring man in
top boots, riding whip in hand, and having
the air of prosperous farmer, brushed in like
stray bullock, among the rest, for peep at
the giant-having just entered through the
arch as the ladies passed out.
'Hearing that the man who took Ticondc-
roga was here in Pendennis Castle, I've rid
y
row my brother viii ride forty for the same
purpose. So let me have the same look. Sir,''
he continued, addressing the captive, sswill
you let me ask you a few questions, and be
free with you %
'sBe free with me? With all my heart.
love freedom above all things, I'm ready to
die for freedom; 1 expect to. So be as free
as you please. What is it ?''
"Then, sir, permit me to ask what is your
occupation in life in time of pcace,I mean-''
':You talk like a tax gatherer, ''repliedAllen,
squirting diabolically at him. esWhat is my
occupation in life Why, in my younger days,
I studied divinity, but at present I am a con-
iurer by profession"
Hereupon every body laughed, as well at
the manner as the words, and the nettled far
mer retorted.
"Conjurer, chi Well, you conjured wrong,
that time you were taken.'
''Not so wrong, though, as you British did,
that time took Ticonderoga, my friend"
At this juncture the servant came in with a
bowl of punch, which his master bade him
give to the captive.
s'No! give it to me, sir, with your own
hands, and pledge me as gentleman to gen.
tleman.''
81 cannot pledge a state prisoner, Colonel
Allen, but viii hand You the punch with my
own hand, since you insist upon it.''
''Spoke and done like a true gentleman 1
am to you.''
Then receiving the punch into his manacled
hands, the iron ringing against the chain, he
put the bowl to his lips, saying, 81 hereby
give the British nation credit for half a min
ute's good usage" at one draught emptied it
to the bottom.
s'The rebel gulps it down like a swilling hog
at the trough" here scoffed lusty private of
the guard off duty.
'sShame on you,'' cried the gives of the
bowl.
''Nay, sir, his red coat is blush to him, as
it is to the whole British army" Then look
ing derisively upon the private, syou object to
my way of taking things do your fear
shall never be able to please you. You objec-
ted to the way, too, in which took Ticonde-
roga, and the way meant to take Montreal.
Selah but pray, now look at you, are you
not the hero 1 caught lodging around in his
shirt, in the cattle pen inside the fort? 1t
was the break of day, remember"
sCome, Yankee" here swore the incensed
private, sscease this, or I'll tan your old fawn
skin for ye with the fiat of this sword for
specimen;" laying it lashwise but not heavily
across the captive's back.
Turning like tiger, the giant, catching the
steel between his teeth, wrenched it from the
private's grasp, and striking it with his mana
cles, sent it spinning like jugglers dagger,
into the air, saying, "lay your dirty coward's
iron on tied gentleman again, and these"
lifting his hand-cuffed fists, "shall be the bee
tie of mortality to YOU"
The now furious soldier would have struck
him with all his force, but several men OF the
town interposing, reminded him that it was
outrageous to attack chained captive.
ssAh,'' said Allen, ssI am accustomed to that
and therefore l am beforehand with you ; and
the extremity of what say against Britain is
not meant for You, kind friends, but for my
insulters present and to come"
Then recognizing among the interposers the
giver of the bowl, he turned with courteous
bow saying "Thank you again and again, my
good sir you may not be WORSE for it; ours
is an unstable world, so that one gentleman