Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-01-16
you have rObbedlme offmyihair let me
rob the dainty hand of its price. What

=
"No, not that, but" 9a
al see, lady: I may do ii by your
leave, but not by your word-the wonted
waylof all the ladies. There, it is done.
Sweeter that kiss than the bitter heart of
the cherry" klsigItY
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
knightly and unfortunate man. where's
upon 3 worthy, judicious gentleman of
middle age, in attendance suggested q
bottle of wine every day. and clean linen
every week. And these the English wo-
men-too polite aud too good to be fas.
tidious-did actually send to Ethan AL
len, so long as he tarried a captive in
their land. sa q .ssragaf
The withdrawal of this company was
followed by different scene. A perspi>
ring man in top boots. riding whip in
hand, and having the air Of g prosperous
farmer. brushed in like stray bullock,
among the rest for a peep at the giant
having just entered, through the arch as
the ladies passed out.
"Hearing that the man who took Tt.
conderoga MAS here in Pendennis Castle.
I've ridden twenty-five miles to-day for
10 see him and tomorrow my bro
ther will ride forty for the same pur-
pose. So let me have the same look.
Sir" he continued addressing the captive.
"will you let me ask you few questions,
and be free with you 90
Be free with me? With all my
heart. l love freedom above all things.
I'm ready to die for freedom; 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 peace.
maan."
"You talk ike tax gatherer," replied
Allen, squirting diabolically at him.
What is my occupation 10 life Why.
in my younger days, studied divinity.
but at present I am conjurer by profess
sion."
Hereupon everybody laughed, as well
at the manner as the words, and the net
tied farmer retorted.
" Conjuror. eh f? Well, you conjured
wrong that time you were taken"
! mot so wrong, though as you British
did that time took Ticonderoga, my
friend" l..r.s
| At this juncture the servant came in
with a bowl of punch. which his master
bade him give to the captive.
! Z" No give it to me, sir, with your own
hands, and pledge me as a gentleman-t to
a gentleman"
q cannot pledge state prisoner. Col.
Allen, but will hand you the punch with
my own hand. since you insist upon it,"
"Spoke and done like q true gentle
man; am to you"
Then receiving the punch into his man
acled hands. the iron ringing against the
chain, he put the bowl TO his lips. saying
/" l hereby give the British nation credit
for half minute's good usage at one
draught emptied it to she bottom.
"The rebel gulps it down like swill.
ing hog at the trough" here scofed a
lusty private of the guard off duty.
"Shame on you" cried the giver of
the bowl.
"Nay, sir. his red coat is blush to
him, as IL is to the WhOle British army"
Then looking derisively upon the private.
"you object to my way Of taking things
do you? l fear shall never be able to
please you. You objected to the way,
TOO. in which I took Ticonderogs. and the
way meant to take Montreal. Selah
but pray, now / look at you, are you not
the hero l caught dodging around in his
shirt. in the cattle pen inside the fort q
Il was the break of day. remember"
4 Come. Yankee" here swore the in
censed private, cease this. or I'll tan
your old fawn skin for ye with the fat OF
my sword for specimen :" laying it
lashwise but not heavily across the cap
tive's back.
Turning like tiger. the giant, catch.
ing the steel between his teeth. wrench>
ed it from the privates grasp, and striking
it with his msnaoles, sent it spinning like
jugglers dagger into the air. saying.
''lsy your dirty coward's iron, on tied
gentleman again, aud these" lifting his
hsnd-cuffed fists, shall be the beetle oI
mortality to you"
The now furious soldier would have
struck him with all force. but several men
of the town interposing. reminded him
/ that it was outrageous TO attack chain
ed captive.
"Ah." said Allen, {" am accustomed
to that and therefore / 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 interpo.
sers the giver OF the bowl, he turned With
] a courteous bow, saying: THANK you
again aud again, my good sir; you may
not be worse for it; ours is an unstable
world. 80 that one gentleman never knows
when it may Ge his turn to be helped OF
another"
! But the soldier still making riot and
the commotion growing general, . supe-