The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-20
TNE BLAC ASMETiI's APPRENTICE.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION N-CHAPTER l.

1t was the darkest hour OF the Revolution for the
American cause There traitors in the camp,
though the great of the people remained rn and
determined in the Of independence. The British
army ounumbered the American forces three to one,
but liberty the prize to be woD and brave hearts,
led BY Washngton, did not despair. What If they
were clad tattered garments and their feet shoe
less leaving marks of blood the frozen ground where
ever they followed their loved commander long
they battled for the birhright OF freedom
At the period of story, there stood in the vcin
ity Of the village Of Brunswick, log house of rather
large dimensions, and built in that proved that
its proprietor went in for comfort than appearance
as regarded his dwelling There air OF neatness
and about the garden that seemed to prove that it
was under the especial care Of womsn,- though
currant bush honeysucke and hop vine had been for
MANY days under tine of Decembsr. The proprie
tor Of the house followed the double calling Of black
smith and farmer. He hale old of about
sixty and his family composed solely of bis wife
Dorothy and his daughter Mary, beautiful girl just
budding into womanhood In his youth, farmer Jonas
Hutton had advocated quaker principles of peace, but
in his aye his sympahes secretly enlisted in the
cause of King George Hi conduct, however had been
crcuspect he appearing to maintain strict neutrality
as regarded both the British and American cause that
though suspicious rife of his extending aid to the
former he had, thus far, escaped actual proof The
only person hired about his premises was TALL ungain
II YOUTH Of about twenty years of age and who served
as helper in the suithy, when occasionally neighbor
wished MS horse shod his wagon wheel tired His
name was Malachi Jones, and he hailed from the Bay
State from whence he had wandered to his present
ton, three years before binding himself to Squire
Hutton till one-andtwenty tie had all :he pecuari-
ties of the migratory of New England and though
as we have stated he tall aud ungainly in his de-
pertinent warm heart beat under his homespun vest,
and he displayed much genius and tact for the benefit OF
his employer. AS matter of course, he had been in
love Tor long time with the fair form and blue eyes of
-, l~l
treated his ccoly that any else but genu-
inc Yankee would have left the field in despair.
No girl bear have it said that her lover is OBJ
iect Of rdicule, and Mary well aware that tall
Malachi--the name by which her fathers apprentice
was generally addrcsscdwas the sport OF all the young
girls in the neghborhood. And yet she might have
made many worse choice. for he bid fair to become
6rst-rate mechanic crack shot with the rie and
could cut."un or ut.jump, he expressed it himself
anything that stood in two shoes. He was firm ad.
of the American cause, and when his boss
by, and he could gain listeners ear, he would
express his admiration for Washington IN the highest
terms to f.r
1t in the latter part of December and close upon
dusk, when young man, attired in the uniform Of an
ensign in the Continental army, and mounted upon a
powerful grey horse, rode up to Squire Huttons smthy
and requested that his animal might be shod immedi-
ately. .4as..t
Friend thou seemest to be in somewhat of hurry
was Squire Huttons reply glancing at the stranger
ard as Malachi is busy fodderng the catc and have
promised to have neghbor Parkers wheel tired in hall
an hour perhaps thee had better apply at the next shop
which thee will find about mile and half farther
the straight road to Brunswick, and, :, -.i. .ufe
"A plague the neighbor Parker and his wagon
Wheel said the young impatiently As you have
stated however, I am in hurry. and bear important
dispatches to Washington, whom, understand is bis
way to attack cur enemies, at Princeton. May heaven
favor the right cause :t...s
Anne the sr,;th Rut I have
Informed thee before, it will be impossible to attend to
the s'oeing of thy beast tonight 1t is nearly dark
and seldom protract my labor after night fall II.
The stranger unused q moment, and then mutterng to
amscf lit is possible that can have been misin
formed drew paper from his>pocket and handed tc
Sauire Hutton. rs
Whats this 2 he exclaimed. -...
Something that it would not be polite to let every
one peruse in these times but have heard that you
are a staunch in the Of King George, and
can trust you. The exigencies Of my case will not ad
NIT Of della Ny horse must be shod, and must be
with the British camp at Trenton, by tomorrow
ing
The old smith, with an air Of surprise, wiped bis
glasses to peruse the document and by the last fading
light OF day. recognized the we'll known signature Of
Lord CORVALLIS
He instantly grasped the stranger by the hand and
said that, for the just Of King Eeorge be would
neglect every other job of work in the shop.
Bnt thee will have a rough ride of it, friend the
roads in bad condition, and the wind will blow cold
and bitter in thy lace. observe the whole of thy
Journey
The stranger remarked that he had learned to laugh
1t such adventures in the camp OF the soldier.
.Av. friend but the nj ghs will be black as E.taa ~
our later and ii thy beast is not suratooted, thee vii
scarcelv reach Trenton hy sunrise Bowever will sex
that thou srt wyll prepared ior thy journey goot
cup OF tea. equal to that the oosh rebels wasted
Bossca Ra.boz, made by wife Dorothy, and S* Wsss