Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-10-29
Gbs Srorq Gtlltr.
TME SMITHS Apprentices.
A Revolutionary Tale
CHAPrER l.
BY JOHN COOPER VAIL.

1t was the dirkest hour OF the Rcvo-
luton for the American cause. There
were traitors in the camp. though the
great mass Of the people remained firm
and determined ia the cause NJ indepen-
dence. The British army outuumbered
the American forces as three to one. but
liberty was the prize to be won. and
brave hearts. led on by Washington did
not despair. What if they were clad in
,a,tered garments. and their feet were
shoeless, leaving marks Of blood upon
the frozen ground wherever they follow
their loved commander. so long as they
battled for the hir,hright Of freedom
At the period OF our story. there stood
in the vicinity OF the village Of Bruins
wick q 10, house Of large dimensions,
and built in q manner that proved that
its proprietor went in more for comfort
than for appearance as regarded his
dwelling. There was an air Of neatness
aud taste about the garden that seemed
to prove that it was under the special
care of . woman, even though current
bush. honey suckle and hop vines had
been for many days under the SHOWS OF
December.
The proprietor Of the house followed
the double calling Of blacksmith and
farmer. He vas q hale old man oi
about sixty, and his family were COM
posed solely Of his wife Dorathy. and
his daughter, Mary. a beautiful girl. just
budding into womanhood.
Iu his youth, farmer Jones Hutton
had advocated Quaker principles Of peace
but in bis age his sympathies were secre
tly enlisted in the cause Of King George
His conduct, how,ver had been so cir
cumspect-he appearing to maintain
strict neutrality a. regarded both tnt
British and American cause-that. though
suspicious were rife Of his extending aid
to the former, he had, thus tar, escaped
actual proof
The only person hired about bis pre-
misses Was q tall. ungainly youth. whe
had served as . helper in the smithy
when occasionally . neishbor wished ti
horse shod, or his wagon tired. Hi
uame was Malachi Doolittle. and he
hailed from the Bay State. from whence
he had wandered to his present station
some three years before. binding him
self to Squire Hutton till one-and TWEEN
ty. He had oil the peculisrities of the
migratory race Of New England. and
though. - We have stated. he was tall
and ungainly in his department. warm
heart beat under homespun vest. and
be displayed much genius and tact fol
the benefit Of hls employer.
Al q matter of course, he had been IN
love for . long time with the fair form
and blue eyes Of his masters daughter
Mary, though she had always treated
his case 90 coolly that any one else bu,
. genuine Yankee wooer. would have
lefl the 6eld in disrair. No girl car
bear to have it said that her lover 10 "a
object of ridicule. and Mary was awar'
that tall Malachi-the name BY which
her iathrr's apprentice was general,
sddressed-wss the sport Of all the young
girls in tho neighboshood. Yet sh'
might have made : good choice. for b
bid fair to become 6rst rate mechanic
was . crack shot with the rife, anc
could out.run, out.jump ~ he expressed
ii himself. anything that stood in tws
shoes. He wss . frm advocate Of tht
American cause. and when his boss va
not nigh and be could gain listsnsr''
ear. be would express his admiration fo'
Washington in the highest terms.
4 was il the latter part Of Decembe
ana s>se upon dusk, when . young MAJ