The Kanzas news., 1858-07-24
THE BLAcKsM1rH's PRENTICE.
4 Tale Of the Revolution.
BY yogx cooPEa VAIL
CHAPTER I.
BIT JOHN oooPEa vAIr.


ors in the camp. though the great mass OF
the people remained firm and determined
in the cause of independence. The British
army outnumbered the American forces as
three to one, but liberty was the prize to De
won. and brave hearts, led on by Washing
ton, did not despair. What II they were
clad in tattered garments, and their feet were
shoelees, leaving marks OF blood on the fro
zen ground wherever they followed their
loved commander, 50 long as they battled
for the birth-right of freedom?
At the period of our story. there stood in
the vicinity of the village of Brunswick, 6
log house, of rather large dimensions, and
built in manner that proved that its pro-
prietor went in more for comfort than ap
pearance, as regarded his dwelling. There
was an air of neatness and taste about the
garden, that. seemed TO prove that it was
under the especial care of woman, even
though currant-bush, honey-suckle and hop
vine had been for many days under the
SHOWS of December.
The proprietor of the house followed the
double calling of blacksmith and farmer
He was hale old man of about sixty, and
his family was composed solely of his wife
Dorothy, and bis daughter Mary. a beauti-
full girl Just budding into womanhood.
In his youth. farmer Jonas Hutton had
advocated Quaker principles of peace, but
in his age his sympathies were secretly en-
listed in the cause of King George. His
conduct, however. had been so circumspect
he appearing to maintain strict neutral
ity as regarded both the British and Amer
ican eause-that. though suspicious were
rife of his extending aid to the former, he
had thus far escaped actual proof.
The only person hired about his premises
vas tall, ungainly youth of about twenty
years of age, and who served as helper In
the smithy, when occasionally neighbor
wished his horse shod, or his wagon wheel
tired. His name was Malachi Doolittle, and
he hailed from the Bay State, from whence
be had wandered to his present station, some
Hutton, till one-and-twenty. He had al
the peculiarities of the migratory race Of
New England, and though, as we have sta
ted, he was tall and ungsinly in his deport-
ment, warm heart beat under homespun
vest, and he displayed much genius and tae:
for the benefit of his employer.
AS matter of course, he had been in love
for a long time with the fair form and blue
eyes of his masters daughter Mary, though
she had always treated his case so coolly
that any one else but genuine Yankee WOO
er would have left the field in despair. Nc
girl can bear to have it said that her lover is
an object of ridicuie, and Mary was vel
aware that tall Malachi-the name by which
her fathers apprentice was generally ad
dfessed-was the ssport of all the young
girls in the neighborhood. Yet she might
have made good choice. for he bid fair tc
become 8 first rate mechanic, was a crack
shot with the rife, and could out-run, OF
outjump, as he expresses it himself, any.
thing that stood in two shoes. He was 8
firm advocate of the American cause, and
when his boss was not by. and he could gain
ahstener's ear, he would express his admi-
ration for Washington in the highest terms.
1t was 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 pow
erful grey horse. rode up to Squire Hutton's
smithy, and requested that bis animal might
De shod immediately.
Friend, thou seemest to be in somewhat
Of a hurry" was Squire Hutton's reply,
glanclng at the stranger; '.and as Malachi
ousy foddering the cattle, and / have
Promised to have neighbor Parker's wheel
uFed in half an hour, perhaps thee had bet
@f apply at the next shop, which thee will
and about mile and half further along
On the straight road to Brunswick, and
"a plague on neighbor Parker and his
wagon wheell" said the young man, impa.
iently. "As you have stated. however,
An in hurry, and bear important despatch
a . ri 4 .--H IA NJ
us way te attack sar eaeaies at Princeton
May Heasea favor ths right cause i's
"AHen," said sse smith, earnestly.-
out as have iafsmed thee before, it will
impossible to attend to the shoeine OF
lay beast tonight. It is nearly dark, and
seldom protract my labors after night
The stranger unused moment, and then
a1ut'ering TO himself: at is not possible
~aI can have been misinformed;" drew a
apeF from his pocket, and handed it to
S4aire Hutton.
What is this?" lie exclaimed.
- something that it would not be polite
liz nsI every one psruse in these times; hut
Il. aA's heard that you are staunch man in
v, Sase OF King George, and can trust
~. The exigencies of my case viii not
,Hd ,e oil delay. Ny horse must be shod,
r.. must be within the British camp, a,
TuOn, NJ 6y tomorrow morning"
tne old smith. with an air of surprise,
al ~ MS glasses to peruse the document,
pi,.Sy the last fading light of day, recog-
Cas ea the well known signature of Lord
h.aS %e Instantly graspe3 The stranger by th'
81 Gso.' and said that. for the cause OF kine
q be would neglect every other 10;
.'H s''k In lhe shop.
tieasq! Sq' Fl thee will ha,,e rough ride of it
EE Wind will ~ 9se in til,
@ee oh.no oioH cold aRq bite. !, !;
The sts.sSe sDserSe the whole of thy journsl.
to l,uaa aager remarked that be had learn
tie so1s;aa At such adventures in the camr