The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-20

biscuit prepared by daughter Mary, will refresh thee
greatly, previous to thy long ride.
: Than Ks, kind sir, Tor thy hospitality, and be assured
that it will be remembered to our commanderln-chlef
My business is urgent, for if l reach Trenton ty sunrise,
the plan | now bear about my person, will place the
rebel army wholly in our power.
'Sayest thou So said the smith, rubbing his hands
joyfully then indeed re have no time to lose. Halo,
Malachi; ali, here thou art. Run up to the house, and
tell Dorothy to have the tea-kettle singing in five min.
utes, tell her tat my friend Ensign Spencer of the
continental army is going to sup with us. He has i'm
portant documents for the benefit of the American cause,
and must be in the American camp by tomorrow morn
Ing. Thou cans shoe his horse, while | extend to him
the hospitalities of the house, and Squire Hutton, TAX
ing the young man by The arm, usheryd him in q few
moments in the presence Of his wife, aud charming
daughter Mary.
Meanwhile, Malachi, who had eyed the stranger very
closely, lit a lamp, aud began to ply the bellows.
Welt he exclaimed to himself, if his don't beat
all nature. | thought there was suthin' in the WIND,
when the critter halted to our place so | just stop fod-
dering the cattle, ard sneaked up to the back side of
the shop to listen. So if he gets to Trenton by sunrise
tomorrow morning, the American party will be in the
power of the British. If you are there by that time,
by Judas, Malachi Doolitsle don't know nothing about
shoeing. Woa-you critter; can't you stand still a
moment, while the irons are getting hot +? It's no won
der you are restless with such q load OF sin as you are
about to carry. My boss is a traitor to his country, and
I'm going to cut my indentures tonight, and JOIN the
American army. Who knows but what | may come
back "a captain, marry Mary Hutton, and then strike u
bee line for old Massachusetts. But must hurry this
job through, for | would not like the boss to inspect my
work, tonight. There he added, as he drove the last
nail, you Will cast off a pair OF them shoes about five
miles tother side Of Brunswick aud then ii l don't
catch you, Ensign Spencer, on our old sorrel, wish L
may be blowed up in a powder MILL
The wind blew keen and cold, and the sky was over
cast with dark clouds.
Shouldn't wonder if we had a two foot snow before
tomorrow morning. said Malachi to himself, and I'd
rather, by u darn sight, 60 to .n apple bee Or u quilting
party with Mary Hutton tucked under my arm, than
take a journey to Trenton tonight. However, what
can't be cured must be endured, as my old school marin
used to say, when she piled the birch and so all you've
got to dc, Malachi Deolittle, is to play po.su,n, and not
give the BritiSher too big u start
He found the kitchen empty, for Ensign Spencer be-
ing considered i'll the light of an especial guest, the sup
portable was set in the parlor.
Rot his picter he will be making love to Mary next,
said Malachi, uneasily but if he does, I'll pay him
off in his own coin. Ah, here is his pistols and heavy
riding coat Well, now, Malachi Dopllttle, [ don't thiuk
it would be unwholesoine to your constitution to jerk
the primin' out Of them bankers, for fear matters might
come to a %rough-and tumble. SO here goes, and suit
ing the action to the word, the strangers weapons were
instantly placed in u harmless condition.
When the apprentice entered the parlor, he found
DOrOtny III utCOu anu Uf daughter wary IN nlp0 glee
and good humor. The repast was over, but the strang.
er seemed to be attracted to the smiths parlor by the
bright eyes Of Mary, aud looking twice cut Of the win
dow into the cold, bleak night, he gave a shudder, as if
loath to depart on his journey. Tall Malachi devoured
his supper in moody silence but, Notwithstanding his
discomfort at the notice The young officer took Of Mary,
be made fearful threads on the johnny cake and sausage.
A genuine Yankee is seldom so deep in love that he for.
sakes bis victuals and such was certainly tall Malachi
case. When there was no excuse fol longer delay, the
apprentice was deputed to fetch his horse to the door,
and thanking his hostess for their kind attentions, and
bestowing a kiss upon the blusbing check of Mary, he
bestrode the animal, and set forth at a round gallop, on
his dark and dreary journey. t~H
Il guess Id better go and finish foddering the cattle,
said Malachi, as the ~ciatter of the horses hoofs sdied
away in the distance. sOid Ball has broke his new cir
cingle all to smash. I calkilate l better take the sorrel
horse and go down to Brunswick tomorrow morning
and get it fixed, as we want to sled some wood from the
swamp. Suppose you can let me have old Sorrel for q
little while, squire? 81
why, how on earth could thee go down to Brunswick
without him, Malachi ? How foolish you do talk TO-
night tf ga
well, I didn't know but what you might want to
use him. said Malachi, closing the door behind him,
and starting for the barn. 'Consarn his picter! kissed
her lips, did be ? Well, if | don't have a wrestle with
him for that trick, my name amt Malachi Doolittle.
Jerusalem. how cold it is! | wish | had my other
shirt on but it's no use 10 grunble. Old Sorre!, put
in the big licks, and you SHALL be kept on nothing else
but oats and clover for the balance OF your material
days. And now for a parting salute to the boss, he
added, as he bestrode up to the door Of the house.
8 Hellow Squire Hutton, suthin's broke loose =
why, Malachi, what is the matter?' asked the
smith, opening the door SIS the barn u fire, Or
No nothin' of the kind, boss. But I've concluded
to borrow old Sorrel tonight instead Of to morrow morn.
ing. l know the whole plot, and l am going to take
them papers from Ensign Spencer and give them to
George Washington tt W
'Why, his horse is as feet as the wind, and he will
be to Trenton before thou art half way said the smith,
with a laugh.
'You forget l shod his horse. boss Hutton
well, he is armed, and will shoot thee as dead as 4
nail, if thou dost attempt violence
Cant be did, boss | shook the primin' from his
pistols when he was in to supper
Thunder and Belzebub-Lord forgive me--but-
The remainder OF the sentence was lost on Malachi
eer, for with u wild va hip, galong Sorrel, he was fol-
loving the track Of the British spy,
The night was very dark, and fakes Of snow were fall,
ing fast over the already whitened ground, but old sor.
rel was perfectly acquainted with every inch of the
gsouad, sua as.is prompted by an instinct that he was oE
business that admitted # DO delay, it needed but little
urging on the part Of tall Malachi 10 make him stretch
his neck through the village Of Brunswick like a grey
hound. -..4 s3.-