Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-24

Of the day. He had won FIVE turkey and
pair OF chickens; he had jumped the furthest,
and won the wrestling match; and thus being
victor, he of course was rewarded with the
smiles and the bushes of oil the fairest maideps
in the village. But IL brought him no envy
for everybody loved him, and nobody, old or
young, lad or lass, but would have given their
right hand to have served Charley Holton; for
they bad all heard of his bravery, and many of
them had been witness to il on several occa-
Sons, and he was not the man to harbor guile
OF any one, or commit an act that might create
an unfdv0rable impression ofhimself But our
praises OF Charley Holton must not lead us
away from the rest of the company, though YOU
shall hear more of him anon.
We have said the days sports were ended
and so they were. The cattle had all wendell
their way hOmeward, and were housed for the
night. Old Cromwell, the horse, had received
MS last measure ofoats, and his crib full of hay
the old rooster had led his harem to roost. and
IoWser and puss bad taken possession of the
chimney corner, for, be it known, they were On
the best OF terms. The moon had lust risen
and, one By one, the stars came out, cutting
sharply through the deep blue, Indicating
clear and frosty night. By degrees the VILLAGE
sounds became hushed, till at length scarcely
sound broke the stiffness, save betimes the dis
tant barking OF fox, or the hoot in the woods
lar away, OF the gray owl. But there was
happy party In the 'Squire's upper room"
IL was a large, Old-fas hioned room full twen.
ty feet square. There was no carpet on the
hoor, which was as clean and white as the pine
table; the walls were wainscotted u. high as tha
back of the chair, and in the fre-place-wide
as barn dOor-blazed n most cheerful FIRE
supplied by at least half cord of wood, and a
backlog that required two men to roll il INTO
the house. There was q plentiful supply of
chairs and benches, and seated around a LARGE
n N ~ Wi n,,ato H. \
ments, "yexing the dull ear Of night with
Choice selections of psalmody. High perched
and conspicuous, sat the Squire with his bio
hddle, while before him 10y outspread a volume
OF sacred music. neighbor on his left played
the hute. while another opposite make a wheezy
noise with clarionet. Those who chose to
sing, piped away with their voices, and alto
gether they secured concert perfectly salts
factory to themselves and the company, and
won the applause of their beloved pastor, the
leader Many an old-fashioned air, now out of
date, was played and sung, nor was Old Hun.
dred forgotten, nor the Ode to Science, ~ then
comparatively new. We doubt IL mapy Of onr
readers ever heard of it; but it was always, at
that day, sang at Thanksgiving. We can at
the present only call to mind but little of it:
but We do remember these lines, which were
always sung with peculiar emphasis:
" The British yoke, the CALLING chain
All naughty tyrants we disdain,
And shout long live America ="
AmeriFGy-that is where the great accent fell.
and made 1t the more impressive. Eyerybodv
seemed happy, and all Joined in the musical
part Oh the entertainment, with the exception
OF Charles and his mother, and they sat little
apart from the rest Of the company. in most
earnest conversation together Mistress HoIton
was not very veil that evening" though she as
sumed as much as possible an aspect of cheer
fulness, and Charles sat in front of her, holding
her cold, thin handsin her own. He had bso5
telling her Of his perils and sufferings in the
camp-of the brave soldiers he had fought side
by side with-of Washington, of Lafayette. of
kos-iusko. and other brave and heroic men
Inc conversation became interesting, and one
by one the singers left the table, and drew near
to listen, and at length the music entirely
ceased, and all became attentive, as Charles
went on with his narratiye-ah, so glowinoIy
he told 1t, we can scarcely give but a faint
transcript; and SO patiently and wonderinoly
mother dwelt upon his every word, though il
was evident at times she struggled with pain
tul thought, that caused a visible sbudder 10
thrill through her whole frame.
Alas alas" she exclaimed, interrupting
him in one of bis descriptions, " these are M.
deed sufferiDgs that wiring the heart,
And then at Valley Forge" he continued.
" oh, mother, dear, it was dismal camp, and
would have grieved your honest heart had Won
Dut known thestrife 'twixtwant and discipline.
rom tent to tent, begging for bread, the shoe.
less soldier trod, with bleeding feet, THROUGH
snow and biting frost. Despair was u familiar
face; and many who CLOSED their ayes with Main
ful sleep at even, ne'er opened them to the
Ilorn-so slept forever. And many a soldier.
when the cold, long hight fell with its gloom
around him, and the wind, tapping the tattered
tent, brushed his damp hair, stretched his un-
n nLgtp tpn n r,naa L..
ground, and prayed for rest; while our great
leader through the general camp passed. like a
guardian spirit-to the hopeless imparting
hope, and to the suffering, aid; and. by his
side, champing his bit SO proudly pranced the
war horse Of the gallant Frenchman. A dismal
camp-the camp at Valley Forge. What mira
Gle preserved us, when foe with thrice our
numbers clothed and ,proyisioned, lay but a
day march from us, Heaven best knows
May it forgive ct the great Judgment dav.
the bad promoters of this cruel war Ihaye
been robbed Of half my cherished wealth. moor
woman as l am, and for my loss have I not
cause for bitterness? All, Henry, he did his
duty noblyfn
'' To the last, my mother"
/ knew he would, with eve upon the foe
Where did he fall ga
''On Monmouth's bloody plains.''
Heaven from that field receive his soul 10
mercy"
- TTice WAS l down beneath the birelinp
Hessian-that Venal soldier Of the German
Princes, under whose foot it were disgrace to
die, and, but for brave enemy, whose sword
warded the threatening bayonet from INV
again"
!" Heaven will reward him, exclaimed Mrs.
Holton
" Scarce had gained my feet, continual
Charies, " ere his hot steed had joined the dy-
ing mass sent my blessing after him, and
prayed nc might go scathless through the blast
ol war, and cheer again with his beloved pres.
ehee some happy wife or rcther"@ *r'
Like my son, exclaimed the mother.
There lost / Henry
Alas! alas, my boy,'' .-.r
foremost OF all the foremost ranks he fell.
pierced with dozen wounds. Then onwsrS
came the serried troops Of horse, their famins
nostriis hot with angry pride, rushing upon ous
and fed" 'foAe
GOd save thcm." exclaimed the motbe,
lie did for in that terror Of confusion
above the wrack Of war and dying groaps. arosn
81 Is IL