The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-05-28

'No,' said Spencer, with a laugh 'that
would hardly do. A British officer placing
important dispatches in the hands Of a black.
smiths apprentice, is altogether out of the
'By Judas, I've got tip exclaimed Mala.
chi, as if struck by sudden thought; 'We
will swap horses for the present. I'll take
your critter back to Hutton's, and docto,
him till you call for him, and lend you old
Sorrel-he is just as fresh now as when he
left the stable, and can keep the same gait
for four -and-twenty hours to Gomez "7
Ensign Spencer was delighted with the
proposition, and halting at q favorable place,
they both dismounted to make the exchange.
But no sooner had the officers feet touched
the ground, than he found himself in the
close embrace Of tall Malachi. 4. .. .-g
Now, Squire,' he exclaimd, 'before il
comes to Q worse tussel, I'll trouble you to
fork over them papers, '''
'Why, what do you mean, you plcbeian
hound said Spencer, 'by insulting On off,
Ger of King George!' struggling to free him
self from the iron grasp Of the blacksmith's
apprentice. ..'' &c.. 5--
MEAN jest what say, you darned contank-
erous Tory varmint. Hurrah for George
Washington and the Continental G Congress-
Kiss Mary again, will you? Well, Pm not
going to be cruel, but if you don't fork ever
them papers in a jiffy, by the sixteenth chap
ter of Revelations, III make mince meat Of
you II will, by Judas ? $50.
Don't throttle men exclaimed Spencer,
(for Malachi's grip at his throat had been
lightning every instantly 'and they are
yours
sDon't you attempt to come any of your
games, you Tory varmnt. Can out-run,
out-iump, or out-wrestle, anything in our
digglns, and-'
Such is not my intention. There are the
papers, much good may they do you. And
now be kind enough to release my collar
'Wait bit, Squire so no, S,rrel-m must
make all right; , and, at the same moment,
he let 20 Of Spencer, be leaped into the
saddle. 'Good night, Squire, and pleasant
dreams.'
Spencer Instantly aimed one of his pistols
point blank at Malachi, but it missed fire.
He da> he'd it to the ground, with a curse,
and levelled the other-the trigger clicked,
but there was no discharge.
'Ha, ha, ha,' laughed Malachi. you'll
find the primin' scattered round Jonas Hut
toms kitchen floor, where left it. YH-hip,
ga.lang, Sorrel. Three cheers for George
Washington, and the Continental Congress-
CHAPTER III.
The sun was not above an hour high when
tall, slab sided Yankee, mounted on bo-
nv horse, rode up to the American lines,
where he was hailed by the sentries, and to
whom he made known that he had something
of the most vital Importance to communicate
to the General. His inyincible perth city
finally procured him the coveted audience
with the CON oumap4v1 In cnlet OF the Amcri-
lean forces, and tall Malachi had placed the
documents he had procured with so much
trouble, in his hands. W; shington saw at
glance that, hal the plans they divulg lged,
been carried out, the American army would
have been placed in great peril, if not utter
ly annihilated. Of his masters share in
that transaction, Malachi Doolittle said
nothing, for he was too much in love with
Mary, to betray her father; but ali other
questions he answered with promptness
thn. proved lie had large share of good
sense to make up for his uncou.h appear.
ance.
'And you wish 10 serve in the army said
Washington, kindly.
'Such is my intention, your excellency, II
you think my services worthy Of 'eg"rd.'
'Wc are always glad to receive such good
recruits in the cause of freedom, rs thou
art. The service thou hast rendered, is
greo, one 20 the American cause. Captain
Doolittle, allow me to congratulate you tor
such is the commission you hold hence
forth in the Continental army
The heart of the new made officer was too
full to express his thanks but he resolved
to prove by deeds, and not by word, that he
was worthy of Washington's consideration.
The communicating chief saw that )me i'm
mediate steps must be taken not only to save
Philadcl2hia- as he learned by the
dispatches brought by DoolittIe, the enemy
were determined to possess-but to arouse
the spirit Of the nation, that had now sunk
to the lowest depth of despondcncy. lie
resolved to anticipate the British, and cross
the frozen Delaware, on the night OF the
Goth, of December, where he learned that n
large body of Hessians were encamped. lie
followed up his plan with eminent success !;
for the attack being totally unexpected,
more than nine hundred of the enemy were
taken prisoners of war. He recrossed the
river, and though his shadow Of an army
was weary and exhausted, he determined TO
make aa attack on the British forces at
Princeton. Here he had the good fortune
70 kill sixty, and take three hundred prison
ers more. This good fortune served to dis
pel the gloom that had settled over the
American cause.
, 1t is m undoubted fact, that Malachi
Doolittla held Colonel's commission in the
army, before the close of the war, which
took place when Great Britain acknowledged
the Independence of the United States, Nov.
30th, 1882.
On the banks Of the Raritan, some ten
wears after the incidents detailed in our sto-
ry, there stood fine house, built in the
, Elizabethan period-thc residence of Colo
mel Doolttle and family, who was now one
of the wcalthiest farmers in the whole Coun-
ty. lie was one of the most hospitable OF
men, and neither fricnd"nor stranger cou d
pass his door without being asked to take a
mug of the Colonel's good cider; or if it
happened to be about tea time, u cup of ten,
and slice of snort cake made by the fair
hands of his wife Molly. There was an old
man. too. who sat in the cosiest place by the
. fresidc, who for long time after the close
, Of the war, would advocate the cause OF the
King, and talk about having somebody ar
rested for stealing his sorrcl horse which
, his daughter would wink slyly to her hus-
Danu out ne un;tliy Caule ~ 'Ao oo'Ac
as peace and plenty crowned the lana OF
freedom, that George Washington was not
much of rebel, after all.
There was an old lady, too, who appeared
to never grow tired praisins her on-in-law;
and little boy, the very image of his moth
er, who ut the close Of many summers day,
would climb upon his fathers knee, and say,
with tone Of earnest entreaty:
'Now, pa, do tell me all about Ensign
, Spencer, and General Washington, and the
, Ilessians, and how you hooked grandpa:
r horse, and listed for SOLDIER
'Willingy, my SON. the Colonel would
t reply, 'bus | have related the story so often
9 | should think you knew it by heart Ye
Col. Doolitte, for the especial benefit OF his
, son and heir, often related the story ovel
A and over again.
} Such is one of the many incidents connec
| ted with the dark hours of the Revolution
= Though purchased with the blood of thou
sands, it left the legacy of freedom to man
! kind, and few in those 'times which triee
I mems souls ACQUIRED greater fame in tht