Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-07-13
THB BLACKSMITTS 'PRRNTICE...A TALE
on THE REVOLUTION.
ny IonN cOoFER va.

hTm and determined IN the cause OF
The British army outnumbered
the American forces as three to one, but liber-
ty was the prize to be won, and brave hearts,
led on by Washington, did not despair What
if they were clad ia tattered garments, aud
their feet were shoeless, leaving marks ofblood /
on the frozen ground wherever they followed |
their beloved commander, 90 long as they bat
tied for the birthrght of freedOnll
At the period Of our story, there stood in the |
vicinity OF the village Of Brunswick. a log |
house, of rather large dimensions, and built iu
manner that proved that its proprietor went in
more for comfort than appearance, 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 current. 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 a blacksmith and falmer.
lie was a hale old man OF about sixty, and his
family were composed solely Of his wife Doro
thy, and his daughter Mary, a / eautiful girl
just budding into womanhood
10 his youth. farmer Jonas Hutton had advo.
Gated Quaker principles of peace, but in his age
his sympathies were secretly enlisted in the
cause of King George His conduct, however,
had been 50 circumspect-he appearing to main
British and American cause-that, though sus-
peions were rife Of is extending aid to the
former, he bad thus far escaped actual proof
The ouly person hired about his premises
was a tall, ungainly youth Of about twenty
years Of aye, and who served as helper in the
! smithery, when occasionally neighbor wished
his horse shol, or his wagon wheel tired His
name was Malachi Doolttle. and he hailed
from the Bay State, from whence he had wan
dered to his present station, some three years
before, binding himself to Squire Hutton, ill
ono and twenty He had all the peculiarities
of the migratory rae of New England and
| though, as we have stated, ne was tall "a un'
| gainly in his department, warm heart beat
under hOmespuu vest and he displayed much
genius and tact for the benefit Of his employ
| or, ..sl 4 Haa
AS a matter of course, he had been in love
Tor long time with the fair form and blue eI Ies
of his masters daughter Mary, though she had
always treated his case coolly, so that any
one else but genuine Yankee wooer would
have left the field in despair. No girl can beal
to have it SAID that her lover is an object o
|, rdcule, and Mary was well aware that tai
Malchi--tho name by which her fathers ap
prentice was generally addressed-was tht
sport of all the young girls in the neighborhood
Yet she might have made good choice, for he
bid fair to become first rate mechanic, was q
; crack shot with the rifle and could out run, ol
out jump, as he expressed it himself, anything
I that stood in two shoes. He was a firm advo
cate Of the American cause and when his bosl
, was not by, and he could gain a listner's ear
he would express his admiration for Washing
ton in the highest terms ..I.rur..
1t was in the latter part Of December, anC
close upon dusk, when young man, Attred il
:, the uHiiorm of an ensign in the Continenta
army, and mountedupon a powerful grey horse
rode up to Squire HuttQn's smithy and request
3 ed that his animal might be shOd Immediately
Friend, thou soonest to be in somewhat O
}, a hurry was Squire Hutton'a reply, alaRcin
II at the stranger; 'and as Malachi is busy fodder
ing the cattle, and l have promised TO hav
neighbor Parkers wheel tired in half an houl
perhaps thee had better apply at the next shOT
which thee will find about mile and ha
further along on the straight road to Brun,
n wick, sAid'- III a-.
: "A plague on neighbor Parker and his WACO
A. wheel = said the young man, impatiently "A
]. you have stated, however, am in hurry, an
y bear important dispatches TO Washington, whol
q understand is on his way to attack our en-,
y mics at Princeton, May Heaven favor The rigl
ln cause =
Amen said the smith, earnestly. But as
have informed thee before, il will be impose
bic to attend to the shoeing of thy beast {,
night. It is nearly dark, and seldom protra
ie my labors after nightfBll'
y, " The stranger unused moment, aud the
~ muttering TO himself: 1T is not possible tn
can have been misinloTmed > drew pap,
Id from his pocket and handed it to Squire Hutto
re What is this : he exclaimed.
ou Something that il would not be polite TO
US every one peruse in these times but have hea
:, that you are a staunoh man in the cause
"a King George, aud | can trust you The sxi
e l.. r III.
nd horse must be shOd, and | must be within 4
Ip British camp, at Trentsp, by tomorrow NOR
AT ing
lst The old smith, with an eye of surpr
III wiped his glasses TO peruse the document, a
e I by the last fading light Of day, recognized {
ne. well known signature Of Lord CORVALLIS
HE Heinstantly grasped the stranger by the han
NJ aud said that, for the cause Of King Georl
lgty he would neglect every other job Of work
iiu the shop. .r4.. .....
'ol But thee will have rough ride Of It. ffiel
ept the roads are in bad condition, and the wi
ave will blow cold and bitter in thy face obseI
The the wholeol thy journey
10 The stranger remarked that he had leaTr
on, 20 laugh al such adventures In the camp Of
sue soldier. INLIfH ..| "A.
au- 'Ay, friend, but the night will be black
~ pitch an hour later and II thy beastis not 81
footed, thee wilt scarcely reach Trenton by n
but rise However, i will see that thou art v
era prepared for thy journey. A good cup Of
l0A, equal to that the foolish rebels wasted in
ave ton harbor made by my wife Dorothy, an
eIns few warm biscuits prepared by my daugt
r5. ,Is Mrry will refresh thee greatly previous to
and long ride TI..
Ned Thanks. kind sir. for thy hospitality, ant
d 10 assured that il will be remembered TO our c,
ling mander-in-ohief My business Is urgent; {,
reach Trenton by sunrise. the plan now
sus about my person will place tie rebel al
. Is wholly in our power? I|If fIh
.aaP 'Sayest thou SO T. said the smith, rubbing
and hands ioyfullyi then we have no time TO i
pro Halo, Malachi; ali, here thou art, run ~
par the house and tell Dorothy that my friend
sigu spencer Of the Continental army Is g
'OaT u sup with US. lie has important documG
'gb- for the benefit Of The Ameieap cause, and Il
w. w. be 10 the American camp to-morow morn
MY Thou canst shoe this horse, while ] extenC
NV him the hos pitalites and Squire Hutton,
sook Ing the young man By The arm, usheTed hin
ting a few moments into the presence Of his !
face and charming daughter.
3 Of Meanwhile, Malachi, who had eyed
mus stranger very closely lii lamp, and bega
'sm ply the belloWs
We'll" he exclaimed To himself, iii