Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-10-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
A HEORINE OF sEvENTY-sIX.
BY MRS. VI. A. DENNIsoN.


mers. The dull song of laboring picks breaks
upon the ear with monotonus regularity
| They are making tracks for railroad in this
/ old town. l am not pleased with the '-im-
/ provements," as some call it, for pleasant
| farmhouse ard its surrounding fields that
/ sloped from high and uudula:ing hills have
/ vanished before Its nod. The great genius
of enterprise, with his ugly shears of COM
/ merce, is clipping at the poor wings of pow
erty and romance, till, fear, by and by, they
will have power to flap along the ground,
! their ethereal faculties chained down to stock
! taking and invoices.
l am sorry the house has gone. for there
are some receolections connected with lis
/ history for tie sake of which it would be
! pleasant could it have been spared. An old
J farm house surrounded by fields of waving
! grain and corn, in the autumn time, and
! overhung by branches of various trees, gol-
! den with the tulness of time, is a sight OF
| picturesque beauty IN rich valley, especial
! ly if fjne old mountain looms up in the
! back ground, or deep shade of forest trees
stretches away into the clear, mellow atmos-
phere beyond.
| La that one before us O am speaking now
| as if it stood IN the old spot) the widow OF
the noble Captain Piermont lived some twen-
| ty years ago The lady hue specimen
of old time woman; dignifed, even comman-
ding In manner with fresh bloom upon her
cheeks, artihcialy moulded forehead. and a
deep earnest expression Ia her bright eyes.
She was a woman of refined AID cultivated
intellectual powers, q woman who IN youth
nad known no stint of wealth, whose mind
was stored with classic lore, who had never,
who had never till she emigrated TO the will
deruess of the New World, soiled her fn-
gers with even household work
Father and husband were both dead The
bones of the former reposed in an other coun-
try beneath a marble monument; the latter
had now slept two years IN .be little
burying grourd beside the wooden church IN
sight of the red farm house, aud small gray
stone marked the spot where his ashes ming
led with the dust.
One day during the hardest campaign of
our soldiers Maaame Piermont was alone at
the farm. Pomp, negro servant had gone
on an GRAND which would detaIn hlm until
night fall, and Alex the hired man, had
wounded his hand in the morning with an
axe, SO that he was quite disabled and ooll-
ged to return TO his home, about mile dis
saut, which, by the way, was the nearest
homestead to the old red farm house The
widows four brave sons OF ages varying from
eighteen to txenty-six, had started but two
days previous for their countrys field OF
battle.
While the widow realized that In all prob
ability, some, perhaps all, would be smItten
by the ruthies. hand of war. her cheek was
still uublanched and holy hope sat IN the re-
pose of her beautiful features. Only now
and then, she turned to open the Bible be-
linz
and straightway resumed her work with a
trusting snile. All. patriotism found an en-
dearing home in many such gentle breast
Suddenly from the distance came sound
like the trampling of horses feet, and great
cloud of dust betokened the approach of tray-
ellers hurryiDg 10 their desilnatlon- Ihe
widow moved to the door ana shading her
eyes from the intense sunshine, watched their
progress. They drew nearer, and IN aEoih-
er moment three horsemen drove up before
the door. They wore military costume and
were all 6ne looking men. The foremost
gentleman by far exceeded the others by his
imposing figure. aud the greatness of his
countenance. Ii needed no introduction to
assure the widow that this was George Wash
instou. With that character which always
characterized him, he bowed gracefully to
could fud rest and refresbment
..Our horses are wearied; We have ridden
since this morning aud would fam recruit,
he added.
Certainly, gentleman, and welcome, she
replied, smiingly, throwing vide open the
inner door as they dlsDounted
Our poor beasts" said one of the oifl-
GERS, pattiug his smoking horse Il would
they could Dc attended to immediately Is
there groom or servant about your house.
Madame whe could rub then down anu feed
them? | will reward hun literally
I'VE would ask no reward In this house
hold, sir" replied the widow; .'if you will
lead them around they will be cared for.
Make yourself perfectly comfortable, gen.
temau," said the widow; land excuse me
while | prepare your refreshments Iou
must be hungry well as fatigued.
In another minute the widow was in the
stable unsaddling the poor horses-work to
winch she was not accustomed, but which,
nevertheless she could do in time, being
woman of strong muscular frame and great
energy. She knew 1t must be done by her
self or not at all. As for men and horses
they were completely jaGed out. She with
straw rubbed tue animals down with her own
hands, led them into stalls and prepared aud
give them food. After changing her dress
the widow again returned to the parlor. where
the officers having unbuckle0 their swords
and dotted their caps. sat convcrsing togeth-
er evidently enjoying a delightful! rest As
the widow stepped over the Threshold oil
the room, one of the officers was remark
ing to his componious-
"He was one of the best men; and as hne
looking young fellow as ever volunteered.