Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-12-14
o2e OF the Heroines of Seyen,y-Six
by MRS. VI. A. DENIsON.

railrOad IN this ancient town. | am not
pleased with the Improvement" as some
cal. il, for farmhouse, aud its surround
ing fields that sloped from high and uu-
dulating hills, have vanish>d for ever
before its nod. The great genius of en-
terpTise, with his ugly shears of commerce,
is clipping at the poor wings Of povcE:y
aud romance, till, fear, by aud by, they
will have only power to ftp a'oug the
grourd, their ethereal faculties chained
down 10 stock-,ahiug and invoices
am sorry that house is gone, for in it.,
about twenty years ago, lived the noble
widow of Captain Ferpous. She was
fine specimen Of old time women dig
hlicd, ever commanding in manner, w!rb
fresh bloom upon her cheek, artIstical!y
moulded forehead, aud deep, earacs; tx
pr,s,Ioa in her bught eyes. She was .
woman of refined aud cultivated intellcc-
iull powers, who in youth had known no
stint Of wealth, whose MUD was s;0r' d
WIN classic lore, VITO had never, till she
migrated to the wilderness Of the New
World, sJ!led her fingers with even house
hold work Her father aud husband were
both dead The bones Of the former re
posed in another country, beneath mar
tic monument; the latter had ROW slept
two lCags IN the little bury inc-grouhd, bc-
side the wooden church, III sight Ut the red
f-Im-hug>c, aud sinai. gray stone marked
the spot where his ashes mingled with the
Gu>r.
Uae day, during the hardest cnmpaisn
Of uur >o.t,er,, Nalame P!crp,nt Was
aiore at the farm. rOmr, negro SIR
want, had gouc on some erraud which
Mould d.;.iu him un;Ii uighrf-l. aud
/ A.,k, the hired mau, had wounded his
naud IN the IN min WIKI an axe, 50 that
he vas quite disabled and obliged to re,
tuEu TO his home, about mile dstaut,
(Which, 10y the way, was the nearest homie
stead TO tie old red farm Lyysc) The
"iiO" : four 0I4ye Sous, Of age, vary iug
/ from eighteen to twenty six, had started,
but iWo days previous, to thc fed oi their
couutry's battle. While the widow real
z d, that, iu all probaJ.luy, some, per
by the ruthless hand of var, Ler cheek
was still uubaucLcG, aud hope sat in the
reposc of her beautiful features. Only
now aud then she turned to open the BI-
bic before her, and read few couSoling
passages, and siraightway resumed her
work, with trusting smile. Alb. patri-
ot;sn found an eudeaglDg home in many
such gentle breast.
Suddenly, from the distance, came
sound like the tramPipg of horses feet,
anl great cloud of dust betokeDed the
approach Of travellers hurrying TO their
destination. The widow moved to the
iyor, and, shading her eyes from the in
tense sunshine, watched their progress.
They drew nearer, and in another moment
three horscmeu drove up before the Door.
They wore military costume, and were all
fine-looking men. Tie foremost gentle
man by far exceeding the others by his
imposing figure and the greatness ct his
couuteuance, it needed no iD,roduci,pu to
assure the widow that this was George
Washington. With that b!andness which
always characterized him, be bowed grace
fully to Madame Pierpour, as he asked If
he could iimd rest aud refrcshmeIt
"Our horses are wearied We have rid. .
den since this morning, and would fam
recruit" he added.
"Certaiuly, gentlemen, and welcome"
she replied, suiliugIy, throwing wide open
tue inner door as they dl-moun'cd.
"Our poor beasts" said one Of the Off
GERS, pa;tius his smoking horse. 81
would they could be attended to immedi-
arely. l. there a groom or servant about
your house, Madame, who could rub them
down and feed them? l will reward him
"We would ask no reward in this house
hold, sir" replied the widow "if you
will lead them around, they viii be cared
for"
make yourself perfectly comfortable,
said the widow, sand excuse
me while prepare your refreshments.
y ou must be hungry as well as iatgued.'
In another minute, the widow was in
the stable, unsaddling the poor horses
yulk to which she vas not accustomed,
but which she nevertheless could DO in
lime Of need, being a woman Of strong .
u muscular frame and great energy. She
knew it must be done hy herself or not at
all. As for men aad houses, they were
j,ded out. She with straw
-ubbcd the animals down with her own !
lauds, led them into stalls, and prepared
md gave them food. After changing her \,
lress, the widow returned again TO the c
,arior. where the ofiicers, having uubuck- v
ed their sw ords and dotted their caps, sat II