Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-09-15
sUsA WHITES CossET.

Early in the spring of l77i, farmer living
4 the eastern section of the town of Windham,
arried into his house one cold, stormy morn
~, Young lamb whose dam had perished in
he storm The poor little thing was chilled
nd almost dead. He laid in the kitchen hearth,
nd his wife wrapped it carefully in warm
annel blanket. When it gave signs of life,
he put into its mouth some warmed milk, and
ubbed it tenderly, until it licked her hand, and
leaed in answer to her caresses.
"What can do with it ?" she asked her
usbsnd when he came to dinner. "'ris nice
,mb, as white as snow; but with the prospect
ist now before us, | shan't have much time to
aiSe cOSsets; for WHEN the Sons of Liberty
re called to the field, the woman will have to
aiSe the bread"
That's Il sartin fact, Amy" replied her hus-
and "and the time is at hand f.. Ill tell YOU
that we rW do with it, wife! There's the
minister's little gal, who comes out here some
mes, and who seems to have great liking for
cts we'll just keep ii few days till it gets
trong and lively, and then carry it to her.
he'll like it, | know"
Farmer Carey was not at all mistaken in this
nujecture. The bright eyes of Susa White
ere brighter than ever the morning when the
ew pet was carried to the parsonage. Its coat,
he declared, was softer than milk and whittier
han snow She would take the very best care
it, and keep it until it was an old sheep.
Ter father, who was consulted about name,
dvised her to give the lamb no fancy name,
ut to call il Nebuchadnezzar. because some
ay it would have to eat grass like the old King
f Babylon. Susa thought it rather hard
anne, but said that Nebby or Neb would do
cry well.
Neb grew famously, and soon became great
,et, almost, in the village, as her mistress
;usa Whites lamb was privaledged to 60 any
,here he pleased, nibbhng either grass OF
overs as best suited his taste.
That was one of the pleasentest springs OF
usa Whites life, though a season of sore per
lexity, and darkness to the older and wiser il
cart. From North to South there was tiut
ering of wings of freedom. Act after act o.
ppression had reused the incipient nation to {
rial of its strength. The American army wa'
ot then organized, but association was the or
Ter of the day, and the watchword of all wal
Liberty" Enough had been heard of the alb
oiute power of Parliament; the colonies wer'
10 longer afraid to stand up boldly and declare
The People have rights, and only Heaven i
upreme" Such was everywhere the state o
ceiling when the infamous act for closing tn
,ort of Boston reached that patriotic city. Tit
King had declared his determination to starv
his subjects into unreserved submission.
1t was the tenth of May when the Port Ac
was received, and tidings of it were watte'
speedily as possible from town to town, ant
from colony to colony. Sections traversed b,
stage coaches were favored at the era, for tn
coaches had always the latest news from the sea
of disaffection. and the news was what tn
people of all ages and ranks waited and ex
pected with the greatest anxiety.
Long before the hour for the weekly stages
group of men might have been seen collecin
around the old Stamford Tavern in Windhan
discoursing on the one subject of common in
terest to ALL From the court house and fror
the counter, from the workshop and from til
plow they came, eager to catch the first SCUM
of the drivers horn, and to hear the rattng {
the heavy wheels down the eastern hill. WON
en- with children in their arms stood at the door
to look out for the four-horse vehicle, and pri'
oners in the gloomy old Jail gazed through the
grated windows to watch it as it passed.
"There she comesl" exclaimed half a doze
voices at once, from the tavern stoop. 81 hea
her on the top of Zion's Hill. Smith toot
loudly to-day. He's got news no mistake abol
it."
Blowing his horn most vigorously the drive
came dashing down the dusty road. his fir
horses scarcely touching the ground over whic
they passed. Beautifully they described the
circle in front of the stage house, bringing tn
coach-door and the ladies' entrance side by sid
While the driver with one hand was guidin
his team through their well-known figure, wit
the other he scattered handful Of paper
amidst the bystanders copies of the BostO
Port-bill, edged with black, in token of mourn
ing; also an appeal from the citizens of Bosto
asking counsel and aid of the sister colonies
their time of trial. Sad news this from "goo
old Boston"-for Boston then as now was Il
pride of New England.
Before the coach was started again on i
wav to Hartford, the bills was posted all ov'
the village; one on the great elm before Il
tavern door-the ,ame tree on which the jol
little Bacchus sat for SO many long years astri'