The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-09-05
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TWO HOURS SIEGE.
A Revolutionary Sketch
BY GEO. MARTIAL.

1t was past midnight of the thirteenth of
August, commenced my grandmother, but
though the river was in font of US, and the
forest stretched for miles behind US, and away
to the right and left, [ could not catch even
the sight of leaf, or the ripple of the wafer,
so sultry aud heavy brooded the darkness
around US.
1 had not been in the best of spirits that
day, for it was the time when We dreaded ev-
ery hour to hear of the bombardment of New
York; and though in the house of Thomas
Oakley. first cousin to my father, had moth
ing to fear, there had hung over ne such
terror and dread that day, that l could not
help fearing lest some evil had happened to
nv parents, who we're still in the city.
As usual with the sleepless, all sorts of fam
cies teased nv BRAIN My room, like all the
others was large, and furnished in the style
that now seems so quaint to orr young eyes
The chimney piece was tiled with porcelain,
curiously wrought into illustration of Scrip
ture. The bed and furniture, that had all
been brought from England, was tall, dark,
stiff and carved; while the walls wereTnuns
with sombre family portraits. And as lay
and wished for day, the ti].d hgures seemed
to move and glare at>n1e in the uncertain
Iiyht that came though the loopEole OF win
dow: while J thought the eyes of the portraits
were. onseand all, fixed on me with solemn
and warning Stare; and 50 it happened, that
ad heard the old clock strike one, two, and
three, and was just falling off into doze, when
there came light step along the hall; and
cousin Grace called in strange, scared voice:
outside the door: "Helen Helen !'
1 was up in moment and out TO where she
STOOD, looking like spirit, with her ashy face;
and fair hair all about her; and remember the
thrill of astonishment with which, spite of my
fright, l saw that she was already dressed, and
held in Ter hand a powderhask.
Put OH your clothes as quick as you can,
Nellie, said she, in voice that trembled lit
tie, Trough she was doing her best to be calm.
Brants men are coming, and father warts us
all down stairs.
Brart's men 1t is d. ficult to make you un-
derstand the horror with which that name was
pronounced and heard; or to express the terror
with which, as / hurried my clothes, /
thought of Grace and myself in the power of
those merciless sasages. No wonder that l
trembled in every limb, or that Thomas Oak
ley and his stalwart sons-men not easily
daunted-looked pale, as they moved about in
the dim morning light.
1 don't know as I have spoken to you be-
fore of Thomas Oakley, man over six feet in
height, and of noble presence, with grand
face, that looked as if it might have been CHS
.eled out of marble, and hair as white as snow,
though he was scarcely past his prime. we
have no such men, nowadays l have his
portrait in my little cabinet yonder; and you
may see there that he looks IS he was-a kind
ly and noble gentleman.
As for his sons, they were like him-tall,
strong limbed, fearless, and devotedly attached
to their stately mother, who was preparing
breakfast, while they fastened the iron shutters
of the lower windows, and barred the heavy
doors.
It's shame to rout out so early, Nellie,
said Mr.. Oakley, as he noticed my pale fright
ened face; but if we don't eat our breakfast
now those raseals may not give us chance to
get it at all and to my mind, after good
cause, there's nothing like good breakfast be-
fore going into fight.
"I wish Mark was hcre," said Grace, timid-
ly.
"No doubt, pussy; but I've sent for him
Yon Yost, tie halfwitted lad that brought the
news, who were to start from the camp to day;
and if we but keep the rascals at bay ill they
come, we may give them as good a peppering
as they deserve.
Ay. ifl but oh, that dreadful uncertainty.
The house was of stone, and so strongly built,
that it was doubtful if they could either raze
or fire it. But who knew what else might
happen? How many of that fair family would
gather around the board to morrow morning
Ali children, it was dreadful but ] think the
hour before the attack was the worst of all.
It was net to be expected that we could eat
much breakfast but hurried as the meal was il
was hardly over when one of the boys, whom
Mr.. Oakley had posted at the lookout, called
out that they were coming, and stealing along