The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-02-15

ne--two-threc-f four-look how the
red tokens crimson the snow; following
those bloody footprints they go on until
they reach that rock beetling over the NV
er shore. There the lantern light flashes
over the form of halfnaked man crouch
ing down in the snow-freezing and
bleeding TO death.
The old man looked upon that form
clad in the ragged uniform of the Cont
mental army-the stiffened fingers grasp
ing the battered musket.
1t was his only son.
He called to him, the young girl knelt
and, you may be sure there were tears in
her eyes, chafed her brothers hands, ah,
they were stiff and cold And when she
could not warm them, gathered them to
her young bosom, and wept her tears up
on his dying face.
Suddenly that brother raises his head,
and extended his hand towards the river.
"Look there, Father" he said, in his
husky voice.
And bending down over the rock, the
old man looked far over the river.
There, under the dark sky, fleet of
boats were tossing amid piles of floating
ice. A fleet of boats bearing men and
arms, and extending in irregular lines
from shore TO shore.
And tho last boat of the feet, that
boat just leaving the western shore of tho
Daleware; the old man saw too, and saw
even through the darkness-yon tall
form half-muffled in a warriors cloak,
with grey war-horse by his side.
Was that not strange sight to see at
dead of night, on n dark river under
darker sky.
The old man turned TO his dying son
to ask the meaning of this mystery.
Father" gasped the brave boy, totter-
ing to his feet Father, give me my
musket, help me on, help me down to the
river, for tonight"
AS that word was on his lips, he fell.
He fell, and lay there, stiff and cold.-
Still, on his lips there hung some family
spoken words.
The old man, and that fair girl, bent
down and they listened to these words.
Tonight, Washington, the British,
tonight, TRENTONp
With that word gasping on his lips,
he died.
The old man did not know the mean
ing of that word, until the next morning.
Then there was the sound of musketry TO
the south; then, booming along the Del
aware, came the roar of battle.
Then that old man, with his wife and
children, gathered round the body of that
dead boy; knew the meaning of that sin
gle word that had trembled on his lips
knew that George Washington had burst
like thunderbolt upon the British camp
at Trenton.
All! that was merry Christmas party
which the British officers kept in the town
of Trenton some eighty-thrce years ago
although it is true that to that party
there came an uninvited guest, one Mis-
ter Washington, his balfclad army, and
certain bold Jorsymen. Would that l
might linger here, and picture the great
deeds o. that morning, cighty-three years
ago.
Would that might lingcr here upon
the holy ground of Trenton.
For it is holy ground. For it was
there in the darkest hour of the Revolu-
tion, that George Washington made one
stout and gallant blow in the name of
that Declaration which fifty-six bold men
had proclaimed in the Old State House
of Philadelphia six months before.
Then, if that State House is the Mec-
ca of Freedom, to which tho pilgrims of
all climes may come to worship, then is
the battle-ground of Trenton, the twin
Mecca the Jerusalem Of Freedom, to which
the Children of Liberty, from every cline
may come and look upon the footsteps Of
the mighty dead, bring their offerings, shed
their tears.