Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-11-15
TWO HOURS SIEGE:
A REvoLUTTosARY IsciDKyT.


It was past midnight Of the thirteenth
OF August. commenced my grandmother,
but. though the river was in front Of us,
and the forest stretched for miles behind
us, and away to the right and left, could
not catca even the sight Of leaf, or the
ripple Of the water, so sutry and heavy
brooded the darkness around us.
/ had not been in the best of spirits that
day. for it was the time when we dreaded
every hour to hear Of the bombardment
of New York; and though in the house of
Thomas Oakly. first cousin to my father.
| had nothing to fesr, there had hung over
me such terror and dread that day, that
| could not help fearing lest some evil had
happened to my parents, who were still
in the city.
AS usual with the sleepless, all sorts Of
fancies teased my brain. My room, like
all the others, was large, and furnished in
the style that now seems so quaint to your
young eyes.
The chimney piece was tiled with por-
ceain, curiously wrought into illustra-
tions Of Scripture. The bed and furni-
ture, that had all been brought from Eng
lard, was tall, dark, stiff and carved +;
while the walls were hung with sombrc
family portraits. And as lay and wish
ed for day, the tiled figures seemed to
move and glover at me in the uncertain
| light that came through the loophole of a
window; while | thought the eyes of the
| portro tic vara ona aud oil 6voJ M ,,,o
with a solemn and warning stare, and so
it happened, that | had heard tue old
clock strike one, two and three, when
there came light step along the hall,
and cousin Grace called in strange,
scared voice, outside the door, 'Helenl
Helen'
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 astonish-
ment with which, spite of my fright, l
saw that she was already dressed and held
in her hand powder flask.
Put on your clothes as quick as you
can, Nellie said she in a voice that trem
bled little. though she was doing her
best to be calm. Brants men are com
ing and father wants us all down stairs
Brant's men 1t is difficult to make
you understand the horror with which
that name was pronounced and heard; oil
to express the terror with which, as | hur.
ried on my clothes, l thought of Grace
and myself in the power of those merci.
less savages. No wonder that | trembled
in every limb, or that Thomas Oakley and
his five stalwart sons-men not easily
daunted-looked pale, as they moved
about in the dim morning light
don't know as l have spoken to you
before of Thomas Oakley, a man over six
feet in height, and of noble presence,
with a grand face, that looked as if it
might have been chseled ont of marble,
and hair as white as snow. though he wss
scarcely past his prime. We have no such
men nowadays. have his portrait in
my little cabinet vonder; and you may
see there that he looks as he was-a kind
ly and noble gentleman.
AS for his sons, they were like him
tall, ong-limbed, fearless. and devout-
y attached to a stately mother, who was
preparing breakfast, while they fastened
the iron shutters of the lower windows,
and barred the heavy doors.
1T is a shame to rout you out so early,
Nelly said Mr.. Oakly, as he noticed my
pale, frightened face; 'but if we don't eat
our breakfast now those rascals may not
give us a chance to get it at all; and to my
mind, after good cause, there is nothing
like geod breakfast before going into a
fight
i wish Mark was here said Grace,
timidly.
No doubt, pussy; but I've sent for
him. Your Host, the half-witted lad that
brought the news. has gone after him and
the volunteers, who were to start for the
camp to-day, and if we but keep the ras-
Gals at bay till they come, we may give
them as good a peppering as they de-
serve
Ay, if! but oh, that dreadful uncertain
ty. The house was of stone, and sc
strongly built that it was doubtful if they
could raze or fire it. But who knew what
else might happen? How many Of that
fair family would gather around the board
tomorrow morning? All! children, it was
dreadful! but | think the hour before the
attack was the worst Of all.
1t was not to be expected that we could
eat much breakfast; but hurried as the
meal was, it was hardly over when one
of the boys, whom Mr.. Oakley had post
ed at the k-out, called ont that they
were coming, and stealing along the
woods at the right, as if they hoped to
surprise us.
At once the men hurried with their RI
hes to the windows of the second story,
while Mrs. Oakiy, pale. but still out
wardly calm, mctioned to us to follow
and hand out the powder, Then came q
dead silence.
Look out, Simeon said the father, in
low voice, and tell us what the knaves
are about
Posting themselves around the house,
but under cover They think to catch us
mapping. There'sa man coming this way
now-he-why, father, it's Walter Van
Cuyler'
We all started. The meaning of this
sudden attack was clear enough now.
Van Cuyler had been professed pat
riot and a warm .admirer of Grace; and
on his rejection by her, had gone away
vowing vengeance on the whole family.
Tho traitor muttered Mr.. Oakley -