Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-05-31
A Heroine Of Seventy-siy.
BY MRS. N. A. pnNNisoN.

ularity. They are making tracks for rail
road in this old town. | am not please,
with the g Improvement" as some call il
for pleasant farmhouse and its surround
ing fields that sloped from hsh AMI undu
ldting bills have vanished forever before il
nod. The great genius of enterprise, will
his ugly shears of commerce, is clipping n
the poor wings OF poetry and romance, ill
fear, by-and-by, they viii have only powe
to flap along the ground their ETHEREAL hc
ultes chained down to stock talking and in
voices.
am sorry the house has gone, for ther,
are some recollections in connection with it
history for the sake Of which il would b,
pleasant could it have been spared An ol,
red tarm-house, surrounded BY. fields o
waving grain aud corn, in The autumn time
and overhung by the branches Of varioo.
fruit trees, golden with the fitness Of time,
is sight of picturesque beauty in ric
valley, especially if fine old mountain
looms up in the background, or deep Of
forest trees stretches away into the clear
mellow atmosphere beyond.
| In that one before Us, G am speaking
now as it it stool in the old spor.) the wid-
ow OF noble captain PierpoDt lived some
twenty years ago. The lady was a fine
specinen OF old time women; dignifed,
even commanding in manner. with fresh
bloom upon her cheek. finely nodded
forehead, and a deep, earnest expression in
her yet bright eyes. She was a woman of
refined and cultivated intellectual powers, a
woman who IN youth had known no stint of
wealth whose mind was stored with classic
lore; who had never, till she emigraied to
the wilderness of the New World. soied
her white fingers with even household work
Father and husband were both dead
The bones of the former reposed in another
country, beneath marble monument the
latter had now slept two years in the little
burying ground beside The wooden church
in sight of The red farmhouse, and a small
gray stone marked the spot where his ashes
mingled with the dust.
One day, during the hardest campaign of
our sturdy soldiers, Madam Pierpont was
alone at the farm. Pomp, a negro servant.
had gone on some errand which would de-
tain him till nishtfall, and Aleck, the hired
man had wounded his hand in the morning
with an axe, so that he was quite disabled
and obliged to return to his home, about a
mile distant, which, by the way, was the
nearest homestead 10 the old red farm house.
The widows four brave sons, of ages vary
ing from eighteen to t@enty-six, had start
ed but two days previous for the field of
their country's battle.
While the widow realized that in all
probability some, perhaps all, of her treas
ures would he smitten by the ruthless hand
of war, her cheek was still unblanched, and
holy hope sat in the repose of her beauti-
ful features. Only now and then she turn
ed to open the Bible before her and read a
few consoling passages, and straightway re-
sumed her work with a trusting smile. Ah !,
patriotism found an enduring home in MANY
such gentle breast.
Suddenly from the distance came sound
like the trampling of horses feet, and a
great cloud Of dust betukened the approach
of travellers hurrying TO their destination.
The widow moved to the door. and shading
her eyes from the intense sunshine, watched
their progress. They drew nearer, and in
another moment three horsemen drew up
before the door. They wore military cos
tune. and were all fine looking men. The
foremost gentleman far exceeded the Others
by his imposing figure and The greatness Of
his countenanee. II needed no introduction
TO assure the widow that this was George
Washington. With that courtesy which al
ways characterized him, he bowed grace
tully to Madam Pierpont, as he blandly
asked if he could find rest and refreshment.
" Our horses are wearied,-we have rid
den since nine this morning, and would fan
recruit" he added.
8 Certainly, gentlemen, and welcome"
she replied, throwing wide open the inner
door as they dismounted.
"Our poor beasts" said one of the Ulcers.
patting his smoking horse, Il would they
could be attended to Immediately. Is there
a groom or servant about your house, Mad
am, who could rub them down and feed
them? l will reward him literally"
ave would ask no reward in this house.
hold, sir,' replied the widow; " if you viii
lead them round, they shall be careI for"
Make yourselves perfectly comfortable. |
gentlemen" saidthe widow, ''and excuse me |
while | prepare you refreshments. You |
must oO huHSFy DIS wen as Iati1ueu.
In another minute the widow was in the |
stable unsaddling the poor horses.-work to |
which she was not accustomed, but which |
she nevertheless could do in time of need. |
being woman of strong muscular frame.
and great energy. She knew it must be
done by herself or not at ALL As for men
and horses, they were completely jaded out.
She with straw rubbed the animals down
with her own hands, led them into their
sails, and prepared and gave them food
After changing her dress, the widow re-
turned again TO the parlor, where the ofli-
GERS, having unbuekled their swords and
ioffed their caps, sat conversing together.
evidently enjoying delightful rest. AS
The widow stepped over the threshold of the
room, one of the officers was renlarking 10
his companions
g He was one of my best men, and as
ine looking young fellow as ever volun-
eered."
/" Do you speak of young Pierpont 2"
'sked another.
= Yes, he fell yesterday, pierced by three
1alls,-pooF fvllow,--it was hard fate for
such boy"
For one moment the cheek of The woman
was blanched, the heart of the nothe-
'hocked, but she spoke almost calmly as she
sskcd-
:. Which one was it, sir?"
g Henry Piernort If I'm NOT ,,;s.,Lon