The national Republican., 1861-01-07
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
VALLEY FORGE.
. A Thrilling Sketch of the Revolution


house rose darkly over wide waste Of snow.
II was q cold, dark winter, and the snow be-
gan to fall, while from the broad fireplace Of
the old farm. house the cheerful blaze of mas
sive logs flashed around wide and spacious
room.
Two persons sat by the fre-a father and
child. The father, who sits yonder with a sol.
dier's belt thrown over his farmers dress, is a
man of some fifty years, his eyes bloodshot, his
face wrnkled and followed by care, and by dis
sipation more than by care.
And the daughter, who sits in the full light
of the blaze, opposite her father-a slender.
formed girl of some seventeen years, clad in a
coarse linsey skirt and kerchief, which made
up the costume of farmers daughter in the
days of the Revolution.
She was not beautiful-ah, mol
Care-perhaps that disease, consumption,
which makes the heart grow cold to name
have been busy with that young face, sharpened
its outlines, and stamped it with deathly pale
ness.
There is no bloom on that young cheek. The
brown hair is laid plainly aside from the pale
brow. Then tell me what it is you see when
you gaze into her face.
You look at that young girl, and see nothing
but the CLEAN of two large eyes, that burn into
your soul.
Yes, those eyes are unnaturally large, and
dark and bright perhaps consumption is feed
ing them.
And, now then, as the father sits there so
moody and sullen, or the daughter sits there so
sad and silent and pale, tell me, pray you,
the story of their lives.
That man, Jacob Mannheim, was peaceful,
happy man before the Revolution. Since the
war began, he has become drunken and idle;
driven his wife, '.broken-hearted, to the grave;
and, worse than all, joined a band Of tory ref
ugees, who scour the land at the dead of night,
burning and numbering as they 60.
Tonight, at the hour Of two, this tory band
will lie in wait at neighboring pass, to attack
and murder the rebel Washington, whose starv-
ing soldiers are yonder in the haunts Of Valley
Forge.
Washington, in his lonely journeyings, is
are in the next chamber, drinking and ieasting,
US they wait for two o'clock at night.
And the daughter, Mary-for her name was
Mary-they loved that name in the good old
times-what is the story of her life?
She had been reared by the mother, now
dead, and gone home, to revere this man Wash.
ington, who will tonight be attacked and mur.
dered-to revere him next TO God. Nay, more ::
that mother, on her death.bed joined the hands
of partisan leader, Harry Williams, who now
shares the crust and cold at Valley Forge.
Well might the maiden's eye flash with un-
natural brightness-well may her pale face
gather single burning flush in the centre of
each cheek.
For, yesterday afternoon, she went four miles,
over roads of ice and snow, to tell Captain
Williams of the plot of the refugees. She did
not reach Valley Forge until Washington had
left on one of his lonely journeys; so, this
night, at twelve o'clock, the partisan company
occupied the rocks above the neiehboring pass,
to trap the trappers of George Washington.
Yes, that pale and slender girl, remembering
the words Of her dying mother, had broken
long and bitter struggle. How hard and sore
that struggle in faithful daughters heart
She had betrayed his plot to his enemies, stipu
lating first for the life and safety of her father
And now, as father and child are sitting
there, the shouts of the Tory refugees echo
from the next chamber, as the hand Of the ole
clock is on the hour Of eleven. Hark there
is q sound of horses hoofs within the farm
yard, there is q pause the door opens, and
tall figure, wrapped in thick cloak, white will
snow, enters, advances to the fire, and in brie
words solicits some refreshment and an hour
repose.
Why does the Tory Mannheim start aghas
at the sight of the strangers blue and gold uni
form? Then mumbling to his daughter abou
getting some food for the traveller, he rushed
wildly into the next room, where his brother To
ries were feastng. Tell me, why does that young
girl stand trembling before the tall stranger
yelling her eyes from that calm face, with it
blue eyes and kindly smile?
Ali If we may believe the legends of tha
time, few men, few warriors, who dared th'
terrors of battle with smile, could stant
unsbashed before the solemn presence of Wash
ington. For it was Washington, exhausted
with long journey, his limbs stiheaed, an,
his face benumbed with cold. 1t was the rebe
Of Valley Forge, who, returning to the cam
sooner than his usual hour, was forced by tn,
storm to take refuge in the farmers house, anC
claim little food and an hours repose at hi
hands. In q few minutes, behold this stranger
with his cloak thrown Oft, sitting at that oaker
table, eating the food spread out there by tht
girl, who stands trembling at his side.
And look her hand is extended, as if t.
warn him of his danger, but she makes nj
sound. Why all this silent agony for the maj
who sits so calmly there?
One moment ago, as the girl, in preparing
the hssty supper, opened yonder closet, al
joining the next room, she heard the low whis
pers Of her father and the Tories. She hear
the dce.box rattle, as they were casting lot
who should stab Washington in his sleep!
And now the words, '' Bepdre! on this nigh
you die!" tremble, half formed, upon her lips
when her father comes hastily from the room
and bushes her with look.
"Show the gentleman to his chamber, Mary,
(how calmly polite murderer can be y "tha
chamber at the head of the stairs on the left
On the left, you mind"
Mary takes the light, trembling and pale
She leads the soldier up the old oaken stairs
They stand on the landing, in this wing of tn
farmhouse, composed of two rooms, divided b
thick walls from the main body of the mar
sion. On one side, the right, is the door {