, 1861-02-14
A Nieht Attack.

sultry and heavy brOoded the darkness around
me. .N hl
| had not been in the best Of spirits that day,
for Il was the time when we dreaded every hour
to hear Of the bombardment Of New York and
though in the house Of Thomas Oakley, first
cousin to my father, had nothing to fear, there
had hung over me such . terror and dread that
| could not help fearing that some great evil had
happened to my parents, who were still in the
| city.
As usual with the sleepless all sorts Of fan
cies teased my brain. Ny room, like all the
others, was large, and furnished in the style that
now seems so quaint to your young eyes.
The chimney.place was filled with porcelain,
curiously wrought into illustrations Of Scripture.
The bed and furniture, that had all been brought
from England, was tall, dark, stiff and carved;
while the walls were hung with sOmbre fanily
portraits And as lay and wished for day,
the tiled figures seemed to move and glover at
me in the uncertain light that came through the
loOphole Of q window while thought the eyes
Of the portraits were one and all fixed on me
with solemn and warning stare and so II hap.
| pened. that had heard the old clock strike one,
two and three, and was falling into doze, when
light step came along the hall, and cousin Grace
called, in strange scared voice, outside the door
-"Ilelenl Hclen!"
was up in moment, and out to where she
stood, looking like spirit, with her ashy pale
face, and fair hair all about her; and remember
Of my fright 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 voice that trembled little,
though she was ing her best to be calm.
Brant's men are coming, and father wants us
all down stairs" .
Brant's men! II is difficult to make you I'M
derstand the horror with which that name was
pronounced and heard; or to express the terror
with which, as hurried on my clothes, thought
Of Grace and myself in the mower Of those mer-
CHESS savages. No wonder that I trembled in
every limb, or that Thomas Oakley and his five
stalwart sOns-mcn not easily dannted-looked
pale as they moved about in the dim morning
light. ..'-
I don't know as I have spoken to you before
Of Thomas Oakley, man over six feet in hight,
and Of a noble presence, with grand face, that
lOOkcd as IL it might have been chiscled out Of
marble, and hair as white as the SNOW, though
he was scarcely past his prime. We have no
such men, nova days have his portrait in
my little cabinet yonder; and you may see there
that he looks as he was-a kind and noble gen.
tleman.
As for his sons, they were like him, tall. strong
limbed, fearless, and devoutly attached to their
stately mother, who was preparing the break
East, while they fastened the iron shutters Of the
lower windows, and carefully barred the heavy
doors.
ats shame TO rout you out so early, Nell
lie, said Mr.. Oakley, as he saw my pale, fright
ened face; " but II We do not eat breakfast now,
those rascals may not give US chance TO get i
at all and to my mind, after good cause, there
{ nothing like good breakfast before going 70
fight"
~ wish Mark was here, i" said g ace, timidly.
No doubt pussy; but I've sent for him.
You YoSt, the halEwitted lad that brought. the
news has gone on alter HIM and the volunteers,
and IL we but keep the rascals at bay I'LL they
| come, we may give them ~ good peppering ~
they deserve"
| Ay, III but oh, that dreadful uncertainty.
The house was Of stone, and so strongly built
that II was doubtful if they could either raze Il
TO the ground or fire il. But who knew what
else might haPpeni How many OF that fair fam
ily would gather around the board tomorrow
morning '' ''"1 '''. /. 49,.
Ahl children, Il was dreadful day; but
think the hour before the attack was the worst.
Il 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 posted at the lookout, called out
they were coming. aud stealing along the woods
ct the right, as il they hoped 70 surprise US.
At once the men hurried with their rifles to
the windows Of the second story, while Mrs.
Oakley, pale, but still outwardly calm, motioned
| us to tnllow, and hand out tho powder. Then
came dead silence.
Look out Simeon, said the hther IN low
tone of voice, and tell US what IS up.
Posth g themselves around the house, put
nndef cover. They think to catch US mapping.
There's . man coming TINS way now-he-why,
iather' us walter van OuyIerr
We all started. The meaning OF this sudden
attack was plain enough, now:
Van Cuyler had been proiessei patriot and