, 1863-05-30
me Patriot's stratapem

were seated around an oak table in the cen
tre of the room, engaged in playing cards,
while they frequently moistened their
throats with large draughts from an earthen
Jug that stood on the table
They were heavily bearded, coafse-look-
| irg men, and from their dress, which re-
sembIed the British uniform, they were eY-
identity tories-The other was a stout
built young man, clad in the continental
uniform. He sat in the corner of the room,
with his face buried in his hands.
'Tom," said one Of the tories, rising
from the table and seating himself near the
young prisoner, for such he evidently was.
'' Tom, you and ! were schoolboys together,
and like you yet. Nowwhy can't you
give up wild notions and join US? You
are prisoner, and il you don't we shall
hand you over to headquarters tomorrow;
while if you join us, your fortune is made,
for with your bravery and talents you would
soon distinguish Yourself in the royal army;
and after this rebellion is crushed out, your
cause will be rewarded by knigthood and
promotion in the army. Now there are two
alternatives; which do you choose:"
Neither" said the young man, raising
his head and looking at the tory steadily in.
the eye. :" / am now, as you say your pris-
oner; but when the clock strikes twelve, l
shall leave you-I shall disappear in cloud
Of fire and smoke, and neither you nor'your
comrades, not even myself, can prevent it.
You mayEwatch me as closely as you please,
tie me hand and foot fyou will, but a
higher power than yours or mine has or
dained that should leave you this time"
Poor fellow, his mind wanders, said
the tory. He'll talk different in the
morning
And he turned again to his seat at the ta-
bic, leaving the youth resting his head on
his hands as before.
When the clock struck eleven, the young
prisoner drew pipe and some tobacco from
his pocket, and asked the tory leader if he
had any objections to his smoking.
"None in the least" he said with laugh
g that is if you'll promise not to disappear
III cloud of smoke"
The young man made no reply, but imme-
diateIy filled and lighted his pipe; having
done which he arose and began pacing the
floor.
He took half dozen turns up and down
each side of the room. approaching the ta-
bic each time, when, having exhausted his
pipe he returned to his seat and re6lled it.
He continued to smoke until the clock
struck twelve, when he arose from his seat
slowly, knocking the ashes out of his pipe,
and said:
Boys, it is twelve o'clock, and l must
leave yor: good bye"
Immediately all around the room ran
streaks of fire Kissing and squirming; the
cabin as filled with Dense sulphurous
smoke, amidst which was heard a crash like
a clap of thunder The tories sat in their
chairs paralyzed.
The smoke soon cleared ay, but the
prisoner was nowhere to be seen. The ta-
BILE was overturned, the windows smashed
to piec S, and one chair was lying on the
ground outside the building. The tory
leader, after recovering from his stupor,
gave one glance of terror around the room,
and sprang out Of the window, followed by
his comrades. They ran through the forest
at the top Of their speed, in the direction of
the British encampment, leaving their mus
kets and other arms to the mercy Of the
flames, which had now begun to devour the
cabin.
The next day two young men, dressed in
the continental uniform, were seen standing
near the ruins of the old cabin. One was
the hero of the night previous.
Let us hear all aboutit' Tom, said the
other.
Well, said he, ''last evening as I was
passing this place, two tories ran out and
took possession Of me before ! could make
any resistance; they took me in the cabin,
and who do you suppose l saw as leader Of
the party but John Barton, our old school
mate. He talked with me and tried to in
duce me to join them; but told him
couldn't do it; that at twelve clock was
going to escape-disappear in cloud Of
fire and smoke; but he laughed at me and
said l was out of my head. About eleven
o'clock l asked him if l might smoke. He
said he had TO objections; so filled my pipe
and lighted it, and commenced walking the
| floor. had about a pound Of gunpowder
in my pocket, and as l walked l strewed it
all over the floor. When the clock struck
twelve, bid them good bye, and told them
| had to go; and then knocked the ashes
out Of my pipe, the powder ignited, and
dazzling flame of fire shot across, around
and all ever the room, filing the house with
sufocaing smoke. Before it cleared away,
hurled a chair through the window, sprang
out and departed, leaving them to their
own reflections. You know the rest.
AFTER MARRIAGE THOUGHTS They
said marrying was fun-pretty fun to be
sure, When ! was a single man the world
wagged about well enough. 1t was Just like
an omnibus; was passenger, paid my levy,
and had no more to do with it than to set
down, and care not button for anything
S'posing the omnibus got upset; we'll, l
walks off and leaves the man to pick up the
pieces. But then takes a wife, and be-
hanged to me-it's all very well for
while, but plaguy like owning an omnibus
What did l get by it? how much fun?
Why jawing old woman and three squal-
lers Mighty different from courdng. In
stead of yes, my duck, or "no, my dear,
''as you please, honey" and " when you like
lovely" like what it was in counting time,
it's regular row Sour looks and cold
potatoes-children and table cloths badly
off for soap, always darning and mending,
and nothing ever darned or mended. If it
wasn't that l am particularly sober, I'd be
inclined to drink. Ny house amt my own;
belong to four people beside myself, the
old woman and three children I'm part
nership concern, and as many have goL
] -. e I