The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-09

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80 -
4 fi1onNlN0ss nfDH, And WHAT
,a6AnM ~ IN Z Iaog
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q A story sftAs 0lA hsvslsllsn.
It!was, . bright, sunny inerning in Octo-
bef, I'LL. The little village Of German
town lay bathed In the full glory of the au-
tumn sun. The i6nsSe was most brilliant
with those bright tints peculiarto an Ameri.
can forest; half.opened chestnut btirs lay
upon the ground iust showing the tempting
nuts within. On the morning Of which We
speak, . young girl was walking briskly
along q billy path In one of the most besu-
tifuiIy coiored woods, but she paid Aostten-
Nonto them or to the gushing brook q her
side, and the packed, covered basket IN her
hand was receiving rather rough treatment,
for she swayed Il impatiently to and fro.
Alter several minutes rapid walking she
stopped Ct small cottage On the border OF
the wood. A pleasant.lookiDg woman
opened the door to her light knock. "Ah,
ASrbuA I" BUG bsIu, uvAE0 ooon1s ~! -. -
morning :" /" Better, Miss, will you come
in and see him % This invitation was &C
cepted, and the young lady was shown into
. small room, neatly furnished, where sat
9 wounded soldier with his leg in splints,
and propped up ON bench opposite.
Good morning, Joshua" she said in her
brisk pleasant voice, "here Is some broth
for you, and I am going to sit with you
while Martha Is churning."
Now, dear reader, you are anxious to
know how our heroine looked, for where
fore conceal that she Is our heroine What
ID her character What Is she doing here I
The first question will answer, the others
you will find out In good time.
Rachel Morebury was about eighteen.
bright, cheerful, enthusiastic. Her whole
heart seemed to be wrapped up in the Is
sue of the great war going on in her native
land. Would 1t end in liberty or bondage
to the mother country that had 30 wronged
her child. Rachel prayed that the brave
men bearing suffering and hardships so pa
tiently, fighting so CALAMITY, might win at
last. But howl She felt that it was al
most hoping against hope. What had they
to oppose but few willing hands and true
hearts to the disciplined troops of Eng
land Yet God would help the right.
Sometimes her heart would burn, and she
would clench her little hand and wish for
q shot at the red-eoats; and indeed her
shot was no bad one. Joshua. Green was
q wounded soldier who had fought bravely
in the Continental army. Rachel carried
him some dainty every day, and he in re-
turn told her of some long march; OF q
battle bravely won, or lost from want
of powder; some anecdotes of Wash
ington. OF these things Rachel never
wearied hour after hour she would listen,
her face betraying the emotion she felt.
Now she told eagerly some information
she heard that morning. The British had
been in Philadelphia for some time; it was
hard to have her native town occupied by
these hated British. To-day she had heard
that portion of the troops had been de-
tached to assist General Howe in reducing
the forts below the city. This she told
Joshua, and together they seemed to be
forming plan to capture the whole army
of the enemy. At last Rachel, tossing
aside her straw hat, exclaimed half sadly,
half angrily, ~ can do nothing because l
am a woman; women cannot fight. Oh II
could only shoulder musket." Then
with burning cheeks she said, Joshua, If
we had battle here, (you know I'm real
good shot now,) well, if we had battle
here would fire upon the villains as they
retreated. Don't talk to me Of kindness
to fallen enemy; ! would have no mercy
for red.coat." Joshua half smiled at her
coxoosx~ Co. ba x,,a1I Lnau Tho bind ha rf
that lay beneath that swelling bosom.
And you have done a great deal, Miss
Rachel you such q little thing. Think
of the lint and bandages and -" "Oh,
but that does not satisfy me, want to phil
trigger; but here comes Martha. Good
bye until tomorrow"
This was the I'd of October. Once more
home, Rachel employed herself about her
daily duties. In the evening her brother
rushed to tell her Of some news just heard /;
burning with excitement, he almost painted
for breath.
"Rachel, Washington is said to be march,
ing to attack the British here--hush! he
exclaimed, at the startled cry, not a
word; we must surprise them; defeat
them rout them out Of our town." and
away rushed the eager boy without another
word. 52@ 1877
The next morning Rachel hurried off to
carry Joshua the news. As she was half
running through the woods, footsteps and
voices, subdued but earnest, fell upon her
ear. AS she stepped behind clump of
bushes, two men came around the path,
both in Continental uniform. The elder, a
tall, dignifled man, was speaking: "Then
you understand this packet, he said,
placing it in his companions hand, must
be given to none but the lieutenant him.
self, three miles from here to the north.
My boy" he continued, and the calm, al
most cold voice shook with emotion, 81
would not hide the danger from you you
may be captured, and though the distance
is almost nothing, 1t Is partly within the
enemy's lines; and found there on the eve
of battle, your life would be the penalty.
The number Of men with the lieutenant is
very small, but every man will be needed"
"Never mind me, General" said the
younger, q strong, well-built man. The
deep lines around the firm mouth showed
a determined will. off you never see me
again, know that / tried to do my duty |;
and Just then Rachel sprang forward.
She had concealed herself behind the
bushes only to avoid meeting red-coat
alone in the woods. The uniform of the
officers reassured her, and she was about
tot go on, when the face of the elder 'held
her spell bound. ),
Could It be that she looked upon the
commander-in-chief of the army ;the man
who seemed to be the destined savior Of
her country Surely there could be NO
installing those calm, clearly-cut features.