The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-04-22
A LEGEND OF IRE.

! Night had set in deep, and ina small log
| cabin situated few miles from Trenton,
| n j., sat FIVE men, four OF whom were
seated around an old osken table in the
center of the room, epeaged in playing
cards, while they frequently moistened
their throsts with large draughts from an
earthen Jug that stood on the table.
They were heavily bearded, coarse look>
ing men, and their dress, which somewhat
resemhled the British uniform, tfey were
evidently tories The other was stout
built young man, clad in the continental
uniform He sat in one 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 togeth>.
or. and | like you yet. Now why can't Jou
give up your wild notions end join U.S.
You are our prisoner, and if you don't We
shah hand you over TO headquarters to-
morrow, while if you join us your fortune
is made, for with your bravery and talents
| you will soon distinguish yourself in the
| royal army ard after bis rebellion isctush-
ed out, your case would be rewarded by q
knighthood and promotion in the army.
Now there are two alternatives; and which
do YOU choose?" iat Pots
Neither said the young man, raising.
bis head and looking the Tory steadily in
the eye.
Il am now, as you say, your prisoner.
but when the clock strikes twelve l shall
leave you'll shall disappear in 6 cloud Of
fire aad smqke, and neither you nor your
comrades, nor even myself can prevent it.
ou can watch nae as closely as you please
and tie me hand and foot if you will, but D
higher power th yours or mine has orr
dained that shall leave you at that time. y !
''Poor fellow, his mind wandefs," said
the Terry, 'he'll talk differently in the
morning" And he returned to his seat at
the table, leaving the youth with his head
again resting in his hands. :
When the clock struck eleven, the young
prisoner drew a pipe and seme tobacco
from his pocket, and asked the Tory leader
| if he, had any objection to his smoking. p
None in the hast ne said, adding with
langh-''that you will promise not to dis
appear in a cloud Of tobacco smoke. .
! The young man made no reply, but inn
mediatcly filed and lighted his pipe, having
done which, he arose and commenced pacS
lug The floor
He took half dozen firms ~ snd down
each side Of the room, approaching nearer
the table each time, when having exF aust
ed his pipe he returned to his seat and ro-
filed it. S
He continued to smoke until the clock
struck twelve, when be arose from bis seat:
and slowly knocking the ashes out ol his
pipe, said:
There, boys, it's twelve o'olock' and /
must leave you; geod bye!" f9
Immediately all around the room streaks
of fire ran Kissing and squirlning; the cab,
in was filed with dense, sulphnreous smoke
amidst which was heard a clap of thunder;
The tories sat in their chairs paralyz1d with
| fright. +F
Tho smoke soon cleared away, Int the
prisoner WIS nowhere to be'seen. The ta>
BILE was overturned, the window smashed to
ground outside of the building.
The Tory leader, after recovering from
his etupor gave one glance around the room
his comrades. they ran through the forest
at the top of their speed in the direction of
the British encampmeqt, leaving their mus
kets and other arms 10 the mercy of the
flames, which had now begun to deyour the
cabin. va.t FL
| The next day two young men dressed in
the Continental uniform we're seen standing,
near the ruins of the old cabin. One was
the hero of the night previous. s.
LET US hear all about it. Tom, said
| the other.
"Well," said he, ''last evening es / was
passing this place, two Tories ran out Of
the cabin and took possession Of nee. Bes
fore could make any resistance they took
me ib, and who do you suppose saw as
leader of the party but John Barton our
old school mate: He talked with me, and
tried to induce me to join 'them; hut / told
them ] couldn't do it-that at twelve
o clock was going to escape disappear in
cloud OF fire and smoke; but but he laugh
ed me and said / was out of my head.
! "About eleven O'Clock ASKED him f
might smoke He said he bad no objection;
so | filled my'pipe and lighted it, and COM
menced walking the floor. had about
pound Of gum powder in my pocket, and as
| | walked strewed it all over the floor
When the clock struck twelve bid them
good bye and tcld them had to go; and
then knocking the ashes ont of my pipe,
The powder ignited and dazzling flame of
| FIRE shot across around and all over the
room, filing il with satfocating smoke.-
Before it cleared away hurled chair
through the window, sprang out and de-
parted, leaving them to their own rehec-
tions. You know the rest
----------.ss>-. -<zs-zss--------- Co. Z!
The roy3lroad to any great result is a
fxedness Of purpose. Tt is, the chief ele>
ment in the character 81 all successful men; Z
ahe surest prophecy Of fnal victory. Not
higotry, not fiery fanaticism, not hobby>
ing with one IDEA to the exclusion of mill
ions that well up within or hang over us
like stars at night, bit the grasping Of
Ibfosd principles, the enlargement of all the
souf's faculties, the critical investigation Of
all thecries, the practical living of oil NOR.
al pr6cepts, and the Improvement of the
whole physical, mental and intellectual
/ structure; these combired in one grand aim,
shorld constitute the life purpose Of each
II All that have done anything worthy of
lasting remembrance; that have moved the
: world BY word or decd, leaving their inn
press upon the ages, were men Of this
stamp; men who aimed at the accomplish
, mcnt Of sc,po noble object, the solution Of
a