The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-12-15
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A MORNINGS RIDE.

| IL was bright, sunny morning in
October, l777. The little village of
Germantown lay bathed in the full glory
OF the autumn sun. The foliage was
most brilliant with those bright tints
peculiar to au American forest; half.
opened chestnut burs lay upon the
ground; just showing the tempting nuts
within. On the morning Of which we
speak, young girl was walking briskly
along hilly path in one of the most
beautiful colored woods, but she paid
no attention to them or to the gushing
brook at her side, and the packet, GOV.
cred basket in her hand was receiving
rather rough treatment, for she swayed
1t apparently to aud fro After several
minutes rapid walking, she stopped at
a small cottage on the border of the
wood. \ pleasant looking woman
opened the door to her light knock -
All, Martha y she said, how is
Joshua this morning!" Better. Miss,
will you come in aud see him p This
Invitation was accepted, and tho young
lady was shown into small, neatly
furnished room, where sat wounded
soldier with his leg in splints, and
propped up on bench opposite
Good morning, Joshua" she said, iu
her brisk, pleasant voice, "here is some
broth for you, and am going to sit
with you while Martha is churning."
Now, dear reader, you are anxious 10
know how our heroine looked, for where.
fore conceal that she Is our heroine /?
What is her characterg What is she
doing hereY 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 issue OF the great war going on
in her native land. Would it end 10
liberty, or in bondage to the mother
country that had SO wrongcd her child.
Rachel prayed that the brave men bear.
Ing sufterings aud hardships SO patiently,
fighting so gallantly, might win at last
But howy She felt that 1t was almost
hoping against hope. What had they
to oppose, but a few willing hands and
true hearts, to the disciplined troops of
Englandy Yet God would help the
right. Sometimes her heart would
burn, and she would clinch her little
hand, aud wish for shot at the red
coats, aud indeed her shot was DO bad
one, Joshua Green was a wounded
soldier who had fought brayely in the
Continental army. Rachel carried him
some dainty every day, aud be 10 return
told her Uf some long march; OF battle
bravely won, or lost from want of pow.
der; some anecdotes of Washington
Of these things Rachel never wearied /;
hour after four 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
1t was hard to have her native town oc.
cupied by these hated British. To day
she had heard that portion of the
troops had IA been detached 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,
hall angerly, 81 can do nothing because
| am a woman; women cannot fight,
oh II could only shoulder musket."
Then with burning ckeeks she said,
Joshua, II we had a battle here, (you
know I'm real good shot now, well,
1t we had battle here, | would fire
upon the villains as they retreated -
Don't talk to me OF kindness to fallen
enemy; J would have no mercy for