The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-10-06

distance from the camp to the home Of tn
Pattersons was, as I have said. about half
mile. The land assembled gradually toward
the house, terminating in a hill, on the fur
ther side of which the dwelling stood.
was mostly tresh-ploughed soil, and three Q
more high stone fences crossed it at righ
angles with a line drawn straight from tn
camp to the house. The distance by tn
road was but a tritle further; but the Genera
never stopped to inquire about that. HI
reached the first fence with his aids ten rod
behind him. We heard him shout to th
noble animal that carried him, and over h
went at q flying leap, which drew q chee
from every man that saw it. The aids pull
ed up and went around by the road. W.
watched the fearless horse and rider, anC
saw them rapidly clear the heavy ground
taking the intervening fences in the same
style, and presently disappear from sigh
over the brow Of the hill.
The interview of General Putnam with the
Pattersons was afterward related to me by
their housekeeper, who witnessed it. She
heard quick rap at the door, and opening
it, saw Putnam who was unknown to her
sitting on his horse.
''Are the Pattersons here?" he asked
''Te1l them both to come out here"
''Here's an officer at the door wants to see
YOU" the woman called to the elder of the
two who was sitting IN the back room.
''Let him come in here, then" grutfly re-
piled the old man, who ghtly regarded his
years, his nfirmities, and his good service tc
his country, as entitled to consideration. 'l
he wants to see me worse than do him, he
can come where l am.'
The General plainly heard the reply.
''The devil take your impudence - he
roared.
''And you too," sturdily returned the other
'Do you known who | amp the Genera
asked, emphasizing the inquiry with an oath
''No-and | don't care" responded ole
Patterson, with an eXpletive equally profane
'Did you ever hear of Israel Putnam, yor
old rascal ?" the General thundered fas
getting into rage. The old man had beer
sitting where he could not see the other; bu
at the mention of the name he rose from hi!
chair, and hobbled on his crutches out to the
door.
'Putman-Captain Putman-General Put
man, he eagerly exclaimed. ''Good Lord
is he the man I've been treating in this shabby
way, at my own door?"
While he was coming slowly forward
trying to see the face of his visitor with hi:
imperfect vision, Putnam recognized him
and dismounting with q Jump he threw hi
reins to one Of his aids who Just then rode up
and running into the house. caught the ole
soldier in his arms, crutches and all, anC
embraced him, while the old man wept tear:
Of pride and pleasure. The younger Patter
son soon came limping in, and he was the
recipient of a like hearty recognition by the
bluff General.
The next hour was passed by these three
in pleasant, familiar intercourse, during
which the rescue of Putnam from the savages
was thoroughly discussed, the Pattersons
readily forgetting, for the while, that theil
visitor had any other title or dignity than tina
Of their old Captain. He spoke in terms O
the warmest gratitude of the inestimable ser
vice they had done him, and Of his repeated
and truitless efforts to find them since thai
memorable escape; and as Rufus afterwards
told me, they both felt when he had gone
that his visit was worth ten years Of good
wholesome life to them.
Il suppose you haven't forgotten General,
said old Patterson, rather grumblingly
what q savage scolding you gave me fo1
ettlng yUu olv-l, Illi,I,tu, long Wills
we were escaping?"
Putnam roared with laughter. Did I dc
that?" he asked 'sWcll, that was pretty
hard; but you know my ways, of course
Obey orders, first, last, and always that is
my motto, you know. But did you feel as
though you would be likely to let the red
skins do their worst with me the next time ?'
NO, sir. replied the old soldier: Il never
had q commander like Captain Putnam;
liked his anger better than other mems
praise
General Putnam probably made due al
lowancc for the old mans extravaganza of
speech, and gave him credit for all he felt
You are poor, should Judge" he said
looking at the scanty furniture and bare
floors.
''Ycs, General" replied the son, ''we have
pretty hard work to live. 1t was hard before
the war. when my boy was at home to help
but he's in the army, of course, as his father
and grandfather did before him, and as
would be doing now but for this rheumatic. =
II am far from rich myself" remarked
Putnam; "but Eye enough for myself and
nobody has so good a claim on the surplus
as you two. Get me piece of paper" A
scrap torn from the tly-leaf of book was
brought to him, on which he wrote some
words. Il will renew it every year while
YOU and live" he said as he handed it to the
son.
One of the aids of the brigadier-g general
now came to report that the troops were in
line, ready for review; and with q hearty
shake of the hand and q "God bless you ?''
General Putnam returned to the camp.
The paper that he left was an order on the
commissary of the brigade for a barrel OF
flour, u barrel of meal a barrel each of pork
beef, and sugar, at the expense of General
Putnam; commodities which, if not exactly
worth their weight in gold, were, in these
quantities, precious to the Pattersons beyond
almost anything they have received. The
promise to make the gift an annuity was
faithfully kept and the two soldiers went to
their graves blessing their old commander,
and esteeming the balance of the debt OF
gratitude to be against them.
NArOLEON's FALL PREDICTED The fol.
lowing prediction has been going the rounds
of the papers for the last ten years, and has
at last u startling fultillment: