The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-02-16

"No, two English gentlemen are
boarding with me-"
"Do they belong 10 the army 2"
inquired tho young man, quickly and
uuoasily land are they now In the
house 7"
"No, they appear to be private gen.
tlcmen Of srme meaos, and neither ot'
them is within at present But you
l"ok trouble !-have you any thing to
Far. my son ~
If detected, I may Lc hung as u
.py.'
GOOD heavens " exclaimed the
mother in alarm ; you tcrrify mo
Are y'u here without permission !!
without n pas 7
"Yes-iid not say I played the
fool 10 the scn,ries, and so got past
them ~
But tthongh, that was for yolr
own amu.ement Oh. William. IL
ynu should he dlist "vcred Why did
sou venture in this desperate man
uer ~
81 could not get pass, and l was
30 anSiou, to see you and Mary that
| resolved tn risk all."
"Quick, then, come up stairs, lot us
fix place ut once, before anything
happens |"
Both haateued up stairs to the third
story. and, after considering several
places, decided that the loft close un-
der the roof might be the best for the
concoalment, as the trap door leading
10 1t could be fastened uuderne eath,
which wouli tend to blind o search I;
while tho young man II pressed,
could escape to the roof and, by means
of a long rope, fastened to the chin.
uey, could lower himself into either
the yard or the street. This would
not insure his escape. but it was the
hest plan the two could think Of, and
served to render both less fearful Of
detection aud the serious censequen-
ces. Having provided the rope, the
mother FASTENED to bring up q large
quantity Of food, which her son began
to devour with ravenousnoss that
showed that he had told no untruth,
when 10 tho character Of beggar,
he had dechred himself il state Dor
dering Oh starvation.
While he was eating his mother
pliei him with questions concerning
the army at Valley Forge, in which
he had held q Lieutenans's commis-
sign, and which he had left on fur
lougb; and the answers oil the young
soldier depicted state Of d1stitntion
and suffering that caused his helrer
TO weep for very sympathy. Three
thousand soldiers had been down on
tho sick list at one time, and without
the common necessarieI Of life, had
perished by hundreds while of those
capable OF doing duty, scarcely on,
had q blupket to cover him at nj, hi
or food enough to keep soul aud body
together. Pale, emaciated. ragre
and dirty. many with bare feet upou
the frozen co rtb, they walked SILVER.
iug through the camp at day, and
crowded themselves together AT night
10 get the little warmtb they coald
ir"p each ether's bodies, the mast fir
loru aud wretch,d Sat of beings that
evera natinn called TO arms.
"G"i help ns oil :" ejscnlatcd ,hc
mother, in a detected tone. Il sup.
pose, after all our lar'!ships, wo shall
be compelled to succumb to our ty,
rannical tHes'
"Never!' - cried the young officer,
= while there is a thousand men lefl
in our country to make a last dcsper-
ate stand. We can only be conquer
cd by snuihlat,on aud il il is Gods
will that tyrsnt shall rule over this
broad Continent, not single true
heart will live to feel the oppression
and degradation. Ere that time,
dear mother, | for one shall be beyond
The reach Of earthly monsfch.'
"God bless you. William |" cried
The mother, enthusiastically. grsspiug
hs hand; "your fathers spirit
speaks In you. He dad on tho bat
tie Geld with those sentiments in his
hoart and freely give you--uy on
X son and hops-to the glorious
cause which his blood and that OF
. thousands Of others has hallowed."
yor several days the intrepid
young ofiivsr remained concealed be-
asath his mothers root. bis presencs
supposed tobe knowo ouly by them
selves. Bus ono evening, near the