Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-01-28

and II 1t is Gods will that q tyrant shall
rule over this broad continent, not a single
true heart will live to feel the oppression
and degradation. Ere that time, dear mo-
thcr, j for ono shall be beyond the reach of
earthly monarch
God bless You, William = cried the mo-
ther enthusiastically, grasping his hand
your fathers spirit speaks in you. He
died on the battlefield with those senti-
ments i'll his heart and freely give you
my only son and hopc--to the glorious
cause which his blood and that of thou
sands OF others has hallowed.'
! For several days the intrepid young of
iicer remained concealed beneath his
mothers roof, his presence supposed to be
known only to themselves. But one even
ing, near the end of his furough, when he
was beginning to think about preparing
| for his secret departure, an officer with six
men appeared at the door, and said he had
orders to arrest one William Ruggles, sup
posed to be somewhere in the dwelling.
Why, that is my son i said the widow,
in great trepidation.
80 much the more likely that he should
be here them was The uniaeling reply
And for what would you arrest him Z?
and what would be done with him if found2'
We shall take him as spy, and, ifiound
guilty he will be hung of course, as every
cursed rebel should be. Here, Badger and
Wllcot, guard the back door you, Bent
and Walters, begin the search and you,
James and johnson, remain where you are.
Sharp now, all Of you Let the fellow he
taken alive possible-but, alive OF dead,
let him be taken. Now, good woman, if
he is i'll the house, of which we are very
strongly assured, let him appear and save
yourself much trouble, otherwise the con-
sequences be upon your own head
If you think my son is i'll the house,
search to your hearts content = returned
the mother, externally calm, internally
suffering.
And torwith the search begun.
Meantime the young lieutenant, who had
heard enough TO comprehend his danger,
had set about affecting his escape, but not
altogether in the manner first intended. lie
went out on the roof, it is true, and tied the
long rope to the chimney, casting one end
down toward the street, but this only for Il
bind. lie bad seen that the bricks Of the
dividing wall between the house occupied
by his mother aud one of the two adjoining
buildings, had been loosely put up under
the ridge-pole, aad his present design was
10 remove Il few Of these, crowd through
into the loft of the o.her house, and then
replace them. THIS purpose lac effected be-
fore the soldiers searching for him came up
near enough to hear the little noise he was
compelled to make. The open trap-door
ol the root, and the rope around the CHM
ney, served in mislead them, as he had
hoped and it was with feeling OF intense
satisfaction that he heard them announce
the manner Of his escape. Immediately
after, the whole party left in haste, first
threatening Mrs. Ruggles with subsequent
4
COnnivin9 at the escape of a rebel spy, even
though the man was her son.
When fully satisfied that all the soldiers
had gone, young RuGgles attempted to re-
turn into his mothers dwelling by the way
he had lett, but in again displacing the
Dilchs Tor lhls purpose, one Of them slipped
and went down through an open trap-dOor
upon the door below, making a loud noise
Immediately after light flashed up
through the opening, and a timd female
voice demanded who was there.
Lady, he began, in Il gentle tone. cal
culated to reassurc his fair nearer, be not
alarmed. l am friend in distress, the son
OF your next door ncighbOr. l am hunted
rs Il spy by British soldiers, and, if found,
my life will be forfeited. If you cannot pity
me, Tor Gods sake pity my poor mother,
and assist me for her sake =
He presented himself at the opening to
the loft, and boldly descended the steps
leading down from ii, directly before the
lady, Il sweet, beautiful girl of eighteen,
who stood with light in her hand, and
seemed dumb and motionlcss with COM
lnlngilng OF fear, surprise and curiosity.
the young man continued TO speak as he
descended, and hurricdly went on to mar
late all that had occurred, concluding with
the search OF the soldiers, and his escape
into the loft above
Thank God, it is in my power to aid
you, sir y were the first words of the girl.
spoken with n look and feeling of sympathy
that made the heart of the soldier bound
with strange emotions.
She then went on to tell him that cousin
from New Jersey, about his size and build,
and looking not unlike him, was then on
visit TO the family, having n pass from
General Howe. This pass she had that
evening been looking at, and by accident
it was now in her possession, the cousin
having gone out with the rest Of the family,
and forgotten il.
Take il and fly, and may God preserve
you : she said. i can arrange ii with my
k'usman, she continued ; Il can have lost
ii, aud he can easily procure another
She BARRED him down stairs, throwing
a cloak over his shoulders on the way,
which she insisted upon his wearing, say
Ing it had belonged to deceased brother,
and he can return IL in any future time
She then FASTENED 10 get the pass, which
she placed in his hand, aud urged him to
20 at once.
If could sec my mother for a moment =
lac said.
No, no-leaye all 10 me-I win explain
all 10 her-go while you eau, before il is
tbo late
t,od iu Heaven Oless you, sweet lady =
be said, impulsiyely seising her hand aud
touching Il with his lips. i will never for
go You
The next miuulc he was gone, lie es-
caped. Aud true to bis declaration, he
mover did forget the sweet girl who be-
llieudcd him Ia his hour OF peril. Year,
aier the honoT,d wife of Geneial kuggles
WAS many tim0 heafd 10 tell Of her ro-
mantle meeting With hln size loved, lhrn a
hunted iusltye nom the Couliuenta, army.
AlisssIlausos,
Iults az Tlals aua tfta a eluuoFaI