St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-09-26

were concealed. John told Caesar that
the Cow boys and the 'skinners' and
British would seek for this buried
: treasure, but that he left the secret
with him. Then when all was finished
he mounted his horse, and after charg-
ing lis to provide for the family slaves,
and to protect and defend my mother
and sisters, he rode away into the
night. Caesar and | were never boys
again.
The British came and took posses
sion of the house and everything it
contained. They allowed my mother
and sisters only one small room.
After while, when the British in
tIuders had killed the chickens and
geese and turkeys, they commanded
Caesar to show them the treasure vault.
Perhaps the Tories had told them of
fathers wealth. Perhaps they only
suspected it. But he denied there be-
ing treasure vault. They would not
believe him, and one morning, after a
nights carouSe, they told him if he
would get them some breakfast, that
they would give him gold enough to go
back to Africa that they would take
INN with them and make him free.
"CirSar answered civilly, Il can't do
it. sirs. because have nothing good,
even for my own mistress's breakfast,
and she is sick
49, Come, come, you know well
enough where the good things are.
they said. Step up to the music, At
RIGA, or Wen kill and eat YOU
Caesar didn't feel muclr afraid of be-
ing eaten, suppose. SO he went alone
out to the barn. which stood on hill
| quite Il distance from the house, to
she'll some corn for meal. This was
about all that was left for the family
to eat
The half-drlnken soldiers followed
and begun to threaten him in various
ways. But it did no good, he kept on
Smelling corn without saying a word.
Then one of them said with an oath,
You black devil, we'll make you tell
and Selling him, they tied his hands
behind him, put rope about his neck,
and hung him up to one of the beams
of the barn.
Caesar. although he felt himself
choking to death, determined never
to reveal the secret of the treasure. let
them do what they would; so when
they let him down and loosened the
rope about his neck, he would answer
none of their questions. Then they
hung him up again, saying, with many
curses upon his obstinacy. that they
would surely kill him. He might well
believe them, for every thing darkened
and suddenly there was a ringing in
his ears, and he struggled fearfully.
But they thought they would try him
once more, so they let him down again,
and laying him on his back, waited I'M
til he could speak"
And wouldn't he tell 2" asked Har-
ny.
Would You have blamed him if he
had ?"
II don't know what to think about
that" answered Harry, looking puz-
zled.
We'll, he didn't tell. They couldn't
make him tell, either by threats, or
brides, or tortureS."
''All this time they had been growing
more and more angry, and they declar-
ed that he deserved to die like every
other rebel. SO they hung him in ear
nest at last, then mounted their horses
and rode away"
Grandfather paused our very hearts
stood still.
We did not dare to hear the rest, so
we sat III silence till Fanny began to
cry.
FLUSH. hush, little girl Caesar
didn't die that day" said grandfather.
We drew long breaths then Harry
said. Grandfather, you made beliere he
was dead, but | guess Caesar wouldn't
do So
Grandfather laughed heartily at this,
and we all recovered our spirits then
he went on with the story.
''You never knew your Aunt Nancy.
She was my oldest sister, and brave
like John. When she saw the drunk
en- soldiers follow Cesar to the barn,
she feared mischief, and stealing
around to the opposite side, she heard
much that was said, although she
could not see what they were doing.
There was no one to whom she could
60 for help, so she kept herself hidden
until they were gone.
when she went i'll and saw Caesar
hanging from the beam, she feared he
was quite dead. She thought quickly,
however. First. she rolled a great
bundle of hay to the floor under the
place where he hung, then climbed up
and cut the rope. Cesar fell upon the
soft hay, but lay quite still as if he
would never breathe again.
Aunt Nancy found that he was warm,
So taking courage. she rubbed his neck.
and moved his arms. and blew into his
mouth until she brought him back to
life again
"Well." said Harry, IF | had been
your father. when | got out of prison |
would have given Cesar his freedom"
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