The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-05-05
The Cohansey Tea-Tisht.
BY Lucy ELLEN GUERNSEY.


and presently came to anchor over there
where you see that pine stump--it was
fine tree then-not far from our house
/ stood watching, and presently | saw
Abiram and two other men come ashore
from the brig. They came up the path
toward the house, but | did MT stay to
meet them. | went back to Aunt Betsy,
and when Abram called me to see to sup.
per, he told me the strange men would
stay, and asked me if would MT 81! down
and make tea For you see had Mt sat
down to single meal with him since he
came home.
Tea said |, where in the world did
you get tea p | knew ours had been
out some time, and you could MT buy an
ounce for love nor money.
"'Nevcr mind, said Abiram looking
as pleased as could be. I've got it, and
plenty more Of nice things. Now be
good girl and see to the supper, and
promise not to say a word thee wont like
to here
I We'll, did Mt want to make q fuss
before the strangers, so | said | would
and made some nice hot cakes and fried
a chicken, and turned out the tea but |
would MT toucn drop, more than it it
were poison. The two men were English,
as | made out by their talk, and one Of
them was captain Of the brig. lie had
been drinking little aud he kept throw
ing out hints which made me open my
ears, and caused the other man TO swear
at him for fool.
We'll, did up the work, and vas Just
going upstairs to bed, when Ahram stop.
ped me.
''What is it . asked sharply enough,
al only want to say that thee need ut
be scared it thee hears noise in the
night : said he meekly L have got some
goods aboard the brig, and | am going to
have them unloaded, because the captain
wants to get away.
Somehow it flashed across me all in
minute what the goods were. So instead
of going to bed, | blew out the candle
and sat down behind the curtain to watch
Presently ! saw the men from the brig
bringing up the goods all covered with
} tarpaulins aud slowing them in the cellar.
They had nearly finished when one Of the
, meu let tall square box, and knew By
the sound that something had broken
The captain cursed him for clumsy fool
Abiram brought out broom, and could
i. see them sweeping and brushing soMe-
, thing. Finally the business was finished
the mer went away, and Abiram came
: upstairs and went to bed lie was gen
. orally the first one up in the morning but
this time [ stole march on him, and was
down before six o'clock took the
! lantern and began searching where | had
seen them sweeping the night before, and
t sure enough, in little hollow by the side
. of the path found about half handful
: of nice green tea? 4 gathered up the
7 tea in my hands and wrapped it in pa
D per had in my pocket, and then | stole
t Gown to the creek, to the place where
Q knew Abrams little skiff was tied up.
! 1t was no sudden move. | had been
, thinking all night, and made up my
4 mind that must see Lewis and tell him
t the whole story. For absurd as it may
:. seem, was really afraid Aunt Betsy
v would contrive some way to marry me to
!: Abram even against my will.
Q The tide was running out and helped
y me, and | was soon at James Whitecar' 5
It landing, for knew how to handle boat
= | found Lewis at the barn, told him the
y. whole story, and showed him the tea
!. You ought to have seen how his eyes
flashed
$50 that is what he has been up to :.
c said he we have been watching him for
C week, and suspected as mucn. then he
C called Stephen Whitecar, James brother,
3, a great friend of his, and showed him the
o tea.
o ".We'll take care of him said Steph-
Is ep. Only thee keep quiet, Sybila, and
|, don't let on that thee knows anything
is Was Stephen Friend p | asked.
:. We'll, yes, he belongs to Meeting, and
s. his mother was preacher, as | told you
n So we talk it over, and Stephen was lol
1t calling his mother, and having me stay
st but said | thought had better 60 right
II back.
]. Don't tell me anything said and
S, then can answer no questions.
! Lewis said was right and he would
l. row me back himself. On the way il
,e was settled between US that he shoulC
ID come for me the next day but two aul
of then we would go and get married. The
ID reason we waited was that should be O.
N age in TWO days, and then nobody woult
"a have anything to say hated to leav'
Aunt Betsy and 20 against her wishes
but there seemed no other way
'r Il was busy getting breakfast whei
a. Abiram came down. | thought it bes
g to be civil to him, and easily put him int
e. good humor. That day everybody no
r ticed that there was good deal ofridini
In round, and going in and out of Docto
r. Elmer's and Mr.. Philip Fithian's. i'
OF was minister, and great patriot.
a. was on thorns, expecting | did Mt know
= what, and ready to start at every noise
D. but | kept about my work, and waiteC
st on Aunt Betsy, and was so pleasant tt
r. Abiram that he really thought | was com
OF ing round.
to The next evening about ten o'clocl
lie there came great knocking at our door
[ was up in minute, and looking out
It | saw by the moonlight about thirty In
dians in war-paint and feathers standing
round the house. My heart was in M.
mouth for a minute, and then it cam
over me what they had come for.
ne What do you want?' called Adrian
In from his window.
as We have come fora cup of tea = sal
On voice which | knew right well, &c
en- up and give it to us like good fellow
Nj or we shall have to take it where we ca
~ find it.
10. 'Abiram clustered and talked big, bu
it was no use. They told him if he didn
, open the doors, they would break thel
down, and at last, rather than have h