Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-25

You ought to have seen how his ewes
flashed.
- So that is what he has been ND to-,
said he; we have been watching him for
Il week. AMI suspected as much Then
he called Stephen Whitecar, James
brother. a great friend of his. and showed
him the tea.
"'Well take care of him,' said Stephen.
Only thee keep quiet. Sybilla, and don't
let on that thee knows anything
Was Stephen n fricnd?" ! asked
=" Well. YES, he belonged to Meeting
and his mother was Il preacher. As | told
you. SO we talked it over. and Stephen
WIS for calling his mother. ana having me
stay. but | said | thought had better 90
right back,
- ID IN tell me anything, said |:
and then | can answer no questions
:" Lewis sad was right, and he would
row me back himself. On the way it was
settled between us that he should come for
me the next day but two. and then we
would 90 and get married. The reason
we waited was that | should be of age in
TWO days, and then nobody would have
anything to say. ! hated to leave Aunt
Betsy and 90 against her wishes. but
busy getting breakfast when Abir.,m came
down thought it best TO be civil TO him.
and easily put him into a good humor
That day everybody noticed that there
was a good deal of riding round, and going
in and out of Doctor Elmer's and Mr.
Philip FithiIns. He was minister. and
Il great patriot. | WAS on thorns, expect
ing didn't know what, and ready to starr
I Il.
and waited on Aunt Betsy, and was so
pleasant to Abiram that he really thought
| WAS coming round.
The next evening about ten o'clock.
there came a great knocking at our door
| was up in Il minute. and looking out,
saw by the moonlight about thirty Indians
in war-paint and feathers standing round
the house. Nv heart was in nv mouth
for minute, and then it came over me
! what they had come for. :
=. What do YOU want?' called Abiran
from his window
- We have come for cup of tea.
said a voice which l knew right well.
Get up and give it to Us like "a good fell
low, OF We shall have to take it where We
can find it..
"Abram clustered and talked big. but
it was no use They told him if he Didn't
open the doors. they would break them
down. and ut last rather than have his
house attacked, he gave up the keys.
They touched nothing else in the house
but they Carried all the tea out into the
meadow yonder, piled it up, and, set it on
fire. 1t burned sIlendi'ly. and perfumed
The air for half "A mile round. There were
ut least two hundred people looking on,
but nobody said a word. or offered to in
terfere. 1t WAS all rs solemn rs Il yearly
meeting, and it had a right to be, when
two at least of the Indians were ministers.
When the tea was all burned. everybody
went quietly home.
'Abiram WAS like Il mailman for a time
and then he broke down and rried Ike Il
baby. He never held his head up after
that, and presently he moved away to
Philadelphia They tried to bring 4 suit
against the men who hlrned the tea but
it wa, of no use The grand iIry Were
too good Wings to bring in a bill, and
finally the war came on AMI the matter
WAS d'oppet.
Il had engaged Ennice Hunt to come
and take care of the house. anI wait on
Aunt Betsy, and oh the day appointed |
went in and tol what was going to do.
She scol,ied ut first and then she cried
and begged me to wait till spring. but
Was firm. | thought | had waited and
suffered about enough. She declared she
never would see me again. but | told her
had an inward persuasion that she would
change her mind. Then | left her. and
Lewis and went up to Mr.. Philip Fithian' :
and were married. Afterwarl we moved
over To James Whitccar's and lived there
a long time. all the same as one Of the
family. doing the spinning and helping in
+ thc work Some friends blamed Deborah
for taking my part, but she said she had
acted according To the best light she had,
and She WAS pretty well able to hold her
own.
The next wear the war broke ont, and
Lewis. with his brother Richard and
Stephen Whitecar. went into the army. 1t
waSa great trouble to Deborah to have
Stephen turn soldier. but he did. and made
"A very good one. My Lewis rose to be cap
tain, and was much respected; but he was
wounded up ut w oming. and died, leav-
ing me with one little girl. mother of your
father and EHzrbeth here. Stephen White
car wanted to marry me when the war
was over. and | knew Deborah would have
liked it, hut | couldn't bring my mind 10
it, and after Il while he married Emm;,
Parvin. Folks said he thought it was the
next thing TO marrying me.
Aunt Betsy was very angry for Il long
time. but she came round, and WAS as kind
us ever. even getting me the satin gown
and Grape shawl she had promised ME if |
married Abiram. He got very rich in
Philadelphia at one time, but he lost every
thing spec ulating in Continental money
after the war, and finally died poor and
friendless.
And now, as the wind has changed
and it is clearing mp, you had better go anu
get ready for your tea-fight. .'--Lucs
Ellen Gucrnscy in -4tldntic Monthly.