The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-04-02
THE NARROW ESCAPE.
A REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENT

UPON OnS VI IHO 4OEO1J 1hEIQb bIlhb
lie along the Delaware dwelt Israil
Israel and his fair young wife, Althea
The blasts of war, which was desolating
the land, long delayed to reach their
borders, and as yet each true-hearted
American, their neighbor, dwelt unmo-
Tested under his own vine and fig tree
1t is true that many of the young men,
the forward, the enterprising, the
crossed in love, and the bowed down
with debt, had enlisted and in their
communications, blood stained from
the various battle-f fields, awakened
sympathy and gladness, by turns among
their friends at home. But Mr.
Israel felt no call to leave the blooming
wife, and the merry twins, whose voice
was his home music, for the stern music
of the war. He served his country in
more quiet bat perhaps equally eff
cient way, by working sedulously in his
vocation, paying the large taxes incum-
bent on the war drafts, making an occa-
sional loan 10 the government from his
thriving treasury, and nursing up the
promising twain whom Providence has
vouchsafed as the fruits of welded
love. But the sounds of strife began
feats upon Long Island, and the dark
season that followed, sent many poor
fellow back to his neighborhood,
'@maimed or ragged, or starving, to tell
now the heart of the great Washington
was nigh despairing at the gloomy pros
poets ahead, and to ask an aim of the
full-handed farmer for God Almighty
sake.
Such appeals were not suffered to fall
unheeded. There was bread and to
spare in the buttery there was raiment
and to spare in the old clothes press
there was shelter and to spare in the
big gable-roofe1 house. These were
bountifuly dispensed to suffering patri-
OTIS at the hands of the kind hearted
Israel or his ssaffectionate spouse. For
Israil Israel was free mason. It is
with such as he that our pen is most
pleased. There is freer flow at its
point when it glides upon this topic.
Brother Israel was free mason. He
was what writer styles ''a born ma
son a mason in the bud and flower q
mason in the milk and grain; mason
in the lint and thread, in the cloth,
dye and garment ; thoroughly mason
the virtues of masonry to be liberal
and patriotic; Che world-wide attach
menEsof the craft do not, in the least
blunt the delicate home sympathief
which are natural to us ALL
The masonic lodge in this vicinity ac
knowledged the superior ability of Mr.
Israel, and placed him at the head oi
the various finance boards and emer-
eency boards, which that emergeni
season demanded. This position neces
sarily made him the medium of pay.
n1ent for the various masonic charities
of the district. 1t must be confessed
however the circumstance is re-
lated not to disparage the brethren, fol
the aid of the poor at home, and The
prisoners In the prison-ship at New
York, were usually cashed from the
pocket of MIR. Israel himself. Guar
Terly dues could not be collected to keeK
pace with the demand; there was toe
much pressure from without to justify
resort to harsh measures for the col
lection so Mr.. Israel trusted to the
future consideration of his brethren
and favored the orders from his privat'
funds. At the close of the war, whei
q general statement Of the finances o.
the lodge was made, there was fount
To be due this noble hearted masoI
more than two thousand dollars In gole
and silver When the suffering patri
OTIS came near his door on their disas
trons retreat from Long Island. a.
opportunity was offered for liberia
display of his diainterestedne TO
though provisions were scarce, and com
manded high price in the markets Q
the country. yet on the personal apDG
cation of General WASHINGTON, MI
Israel supplied the American force
with Atty latge beeves, contt nting him
self with q plain commissary's receipt
instead of the hard money. The wa
drew further and further south. Phi
adelphia was occupied by the BRITISH
The surrounding country was daily ray
aged for their sustenance. Atthoug
the English officers were noted for shel
prompt payments, and even generosity
where their own friends were concerned
vet where the slightest suspicion OF
disposition favorable to the patriots g
listed, woe to that farmers possessions
He was well escaped if the foragln
parties eontented themselves by strIE
ping him OF his grain and beeves. A
empty roost, vacant stock yard, III
fenanted stalls, were but light infilt
tion. Il was oftener the case that th
stalls were fred, thedwelling consumed
and the poor farmer, whose only Grim
was to love his country better than b
eorintry's foes. was left far-oH TO con
mence the world anew. While th
dark cloud still rested over the patriot
prospects, the Roebuok, frigate,. 81
chored in the Delaware, not far tro
Mir. Israel's house, and detachmel
was sent ashore to secure that gentll
man, and appropriate his cattle ~
Israel was easily taken, for he ratn'
but himself in the way OF the part
thinking no further evil than that
his property would be subject to heal
draft. Much to his surprise, the g
diers seized him, bound his hands, 81
sent him on board the frigate to
tried by court martial that very dc.
All this happened il plain sight OF .