The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-04-03
THE NARROW ESCAPE.
A REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENT.


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 enterpFising, the
crossed in love, and the bowed down
with debt, had enlisted and in their
communications, blcod-stained from
the various battle-felds, 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 but perhaps equally eff
clent way, by working sedulously in his
vocation. paying the large taxes incum-
bent on the war drafts. making An occa-
sioual loan % 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
to come nearer his district. The de-
feats upon Long Island, and the dark
season that followed, cent many q poor
fellow back to his neighborhood,
manned 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
UNDECIDED. 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-roofei house. These were
bountifuly Dispensed to suffering patri-
OTIS ut the hands of the kind hearted
Israel or his affectionate spouse. For
1srail Israel was q free mason. It is
with such az he that our pen is most
pleased: There is freer flow at its
point when it glides upon this topic.
Brother Israel was fIee mason. He
was what writer styles ga born ma
son q mason in the bud and flower
mason In the milk and grain; a mason
In the lint and thread, in the cloth.
dye and garment thoroughly a masoni
Therefore he was iberal-it is one of
the virtues OF masonry to be liberal
and patriotic; the worldwide attach
mentsof the craft do not, in the least
blunt the delicate home sympathies
which are natural to us all.
The masonic lodge in this vicinity &C
knowledged the superior ability of Mr..
Israel, and placed him at the head of
the various finance boards and emer-
gency boards, which that emerpent
season demanded. This position neces-
sariiy made him the medium of pay
ment for the various masonic charities
OF the district. 1t must be confessed.
however-and the circumstance is re-
lated not to disparage the brethren, for
the aid OF the poor at home, and the
prisoners in the prison-ship at New
York, were usually cashed from the
pocket of Mr.. Israel himself. Quar-
teriy dues could not be collected to keep
pace with the demand there was too
much pressure from without to justify
q resort to harsh measures for the col
lection 80 Mr.. Israel trusted to the
future consideration of his brethren.
and favored the orders from his private |
funds. At the close of the war, when
general statement of the finances of |
the lodge was made, there was found |
to be due this noble hearted mason |
move than two Thousand dollars in gold |
and silver. When the suffering patri- |
OTIS came near his door on their disas- |
trous retreat from Long Island. an |
opportunity was offered for liberal |
display of his disinterestedness for
though provisions were scarce, and com
manded high price in the markets of |
the country, yet on the personal appli-
cation Of General WASHINGTON, Mr..
Israel supplied the American forces
With nifty large beeves, conte nting him.
SELF with q plain commissary's receipt,
instead OF the ha-d money. The war
drew further and further south. Phil
adelphia was occupied by the British.
The surrounding country was daily raw
aged Tor their sustenance. Although
the English officers were noted for their
p, ompt payments, and even generosity.
where their own friends were Concerned
yet where the slightest suspicion of a
disposition favorable to the patriots ex-
lsted, woe to that farmers possessions
He was well escaped if the foraRine
parties oontented themselves by strip
ping him OF his grain and beeves. An
empty roost, q vacant stock yard. un-
tensnted stalls, were but light infiic-
lion. 1t was oftener the case that the
stalls were fired, the dwelling consumed.
and the poor farmer, whose onlv crime
was to love his country better than his
sountry's foes, was left far-off to com
nence the world anew. While the
lark cloud still rested over the patriots
prospects, the Roebuck, frigate, an
,hored In the Delaware, not far from |
Nh. IsraePs house, and o detachment !
vas sent ashore to secure that gentle
nan, and appropriate his cattle. MI.
israel was easily taken, for he rather
,ut himself IN the way of the party,
linking no further evil than that of
lis property would be subject to heavy
!raft. Much to his surprise, the sol s
liers seized him, bound his hands. and
emit him on board the frigate to be l
RED by court martial that very day
vi this happened in plain sight of bis I
Fife, who stood in the doorway: and I
% sooner did it pass, than she instantly
ivines that mischief was brewing. To
revent the capture of the stock, she
urried to the yard, turned all the cat
le out, and set the dog after them.
lie soon ran them out deep into the '
FOODS. The horses in the stable were Z
berated IN the same manner By this i
me the detachment came mp, and see-
lg her purpose, they fred their mus q
cts at her, but without effect. '
Some harsh language was used. bat \
re English officer soon came up and a
rdered his men away, having received &
o instructions to damage the prop n
rsy, and the strong minded woman was d
1T to rock her babies and ponder upon 81
le fate of her husband, then in SO f.
angerous q condition. Mr.. Israel was a
ken on board the frigate, and while v
10 officers busted about the final dis c.
,sition TO be made of him, one of the il
ilors approached him, and in q low W
ne inquired, "Harkee, friend, amt W
O free mason ?" What prompted "
e question in the mans mouth, can T
It be known; but the reader will pres CT
tly perceive that Me-. Israel's life WIS al
volved in the answer. Startled by CT
9 inquiry, but feeling new heart at D,
9 very word mason, Mr.. Israel whls- Il