Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-23

through the deep sand just above high wa
ter mark. They must keep out of sight of
the boats, and of the ship, also. Luckily.
she was south of the light; and as the
beach curved to the west they soon left her
out of sight. Then they took to the water
side, and with the drum between them. ran
as fast as they could towards the mainland.
Presently they reached the low heaps of
sand that showed where the spit Joined
field and woods.
Painting and excited, they tighteued up
the drum and tried the ife softly.
"You take the fife, Sarah, and I'll
drum"
"All right; but we mustn't stand still.
We must march along the shore towards
the light"
Wont they sec us 2'
mo; we'll walk next the water on the
outside beach,"
"Oh, les; and they'll think it's soldiers
going down TO the Point to head them Off"
Just so. Come, begin. One, two-one
twor'
Drum! drum |! drumi!!
Squeak squeak squeak!!!
"For'ard-march -
"Ha ha p
The fife stopped.
Don't laugh. You'll spoil everything,
and L can't pucker my lips"
Drum drum! drum!!!
Squeak squeak ! squeak!!!
The men in the town heard ii, and were
amazed beyond measure. Had the soldiers
arrived from Boston What did il mean?
Who were coming?
Louder and louder on the breeze came
The roll of sturdy drum and the sound ofa
brave fife. The soldiers in the boats heard
the noise, and paused in the work of de-
struction. The officers ordered everybody
into the boats in the greatest haste. The
people were rising! They were coming
down the Point with cannons, 10 head
them off! They would all be captured,
and perhaps hung by the dreadful Amer
leans.
How the drum rolled! The fife changed
its tune. 1t played yankee Doodle"-
that horrid tune! Hark! The men were
cheering in the town there were thousands
Of them in the woods along the shore!
Iu grim silence marched the two girls
| plodding over the sharp stones, splashing
through the puddles-Rebecca beating the
old drum with might and main, Sarah
blowing the fife with shrill determination.
How the Britishers scrambled into their
boats One of the brave officers was near
ly left behind on the burning sloop. An
other fell overheard and wet his good
clothes, in his haste TO escape from the
| American army marching down the beach
"a thousand strong How the sailors pull
ed! No fancy rowing now, but desperate
haste TO get out of the place and escape to
the ship.
How the people yelled and cheered on
the shore! Fifty men or more jumped in-
to boats to prepare for the chase. Ringing
shouts began TO crack over the water.
Louder and louder rolled tho terrible
drum. Sharp and clear rang out the cruel
| fife.
Nearly exhausted, half dead with fatigue,
the girls toied on--tearful, laughing, ready
to drop on the wet sand, and still beating
and blowing with fiery courage.
The boats swept swiftly out of the har-
Dor ON the outgoing tide. Tho fishermen
came up with the burning boats. Part
stopped to put out the fires, and the rest
pursued the flying enemy with such shots
as they could get at them. In the midst of
it all the sun went down.
The red coats did not return a shot. They
expected every minute to see a thousand
men open on them at a short range from
the beach, and they reserved their powder.
Out of the harbor they went in confusion
and dlsmay. The ship weighed anchor and
ran out her big guns, but did not fire a
shot Darkness fell down on the scene as
the boats reached the ship. Then she sent
a round shot towards the light. 1t fell
short, and threw great fountain of while
water into the air.
The girls saw it, and dropping their
drum and fife, sat down on the beach and
laughed till they cried.
That night the ship sailed away. Tho
great American navy of two had arrived,
and she thought it wise TO retreat in time.
Rebecca is still living, old and feeble in
body, but brave in spirit and strong in pat
riotism. SIZE told this story herself to the
writer, and ii is true.-St. Melodies.