The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-02
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 enterprising, the
crossed in love, and the bowed down
with debt, had enlisted; and in their
communications, blood 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
a more quiet but perhaps equally eff
Gent 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-
fea's upon Long Island, and the dark
season that followed, sent many 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
unheeded. There was bread and to
spare III 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 affectionate spouse. For
Israil Israel was free mason. 1t 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 a fee mason. He
was what writer styles ga born ma
son a mason in the bud and flower a
mason In the milk and grain a mason
In the lint and thread, in the cloth,
dye and garment ; thoroughly a masonl
Therefore he was hberal-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 ac-
knowledged the superior ability of Mr..
Israel, and placed him at the head of
the various finance boards and emer-
gency boards, which that emergent
season demanded. This position neces-
sarily made him the medium of pay
ment for the various masonic charities
of the district. 1t must be confessed,
hOweyer-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-
terly dues could not be collected to keep
pace with the demand there was too
much pressure from without to Justify
n 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 private
funds. At the close of the war, when
a general statement of the finances of
the lodge was made, there was found
to be due this noble hearted mason
more 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 q liberal
display of his disinterestedness for
though provisions were scarce, and com
manded a high price in the markets of
the country, yet on the personal appli-
cation of General WASHINGTON, Mr..
Israel supplied the American forces
with fifty large beeves, contenting him.
self with plain commissary's receipt,
instead of the hard money. The war
drew further and further south. Phil
adelphia was occupied by the British.
The surrounding country was daily raw
aged for their sustenance. Although
the English officers were noted for their
pgOmpt payments, and even generosity,
where their own friends were concerned.
Yet where the slightest suspicion of a |
disposition favorable to the patriots ex-
listed, woe to that farmers possessions ! |
He was well escaped if the foraging
parties eontented themselves by strip |
ping him of his grain and beeves. An |
empty roOst, a vacant stock yard, uu- |
tenanted stalls, We're but light inhic- |
ton. 1t was oftener the case that the |
stalls were fired, the dwelling consumed. |
and the poor farmer, whose only crime |
was to love his country better than his |
Country's foes, was left far-off to COM |
mence the world anew. While the |
dark cloud still rested over the patriots |
prospects, the Roebuck, frigate, an 1
chored in the Delaware, not far from |
MIR. Israsls house, and detachment |
was sent ashore to secure that gentle |
man, and appropriate his cattle. Mr.. |
Israel was easily taken, for he rather |
put himself in the way of the party, |
thinking no further evil than that of |
his property would be subject to a heavy |
draft. Much to his surprise, the sol |
dlers seized him, bound his hands, and |
sent him on board the frigate to be |
tried by court martial that very DAY |
All this happened in plain sight of his |
wife, who stood in the doorway; and /
no sooner did it pass, than she instantly |
divInes that mischief was brewing. To |
prevent the capture of the stock, she |
hurried to the yard, turned all the cat
tie out, and set the dog after them.
He soon ran them out deep into the |
woods. The horses IN the stable were |
liberated in the same manner. By this |
time the detachment came up, and see |
ing her purpose, they fred their mus
kets at her, but without effect.
Some harsh language was used, bat |
the English officer soon came up and |
ordered his men away, having received |
no instructions to damage the prop |
erty, and the strong-minded woman was |
left to rock her babies and ponder upon |
the fate of her husband, then in so |
dangerous a condition. Mr.. Israel was /
taken on board the frigate, and while |
the officers busted about the final dis
position to be made of him, one of the |
sailors approached him, and in low
tone inquired, "Harken, friend, amt
We a free mason ?" What prompted |
the question IN the mans mouth, can
not be known; but ths reader viii pres
emily perceive that Mr.. Israel's life wgs
involved in the answer. Startled by |
the inquiry, but feeling new heart at
the very word mason, Mr., Israel whls- l