The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-04-15

"Leave snow-fort, rink and sled
The hills are tinted with mellow pink, q
The sun Is going TO bed.
In our cosey supper-room
I've drawn the curtains red, Z
And the freight leapeth on the wall ,
Come, Cherry -cheek," she said.
And slowly up the steep hill
Ills tiny sled he drew
The whole round heavens were soft and calm,
With not a cloud In view;
And afar ON the edge OF the world
One little silver spark
Came out alone In great wide place,
And waited for the dark.
And he heard In the frosty air
OF the dying winter day, =,
His fathers coming slegh-bells chime
half-a-mile away;
A aagp :yomethiDS made him say,
"Dear God what beautiful world you we maoe
am glad was good to-day" ~ .,-,.,
THAT BUNKER HILL PowDER.-Every
good student of history has learned that
the battle of Bunker Hill was lost to the
Americans chiefly because they had not
enough powder.
The King having opposed, by every
means in his power, the manufacture OF
munitions of war in the colonies, the pa
triots mt first found great difficulty IN
procuring ammunition and the supplies
for the early part of the war were OBJ
tanned i'm such adventurous ways that
accounts of these exploits are very inter-
estiug. Indeed, portion of even the
scanty stock which our people had at
Bunker Hill had been brought over the
sea to be used against the enemies OF
Great Britain.
| have only recently found out just
how this powder came to do service Tor
..~ctooI Of thnir Rrifigh
pressors; and, being quite sure that the
story has never been fully told, nave
undertaken its recital for the pleasure OF
the numberless young patriots who read
50. Nicholas.
Adjoining the town of Rye, in New
Ham pshire, and directly north OF It's
noted beach, is the town OF New castle.
On the site of the present Fort Constr
tuition in this town, there was, in the
days of the Revolution, quite formida,,
BILE work called "Fort William and
Mary"
No visit from foreign enemy being
anticipated, the fort was manned at this
time by a captain and five privates only.
A weak garrison, surely; but it was
supposed that, in case of danger, the
friends of King George in the neighborr,
hood would amply reinforce the guard
even were there not time for the royal
Governor, Wentworth, to bring the mill
tia to the rescue. As to any serious at
tack by disaffected inhabitants, it was
too bold an act for belief; and If it were
possible, in any case, that the militls
should prove insufficient, General Gage
with three thousand regulars, was IN
Boston, and British fleet was in the
harbor.
What subject, however rebellious
would dare to touch his Majesty's prop
erty or its custodians, under these cir
cumstances? The act would be treason
and the life and possessions of the ofende
would be forfeited; and who could saw
him from the Kings hand? Probabl.
not even the most ardent patriot though
of it, until Paul Revere came riding int
town from Boston one evening.
The news he brought was startling
An order had come from the King tina
all military stores in the colonies shout
be seized at once.
Major John Langdon, afterward Coy
ernor, the same evening received ca
from his friend, Captain Thomas Picke
ing. After the compliments of tn
hour had been passed, the Captain SUI
prised his friend by an invitation to a
company him to Fort William and Mar
to take a glass of wine with its con
mander.
at will not do" replied the Majo
cautiously evading declaration OF h
own sentiments it will not do und
the present state of public affairs"
Major Langdon's sympathies were wit
his oppressed countrymen, and he
volted at the idea of receiving the hosI
talities of one whose duty it might be
the morrow to shoot down his guests
foes of the Government.
Captain Pickering next disclosed a
sign of securing the arms and ammuniti
of the fort; showing his purpose to
quite other than the invitation int
Gated. off twenty-eight like ourselN
could be found" said he, 81 would U
dertake to lead in the capture"
To this purpose Major Langdon heart
assented.
Before noon of the next day a Dirt
and fife were sounding about town
bring the people together; and the orc
of the King for securing the ammuniti
was made known. The effect of Il
news was increased by the report Il
the armed vessels Scarborough a
"Cauceaux" were on their way FRI
Boston with British troops to possess
fort and hold the town in awe.
When Governor Wentworth heard
this meeting of the citizens, he war;
them against committing any rash a
and as the people soon dispersed, it
supposed that nothing would come of
meeting. But this was mistake.
A little before twelve that night
was the fourteenth of December, III
the nearly full moon looked down vi
some two hundred men setting out
boats from Portsmouth wharves {
heading for Newcastle.
Half an hour later their boats groun,
near the island, and the men waded ash
through the shallow water, which fl
to their clothing. Yet the landing
been SO quiet that no attention was
tracted at the fort. Captain Picker
being in advance of the others, sea
the grassy rampant unattended, and 6
ing the sentinel with one hand and
gun with the other, he demanded sile
on pain of instant death.
Crowds of men were new Chamber
up the walls; and, leaving the sent
in their charge, the leader hastenet
TO the quarters Of the commandment.
entered the room before that officer
fairly awake, announcing to him that
fort was captured, and he prise
He had previously been warned that
attack upon the fort was meditated,
his garrison was not on the alert; an
at once surrendered to the only man
appeared. He gave his sword to
tain Pickering, who politely returne
saying:
"You are a gentleman, and shall
tain your side-arms."
Pickering turned te leave him,
the dishonorable officer, having him
disadvantage, aimed blow at his ca
with the sword which had that mi