The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-11-11
WASHINGTON IN A PANTRY.
Discovered Filling His Pockets with
Stolen Eatables- His Wife Catches
Him at Love-Making with Tory's
Daughter.
| From the New York Mercury.1

From the New York Mercury1
a correspondent relates the fol-
lowing story of the neutral ground
III W estchester county, which IN
days of Centennial "reminiscences
vii be. read with interest. It was
told him by an old lady in Virginia,
at whose house he spent many
happy moments during the late
war:
Joseph Stokes lived on a spot
during The revolutionary war which
stood near the neutral ground and
the British encampment, a few
miles from Tarrytown. Stokes
had been entrusted with confidential
enterprises by the American Gener-
ais. One dark day in November
Stokes was sitting before a blazing
fire with his withered wife and
blooming daughter. A low tap
was heard at the door. Stokes hur-
red from his chair and opened the
rude portal, where he beheld a man
drenched with rain and pale with
fatigue awaiting the boon of hospi-
tallty. He entered, and left his
dripping great coat in the hall.
His manly form, covered with a
military garb, excited the interest
Of the females. Tall in stature,
and with bold, masculine features
upon which were imprinted those
lines which bespoke a man familiar
with dangers and hardShips, the
stranger had hardly seated himself
before the fire when the daughter,
who had been cycling him for some
time, starting suddenly, exclaimed,
''Father, it is w ashington ="
Surprise for moment held Mrs
Stokes spell bound, while Stokes
started back with death-like gaze
upon the man he had admitted.
"Jane," cried he to his daughter,
you are mistaken-it cannot be. "
eyes, my old friend, you see
Washington before you. That [
have come unexpectedly, [ plainly
perceive, but | have important
business with you" At length the
conI ersatlou became general, which
lasted till bedtime. ashington
was lighted TO a chamber directly
over the pantry, and IN q short while
every one was apparently buried in
sleep.
The hour of midnight had arrived,
and Stokes, lying half-awake in his
cOmtOrtIess bed, was aroused by
hearing a tin1ling below the stairs.
He traced it to the pantry, whore
he keptnot only meat andvegetables,
but pies, pans Of milk, and tiitches
of bacon. He crept softly towards
the pantry. The door was ajar,
and, upon peeping in, he beheld
Washington filling his pockets
with the contents Of his larder.
Fired with Indignation, he rushed
into the pantry, and inquired Of his
guest what he meant by plundering
the house at midnight. "If you
had asked for what you have you
might have had it," said Stokes,
shut 10 steal from me in this manner
is objectionable. Although you
were the King of England instead
Of" "Silence." exclaimed Wash
lngton, III q voice Of authority.
''RecolIect that | am acquainted
with some of your reasonable prac-
tlces, and also thatit is in my power
to ia Ike something from you that
you might value more than the few
articles in my pocket" 'sThe
country, sir, has given you no such
authority" said Stokes, so put
back those things or leave my house. "
Perceiving that the old man was in
earnest, Washington put back the
things, and begged for bowl OF
bread and milk, when, after eatin g
in dignihed silence, he once more
retired 10 bed.
When Washington met the
family at breakfast the next morn
ing his manner was wholly changed.
His brow was heavy and thought
tul L was evident that the adven-
ture of the previous night had filled
him with unpleasant reflections.