The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-07-06
Rebecca, the Drummer.

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1t was about nine O'Clock in the morn
ing when the ship appeared. AT ono
there was the greatest excitement in th,
village. 1t was British war ship. Wha
would she do? Would she tack arount
in the bay, and pick up stray coasters Al
prizes, or would she land soldiers and burr
the town? In either case there woult
be trouble enough
Those were sad days, those old wal
times in 1912. The sight of a British
war chip in Boston bay was not pleasant
We were poor then, and had no monitors
to 90 out and sink the enemy, or drive
them off Our pavy was small, ant
though we afterwards had the victory ant
sent the troublesome ships away, never tt
return, At that time they often came neal
enough, and the good people in the littlt
village of Scituate Harbor were in grea
distress over the strange ship that hat
appeared at the mouth of the harbor.
1t was fishing place in those days
and the harbor was full of boats ant
smacks Of all kinds. The soldiers could
easily enter the harbor and burn up ev
erythiug, aud no one could prevent them
There were men enough to make good
fight but they were poorly armed, and
had nothing but iowling pieces and shot
guns, while the soldiers had muskets and
cannon. The tide was down during the
morning, so that there vas no danger for
few hours and all the people went Out
Oh the cliffs and beaches TO watch the
ship and see what would happen next.
On the end Of the low sand spit that
makes one side of the harbor, stood u lit.
tie white tower known as Scituate Light.
In the house behind the light lived the
keepers family, consisting of himself,
wife, and several boys and girls At the
time The ship appeared the keeper was
away, and there was no one at home save
Mrs. Bates and the eldest daughter, Re.
becca, about fourteen years old, two Of
the little boys, and a young girl named
Sarah Windsor, who was visiting Rebec.
ca
Rebecea had been the first to discover
the ship, while she was in the lighthouse
tower polishing the reflector. She at
once descended the steep stairs and sent
oft the boys to the village, to give the
alarm.
For an hour or two the ship tackled and
stood off to sea; then tackled again and
made for the shore. Men, women, and
children watched her with anxious inter-
est. Then the tide turned, and began 10
flow into the harbor The boats aground
on the fats foated, and those in deep wa
ter swung around at their mooriugs. Now
the soldiers would probably land. IF the
people meant to save anything it was
time to be stirring. Boats were hastily
put out from tbc wharf,and such clothing
nets, and other valuables as could be
handled we're brought ashore, loaded into
hay carts, and carried away.
OF course, were all armed, and if the peo
pie made . stand among the houses thai
would not prevent the enemy from de-
stroying the shipping
As the tide spread out over the sandy
fats, it filled the harbor so that, insteat
of small channel, it became wide ant
beautiful bay. The day was fine, ant
there was a gentle breeze Iippling thu
water and making it sparkle in the sun
What a splendid day for fishing or sail
ing Not much use to think of eithe
while that war ship crossed and recrosset
before the harbor mouth.
About two O'Clock the tide reached tn
high water mark, and to the dismay o
the people, the ship let go her anchor
swung her yards around and lay about
half a mile from the first cliff. The,
were going to land to burn the town
With their spy glasses the people coul,
see the boats lowered to take the soldier
on shore.
All then there was confusion and up
roar Every horse in the village wa
put into some kind OF team, and tn
women and children were hurried off int
the woods behind the town. The me
would stay and offer as brave resistanc
as possible. The guns were light an
poor, but they could use the old fs
house as fort, and perhaps make brav
fight of it, If worse came to worse, the
could at last retreat and take to th
shelter of the woods.
1t was splendid sight. Five larg
boats manned by sailors, and filled b
soldiers in gray and red coats. Ho'
their guns glittered in the sun. Tht oal
all moved in regular order, and the off
GERS, in their fine uniform, stood up to d
rect the expedition 1t was courageor
company, come with war ship and car
non to fight helpless fishermen.
So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Windsc
thought as they sat up in the lighthous
looking down on the procession of boa
as it went past the point and entered th
; harbor.
"Oh! if were only a man :" erie
; X, becca.
"What could you do? See what Il
Of them and look at their guns"
81 don't care. I'd fight. I'd use Fl
: theirs old shot gup-anything. Think
oncle's new boat and the sloop."
"Yes and all the boats"
Ultta fno had ian,f II 9D