The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-08-31
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A hundred years ago lbe winds of
Msfch were blowing,
T0.day the same winds rash by the
stone memorials aud sweep across the
l1w mounds that securely cover the men
aud tie women thar then we're alive 10
ehlN hlssi and stirring Bgevent. Even the
Iads who gathered At the sound Of drum
snd afe on village green, wishing, ss
they ssw The troopers march, that they
were men. and the little girls who hung
about fathers neck because he vas going
OF 10 war. who watched the post riders
on their course, wishing they knew the
news be carried, are no longer here with
us
For nearly two years Boston bad been
The To-, town Of The people, II had been
taken from the children by sn unkIud
father and given 10 strangers. You have
been told how British ships came and
closed the hsrbor SO that food and rsi-
nent could not enter. You know how
grandly the Young sister towns behaved
toward stately, hungry Boston; bow
they marched up the narrow neck Of land
that holds back the town from the ses,
each ard every one bearing gifts to the
beloved Town, until there came that sad
aud fatal day wherein British military
lines turned the tide OF offerings and
closed the gate of entrance.
Then il was that friends began to gath
er across the rivers that wound theil
waters around Boston. Presently an
army grew up aud stationed itself, with
leaders and banners aud forts.
summer came. The army waited
through the long warm days. The sum.
mer went; all the leaves fell; the chill
winds aud the cold sea fogs wound into
aud out OF the poor little tents, and
struck the brave men, who, having no
tents, tried 10 be strong and endure.
Every child knows, or ought to know,
the story Of that winter, how day by day
al over New England, men we're striving
to gather firearms and powder where
with to lake back from the foe poor
Boston. Bat, alas there was not pow
der enough in the land to do it.
The long, wearying winter bad done
its worst for the prisoned inhabitants
within the town; and truly it had tried
and pnched the waiting friends who
stood at tic gates.
At last in March, in the night, the
brave helpers climbed the hills, built on
them smaller hills, and by the light OF
the morning were able TO look over into
the town, at which the patriots were glad
and the British commander frightened.
A little after nine of the clock on Sun
day morning, the 18th of March, 1878
three Narraganset ponies stood before
Gen. Washington's headquarters at Cam
bridge.
90 with all possible speed to Governor
TIumbull, said Washington, delivering
dispatches to well.know and trusted
messenger, who instantly mounted one
OF the ponies in wailing-SweepingWind
by name-snd rode away with many a
sharp and inquiring glance back at the
city aud river and camp.
Ii was four of the clock in the after-
noon and the messenger had not stopped
since he set forth, longer than to give
Sweeping Wind water to drink, when,
on the highway in the distance, he saw
red cloak fluttering and flying before.
twas Pussy Dean who wore the cloak
She was fifteen, fair and lovely, brave
aud patriotic as any soldier in the land.
At first she was angry at the law By
which she was denied a new cloak that
winter made of English fabric, but when
wrapped in the coveted broadcoth OF
scarlet belonging 10 her mother, she was
more than reconcicd.
On this Sunday Pussy had been at the
meeting house on The hill two miles from
home, at both morning and afternoon
service, aud aflerwsrd had fingered
little to gather up bits of news from camp
and town to take home TO ner mother,
and so it had happened that she was
quite alone on the highway.
Pnssy cnsuced to look back to the sum
mil Of the hin down which she had
walked aud she saw the express COM
ing
Now, she thought, If could only stop
himl wonder II can't. III try, and
then swinging her siken bag Il shall
have The news TO carry home, the very
latest, TOO.
As she swung the bag she suddenly
remembered that she had something
within to offer the rider.
OF course can. she went on saying o
herself Post.riders arc always hungry,
and 's lucky for him that didn't have
10 eat my dinner myself to-day. Now,
II only had baskeiiul Of clover heads
OF roses 10 give that pony, I'd fud ou,
al sbsut Boston while 1t was eating
The emily roses within sight were
blooming on Pussy Deans two checks,
as Sweeping Wind came Gathering bis
shoes against the frozen ground He
would have gone straight Oh had scar
let closk 40, been planted, like flutter-
ing standard, full In his pathway.
The rider gave the pony the slightest
possible check, since be felt sure that no
d.eoated soldier lurked behind the red
oak.
Take something 90 eat, won't your
sceosled Passy, rather glowing in feature
and agitated in voice BY her own dsr-
ing