Middletown transcript., 1876-07-15
Select STORY.
VALLEY FORGE.
LEGEND OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAL

Hidden away there in deep glen
not many miles from Valley Forge,
quaint old farmhouse rose darkly owe
a wide waste of snow. 1t was cold
dark winter night. and the snow begal
to fall-when from the broad fireplace
Of the old farmhouse the cheerful blaz'
of massive logs. flashed around wid'
and spacious room.
Two persons sat there by that FIRE, ;
father and child. The father, who sitl
yonder, with soldiers belt thrown
over his farmers dress. is man o
some fifty years. his eyes bloodshot, hi
hair changed to an untimoly grey. biz
face wrinkled and hallowed by care
and by dissipation more than care.
And the daughter who sits in the full
light of the blaze opposite her father
slenderly formed girl Of some seven
teen years, clad in the coarse linse }
skirt and kerchief, which made up The
costume Of a farmers daughter in the
days Of the Revolution.
That farmer. Jacob Mannheim, was a
peaceful, a happy man, before the Rev.
olution Since the war we had become
drunken and idle-driven his wife
broken hearted to the grave-and,
worse than all, joined band Of tory
refugees, who scour the land at dead o.
night burning and numbering as they 60
Tonight, at the hour Of two, this
tory band will lie 10 wait. in neigh.
boring pass. to attack and murder
Washington. whose starving soldiers
are yonder in the huts of Valley Forge
Washington on his lonely journeys is
wont to pass this farmhouse; the cut
throats are there in the next chamber
drinking and feasting. as they wait for
two o'clock at night.
The daughter. Mary, had been reared
by her mother to revere this man,
Washington. who tonight will be at.
tackled and murdered. Nay. more
that mother on her death bed joined the
hands Of this daughter in solemn be.
trothal with the hands Of young par.
tisan leader. Harry Williams, who now
shares the crust and the cold Of Valley
Forge
Yesterday afternoon she went foul
miles. over roads of ice and snow. tt
tell Captain Williams the plot Of The
refugees. She did not reach Valley
Forge until Washington had left on one
of his lonely journeys SO this night. al
twelve, the partisan captain will occupy
the rocks above the neighboring pass
to strap the trappers" Of George Wash.
ington.
Yes. that pale slender girl. remem-
bering the words Of her dying mother
had broken through her obedience tc
her father, after long and bitter strug-
gle. How dark that struggle in 4
faithful daughters heart! She had be.
traved his plots to bis enemies-stipu.
lating first for the life, the safety of hel
traitor father.
And now as father and child are sit.
ting there, as the shouts of the Tory
refugees echo from the next chamber
as the hand Of tie old clock is on the
hour of eleven-hark /! There is the
sound Of horses hoofs without the farm.
house-there is pause-the door opens
IA tall stranger, wrapped in thick
cloak. white with snow, enters, ad'
vances to the fire. and in brief words
solicits some refreshment and an hours
repose.
Why does the Tory Mannheim starr
aghast at the sight of that strangers
blue and gold uniform-then mumbline
something to his daughter. about get.
ting food for the traveller" rush
wildly into the next room, where bis
brother Tories. are fsasting?
Tell me, why does that young girl
stand trembling before the tall stranger
yelling her eyes from that calm face,
with its blue eye and kindly smile |
Ah.-if we may believe the legends Of
that time, few men. few warriors, who
dared the terror Of battle with smile