Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-02-24
A Legend of 1876.

log hut. situated few miles from Ire,
ton, New Jersey, sat Eve men, four Of
whom were seated at an old oaken table
IN the centre Of the room, engaged in
playing cards, while they frequently
mostened their throats with large
draugh's from an earthen jug that stood
on the table.
They were heavily bearded, coarse.
looking men, and from their dress, which
somewhat rssenbled the British uniform
they were evidently Tories. The other
was stout, built young man, clad in the
Continental uniform. lie sat in one cor,
ner OF the room, with his face buried in
his hands.
"TOm," said one of the Tories. rising
from the taols and seating Himself near
the young prisoner-for such he evident.
ly was-"rom, you and were school,
boys together, and | love you yet. Now,
why cant you give up your wild notion,
aud JOIN US? You're our prisoner, and
if you don't, We shall hand you over to
the headquarters tomorrow, while, if you
join US, your fortune is made; for with
your bravery and talents, you will dis
tlnguish yourself in the Royal army, and
after the rebellion is crushed out, yorr
case shall be rewarded ty knighthoOd and
promotion in the army. Now there are
two alternatives, which do you chooss?"
Neither" said the young man, rails.
ing his head, and looking the Tory
straight in the eyes. Il am now, as you
say, your prisoner I bnt wh,u the clock
strikes twelye,I shall disappear in cloud
of fire and smoke, and neither you nor
your comrades-not even myself-can
prevent it. You may watch me as closely
as you please; tie me, hand aud foot, #
you will. but higher power than
yours has ordained that should leay.
you at that time"
Poor fellow Ills mind wapdes,' y
said the Tory. Hell talk differently in
the morning" And he returned to bis
seat at the table, leaving the youth with
his head again resting in his hands.
When the clock struck eleven, tho
young prisoner drew pipe and some to-
bacco from his pocket, and asked the
Tory leader # 10 had any objections to
his smOGing.
None in the least - he said, with >
laugh. THAT is, if you'll promis. not to
disappear IN a cloud of tobacco.snole."
The young made no reply. but imme>
diately filed his pipe, having done which,
be arose and commenced pacirg the floor
lie continued to smoke until the clock
struck twelve, when he arose from bis
seat, and, slowly knocking the ashes out
Of his pipe, said:
There, boys, it's twelve o'clock, and
| must leave you, Good,by
Immediately, all around the room
were seen streaks of fire hi,sing and
squirming-the cabin was filled with
dense, sulphurous smoke, amidst which
was clap of thunder. The Tories sat
in their chairs, paralyzed with fear.
The smoke clareI away. but the prise.
ner was nowhere to be seen. The table
was overturned, the window was smash.
ed to pieces, aud on, chair was lying on
the ground outside of the building.
The Tory leader, after recovering from
his stupor. gave one glance around the
room, aud Sprang out Of the window, fol.
lowed by his comrades. They ran
thr ough the forest at the top of their
speed, in the direction of the British en-
campment, leaving their muskets and
other arms to the mercy of the flames,
which had now begun to devour the
cabin.
The next day, two young men in the
uniform Of the Continental army, wero
seen standing near the ruins of the old
cabin. One was our prisoner of the night
previous.
"Let us hear all about it, Tom," said
the other.
"Well;' = said be, ''last evening, as I
wps passing this place, two Tories ran out
of the cabin and took possession of me.
Before could make any resistance, they
took rs in, aud who do you supposc /
saw a, leader of their party but John
Barton. our old schoomate. lie talked
with me, and tried to induce me to Join
them; but l told them | couldn't do 1t,
that at twelve O'Clock | was going to es
caps-dsappesr in cloud Of smoke.
But he laughed at NE and said l was out
Of my head. About eleven o'clock, |
asked him if might smoke. lie said
be had no objections, 50 l filled my pipe
and commenced walking the floor. had
about pound of guppowder in NV poek.