Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-06-28
Two RrnNe Women.

true story which deserves tu hp better known
than 10 Is, aud which will have no record in
the womans department of the Centennial.
But first let us get out the map and find
the old town of Machias--R gjap the French
called tin the eastern part OF Maine.
More than two centuries ago this place was
well known 10 English aud French aiventur-
crs, and was the scene OF many bitter quar-
rels between them. Il was first settled 10y
the French who gave all that part Of Maine
the beautiful name of Acadia.
Soon after the battle Of Lexington, which
you remember was fought on the 10Th Of
April, 100, a certain Captain jones' of Bos-
ton, arrived at Machias with his two sloops.
He was la habit Of Grading" with the
Machias people; that is, exchanging the
goods aud provisions he carried there for
lumber This time he did not come alone,
but was accompanied 10y an armed schooner,
and he was careful not 10 land his goods
till the people agreed TO trade with him as
usual Probably thi. very caution made
them suspicious aud then it was not pleas
ant to see q British cutter anchored in the
river They knew that lumber was just
what the Royal troops needed for their bar
racks the affair at Lexington had aroused
all their patriotic ardor and they deter
mined that Captain Jones should return
10 Boston with his vessels. To understand
what this decision cost them, we must re-
member that the settlers were wholly de
pendent on numbering for support
To be sure, the men did not have to make
long journeys on their seds into the forests
and there camp ont for the winter as the
lumbcrmeu of Maine do now. Every year
these logging parties go merrily off to their
rough life in the woods, at night sleeping ON
spruce boughs laid upon the floor of the
camp, their feet turned to a roaring fire,
with sometimes wolves to serenade their
slumbers living largely on pork and mo
lasses, frying bushels of doughnuts at time,
boiling their tea in great tea-kettles, aud
having rather a jolly time Of it, especially
when their townsmen 20 to make them "a
visit. as they sometimes do
But then there were woods everywhere
about the settlement, which was at great
distance from amy large town and, as there
were no roads, the only way to get relief in
time Of need was by water, aud this way
could be easily cut off 10y an enemy. FIX
cept a scanty supply Of potatoes, no yege-
tables were raised there and the people
owned very few COWS, and only enough oxen
to haul lumber In winter Many families
often haduothing but clans to eat for weeks
at time, and when Captain Jones soops
arrived there were not enough provisions in
the township to last three weeks. But
rather than let King Georges troops have
any of their lumber, these destitute people
made TAP their minds TO staryc.
SO they agreed to take possession of the
sloous and Of the " Margaretta also, the
story of whose capture has been told toe
often TO repeat here. 4 company of yolun
teers was organized on Sunday, the lth
Of June, but only a few charges of powder
and ball could Toe mustered for twenty fowl
| ing pieces. Besides these, they had only
| thirteen pitchfolks and ten or twelve axes
/ These weapons seem barbarous enough Ia
us; aud You remember the redcoats thought
so, too, aud longed for foemen worthy Of
their steel when they saw our rustic sol
diery. But they found afterwards that a
brave heart and steady purpose We're more
than match for the deadIiest firearms.
There was not much time TO talk the mat
/ ter over, and a man was quickly sent tc
| ,Ioneshoro a settlement some sixteen miles
distant, for ammunition. But after thi.
messenger reached his destinations he actu
ally refused to return Very likely he felt
| tired after his long walk through the woods
and his courage gave out As there was ne
other man to take his place, all the Jones
boro men having gone to Machias that very
I day to assist in the capture of the vessels
no wonder the women were filled with in
dignation at this treachery, and set to WORK
TO see what they could do It always hap
pens that where there's a will there's a way
and Hannah Weston, a young bride OF sev
enteen, whose husband and brothers were
among the volunteers, went round to Tia,
various houses in the settlement and col
lected all thepowdcr lead and pewter spoons
She could find Then she and her sister Re
becca, who was only two years older, deter
mined to carry the ammunition 10 Machia'
themselves. They started on their rougl
tramp Monday morning, with about forty
pounds of powder and lead, enough breac
and meat to last two days, and a SINAI
hatchet. All the women and children gath
cred TO see them of ; meantime the one mar
in the settlement, the recreant messenger
was hiding in the woods for fear OF tn,
" Britshers We may be sure that hii
behavior earned the bitter contempt of tn,
women who were left behind, and that the,
did not treat him very teDderly when h,
made himself visible. You see there wer,
towards even in those brave days.
When half the toilsome journey was over
Rebccca's strength failed, and Mrs. Weston
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rnst TbSre In ibe catherine tuilieht the
heard the mournlul owls hooting, and th
distant barking of wolves AT length AIR.
Weston picking up a stout stick for a can,
climbed the hill alone, and from the To
iovfully discovered the houses of Nlachiai
p Tying her handkerchief to bush. that sh