The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
VALLEY FORGE,
A Legend of the Revolutionary War

Hidden away there in q deep glen, not
many miles from Valley Forge, quaint
old farmhouse rose darkly over wide
waste of snow. It was cold dark win
ter night, and the snow began to fall
when from the broad fireplace of the old
farmhouse the cheerful blaze of massive
logs flashed around wide and spacious
room.
Two persons sat there by that fire, q
father and child The father, who sits
wonder, with soldiers belt thrown over
years, his eyes bloodshot, his hair
changed to on untimely gray. his face
wrinkled and followed by care, and by
dissipation more than care.
And the daughter who sits in the full
light of the blaze opposite her father-a
slenderly formed girl of some seventeen
years, clad in the coarse linsey skirt and
kerchief, which made up the costume of
farmers daughter in the days of the
Revolution.
That farmer, Jacob Mannheim, was q
peaceful, a happy man, before the Revo-
luton. Since the war he has become
drunken and idle-driven his wife
broken-heaited to the grave-and, worse
than all, Joined band of Tory refugees.
who scour the land at dead of night,
burning and numbering as they go.
Tonight, at the hour of two, this tory
band will lie in wait, in a neighboring
pass, to attack AMI murder Washington,
whose starving soldiers are yonder in the
huts Of Valley Forge.
Washington on his lonely journeys is
won't 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, Wash
ingtor, who tonight will be attacked
and murdered-to revere him next to
God Nay, more that mother on her
death bed Joined the hands of this daugh-
ter in solemn betrothal with the hands of
young partisan leader, Harry Williams,
who row shares the crust and the cold
of Valley Forge.
Yesterday afternoon she went four
miles, over roads of ice and snow, to tell
Captain Williams the plot of the refu-
gees. She did not reach Valley Forge
until Washington had left on one of his
lonely journeys; so this night, at twelve,
tho partisan captain will occupy the
rocks above the neighboring pass. to
"trap the trappers of George Wash
ingtOn.
Yes, that pale slender girl, remember
ing the words of her dying mother, had
broken through her obedience to her
father, after long and bitter struggle.
How dark that Struggle in faithful
daughter heart She had betrayed his
plots to his enemies-stipulating first
fer the life, the safety of her 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 the old clock is on the
hour of eleven-hark There is the
sound of horses hoofs without the
farmhouse-there is pause-the door
opens-a tall stranger, wrapped Ill a
thick cloak, white with snow, enters, ad
vances to the fire, and in brief words
solicits some refresbment and an hours
repose.
Why does the Tory Mannheim start
aghast at the sight of that strangers
blue and gold uniform-then mumbling
something to his daughter about "get-
ting food for the traveller" rush wildly
into the next room, where his brother
Tories are feasting?
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 All
if we may believe the legends of that
time, few men, few warriors, who dared
the terror of battle with q smile, could
oka ,,nnhoohol hafora hn cplaY,,,,
ence of Washington.
For it was Washington, exhausted
with long journey-his limbs stiffened
and his face numbed with cold-it was
the great "Rebel' of Valley Forge,
who returning to camp sooner than his
usual hour, was forced by the storm to
take refuge in the farmers house, and
claim little food and an hours repose
at his hands.
In few moments, behold the soldier,
with his cloak thrown off, sitting at that
oaken table, partaking of the food,
spread out there by the hands of the
girl, who now stands trembling at his
shoulder.
And look Her hand is extended as
if to grasp him by the arm-her lips
move as if to warn him of his danger,
but make no sound. Why all this silent
agony for the man who sits SO calmly
there?
One moment ago, as the girl, in pre-
pairing the hasty supper, opened yonder
closet door, adjoining the next room,
she heard the low whispers of her faith
er and the Tories; she heard the dice
box rattle, as they were casting lots who
should stab George Washington in his
sleep