Litchfield enquirer., 1876-08-17


 rious 8 commander i'll the more active warfare in which the land forces were en gagged. As tune passed by, fuund my hiking for this young man to grow moie and more. the which gave me great pain for had noE gwen my promise to Con sider Diliaway. and though I had mol heard from him, doubted not but thai he kept his troth to me with leal heari and true. Being much vexed in mind and chiefly with my own unrnly heart which would prefer this fascinating Frenchman to the plain youth to whom had given my word, I chanced one day tc open my psalm-book to @ hymn which Consider and I had oft-times sung to gether, and as read it anew it came te me as sign, and could say with faith,
 And cheerful wait His Will;
 Thy hand which guides my doubtful feet
 Shall my desires fulfn.''
 That same day my father brought a mes sage from Considers family in Roxbury, none of them knowing what such message might mean to me, saying that he was without dOubt slain, being missing after a battle ill New Jersey, from which it was thought the British had carried away no prisoners. These woful tidings so sad dened me. for methought that by my in. decision had wished for his death, and so was in a manner accountable for it, that had no longer any heart for -.
 ''The duu farce. the empty show,
 Of powder, pocket glass. and beau,"
 and had much ado to keep from my father and from Louis d:Etoile the true cause of the change ill my spirits. My father, in- deed. took the reason to be that was un- happy because our guest was soon to leave us, the fleet having orders to depart for the West Indies. And Louis d'Etoile himself, though possessed with as much mOdesty as is ever granted to vain man, did become imbued with the same notion, and piled his cause with such warmth and confidence as only Frenchman can use without offence, urging me to become his wife and. that without delay. 'For, quoth he, ''who knows that we shall ever meet again; and if should be wounded on some field of battle, you would then have an undlsputed right to come to me and cheer my soul in it's departure on the great journey" My father likewise deem ed 1t advisable that should be married before his departure, and wait with my aunt the return of my husband, for he was about to set out himself. He knew not but that he might soon give his life for his country, and he wished to see me settled in life before he died. My aunt also thought that bid fair to become an ancient spInster. having now reached the mature age of eighteen, and advised my being wed with all haste possible. And so wed we were in Kings Chapel, though not by Dr. Gamer, it being the greatest display that had here taken place since his departure, the organ which Handel had selected pouring forth his most joy. ous music, the bell changing merrily, and all, even to the horses to all the coaches, wearing wedding favors. We were carried home in President Hancock's coach, and Madam Hancock herself gave the wedding breakfast Then my father and my hus- band departed. and was left again with my aunt ill guise more like to a widow than a bride. ...
 had news from my husband after the affair of Saint Lucia, and after the victories of Saint Vincent and Grenada 1 received also the following letter from him after the attack on Savan-
 MY wiaru- or4oo rD.-Da; Do.oro y,~- terday the Count d'Estalng, cooperating with General Lincoln. landed his troops and began furious attack on Savannah. We fought for the space of an hour upon the breastworks. Twice the American flag was hoisted, and once planted the It was desperate assault, but all to no purpose. While we had been waiting in sight of the town, rein- had arrived, and we were driven back. Count Pulaski was killed. and Count d'Estaing twice wounded. l myself received scratch, but that is of no consequence. save that your white cockade Is all stained and spoiled.
 II am in the confidence of the count, and he says we are shortly to return to France I cannot come for you, so come to me, my beloved one. Write me when you start, and where in England l shall meet you, addressing me at.
 ''All thine, LoU1s."
 did not receive this letter until long after it was written, and had then to com with my father, so that it was not until the spring of 1780 that I was ready to depart.
 Madam Hancock then placed me in charge of her very good friend Captain Scott, commander of a London packet, and gave me letter of introduction to another friend ot theirs, the artist Copley, at whose house in London was to meet my husband The letter which I wrote, hlm of this arrangement, went over in the same ship with me; and while waiting for him in London, I improved the time by having my portrait painted by this artist, which sent back to my aunt to keep as a pleasant surprise for my father when he should return from the field. About month following, my hus- band came for me and took me to his own home.
 Iv.--THE PEACH -CoLoRED VELVET.
 shall have to pass briefly over my so- iourn in the pleasant land of France. My husbands family possessed small cha teau in La Vendee, not far from Fonte- nay, which after several years passed to him by the death of his father. Together with my husbands sister Ernestine, we passed our time alternately here and at Paris, the slight ''scratch" of hich my husband spoke being of sufficient impor tance to place him for time upon the retired list of officers. I had the honour at one tune to be presented at court. and on that occasion was attired in a peach -colored velvet gown profusely gar nished with gold-lace. l was much touch ed by the sweet and gentle manners of the Queen, as we'll as by her marvellous beauty; and now I first knew nay husband to be sad fatterer. for he loved most to to say that resembled Marie Antoinette. I know not which most enjoyed at this time, the gayety of the great city or the simple pleasures of our country home, where our children were born, and where, with them. I looked from my pointed win- dow to see the fields gay with cookies and Marguerites. with here and there wind mill slothfully stretching it's g. eat arms, like unto the sluggard awakening from his slumber. The peasants were simple and kindly folk, and loved us right loy- ally, and never would we have been in- jured, even in the terrible days of the Reign of Terror. had we but remained with them; for if the battlements of the chateau had not been strong enough to defend us, there was not chGuDlSere in all the country which would not have re- ceived and secreted us. But at the first muttering of the storm my husband, thinking that he might be of use to his royal master, and that so long as Lafay- cite remained at his post there was still hope for the country, betook himself tC