Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-03-15


" But if you have opportunity, tell him he
is in the right place for all true men !;
the place where would have him to be-
and may the Lord Of hosts be round about
him.
Brave words and heartily spoken, but
doubtless Priscilla More found it difficult
always to live in spite Of them; we have
the record of her words years after to her
children, when she owned:
Yes. those were verify dark days that
tried our hearts; but even then | never
pitied myself as much as did my cousin
Lucy, whose lover was a tory, and in
safetyn'
Heavily her heart responded to the can
nonading that woke the stiffness of the
sweet June dawn, so long ago, for she
knew the little redoubt that sprang up in
night was shielding those dearest to her,
and that the sun new rising on their brave
defense might fling It's setting rays across
their liteless bodies.
81 cannot bear itr' said little Benja-
min, stealing to her door in the soft light
Z" would be there, too, if | were but a
trille older, sister, and it is not bearable
to be here like girl doing nothing"
+" You will have enough to do, Benja-
min, in caring for US to-day; you would
not leave poor mother with no one to
lean upon, would your
"That Is true enough" grumbed Aunt
Deborah. eve should have been away
from this din of battles, if had my way.
1t was never my will to stay here in midst
of danger and evils, when your UDcir
Nathaniel would have protected US with
his own family"
q am of opinion my uncle does not
find living where he is too comfortable.
And | would as soon be here as shut up
in the midst of the British in Boston, re-
piled Priscilla.
"What better than that are we?"
snapped Aunt Deborah, but Priscilla
would not answer angrily, though it
would have been comfort 20 the spinster
to have had such an escape-valye for her
irritating feelings.
" You know, aunt, my mother could
not be moved away, especially since she
was unwilling to go. Even the example
Of our neighbors had no weight with her,
and, moreover, it seemed as safe here as
elsewhere within many miles"
Mrs. More had grown rapidly more
feeble since the! winter was past, and
though Aunt Deborah complained in
private OF the folly of yielding to sickly
fancies, no one in the invalids room was
more tender and patient than she; if
Priscilla suffered outside for her aunt's
iorbearance there, the loving daughter was
well pleased TO have it SO.
Through the morning the three women
remained closely within the house, while
Ben came in and out with such bits of
news or scraps OF comfort as he could col
lect, and crowds Of anxious citizens filed
the housetops and steeples in the neigh
boring city, or watched from the adjacent
hill-tops the progress of events, When
after midday, the lad came in, to breath.
lessly announce that the British in their
advance had fired the town, and the
flames were spreading widely, his sister
did not ialter, though she grew shade
paler.
g You were longing for mans work,
little brother, and now il has come to
your hands. You must take our mother
away on the pilion, and conduct her to u
safe place; Aunt Deborah and | will save
what we can, and follow rs we may
Indeed, Priscilla, shall hot leave my
sister alone to the care of IA child like
that; whatever l can carry also / will
take, but she Is my first charge"
Doubtless that Is better" said Pris.
ella, simply, as she moved about wrap.
ping up the sick woman, and directing
Benjamin who hastily collected such small
precious articles as he could hope to take
with his mother, on steady gray Dobbin.
" Hold fast 60 Beujamin's waist, and be
OF good cheer my mother said Priscilla.
Please God shall soon see you in safety,
and meantime YOU have "A good pair of
guardians
SO our great grandmother watched the
little cavalcade Join the other Aceing fam
lilies over the Mediord road her mother
leaning on Bcniamins strong young
shoulder, and smiling back with peace
ful courage that was born of the present
desperate strait, to supersede her usual
anxious fear, while Aunt Deborah
stalked grimly at Dobbin's heels, carry.
ing a bundle on her shoulder and looking
as if she would march through the British
lines, If need be, with resolutc, undauntcd
front
But there WAS no time 10 spend gazing
after the retreating ones, when the flames
were rolling nearer, and their glare grow
ing tiercer with each moment.
Il must gather up those things that to
lose would most perpleN my mother and
my father" she said 10 herself, with "a
pang of keen pain, rs she thought OF her
own modest outfit; the piles of snowy
linen and napery marked with her name,
this store OF clothing into which she had
stitched 50 many maiden's dreams and
sweet tanoieS, and with which She had
meant to make herself rs comely in her
lovers eyes. With her arms full OF the
"must HAYES" she stood a moment on the
threshold, then ran back, turned the key
in her cedar chest, and seized the little
box which held some chiei treasures, gifts
from her lover, and the precious silver