Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-03-03
A ROMANTIC RELIC.

old museum, in Philadelphia, bow an(
quiver which had a history. What be
came of the articles whom the curiositie.
of that museum were divided, do no
know. An African Prince, captured il
baltic, begged so hard That his bow anC
qujver, which had been his fathers, might
be left in his possess ion, that the request
was granted. Captivity, of course, meant
slavery. For a boggarly sum he was sod
/ by his black captor to a SLAYER, and in
time found his way to South Carolina
whore he became the property Of Col
Motto. lie brought his bow and quiyol
with him, and in his new home, with ar
rows fashioned by his own hand, he
/ brought down many n choice bit OF game
| for his masters table. The slave was
strong and remarkably Intelligent, as
we'll as willing, and as the master was
kind aud humane, the life OF the dusly
prince was far from unhappy or rksome,
The whole family priced him, and he, in
turn, became strongly attached to them.
At length the slave died, and after he
had gone, his bow and quivor, tho story
OF which he had often told in eloquent
language, were preserved rs relics OF the
faithful servitor in the Coloneps family
tor the family could not but gratefully
remember tho services, the fortitudo, and
the unswerying fidelity OF the strong and
gentle lambo.
During tho Revolution Col. Motto fell
while lighting for liberty. In the cam
paign OF 1881 his widow was driven from
her house on the Congareo river, and the
place was turned into British garrison
and strongly fortified. In timo this gar
rison was bosleged by detachment OF
the American army, but its detonses were
50 strong that the force was not sufficient
to take it by assault. The American
commander, who was South Carolin-
ian, and an old.tlme friend Of the Mote
family, went to the widow, now living
in poor hut within sight Of her stately
mansion, and told her ,hat the preserya
ton OF her house and property was the
only mpedimont to the capture Of the
British.
What would you do ?" asked Mrs
Motto.
"Sot the mansion ON fire and burn
them out," was the officers reply.
And how will you set it on fire ?"
81 have not yet thought, madam. |
have regard for your wishes in the mat
ter, and wished first to consult YOU"
The widow reflected while, and then
asked
When would be a favorable moment
for applying the torch ?"
" Tins very night, after the sontinol,
are posted, and the rest Of the garrison
asleep"
'.Makc your arrangements" sad the
patriotic woman, land at your signal /
viii set the house on ire Tor you"
- \ ou ?"
A" \ 1s. | will do it,"
Tho officer saw that she was in earnest,
and he went his way to make prcpala-
tons.
And then The widow went at her work.
One Of the children had brought away
with them from the house Iambo's bow
and quiver Of arrows. Tho arrows were
long and finely made, with steel heads
and deicatey feathored shafts. Win Il
! Ilt aF l.o-a. f,,,, -Io ,,oJo t,r,.l.,.a . q a..
arrows, the prepared heads Of which she
set in pail flied with spirits Of turpon-
tine.
Atll o'clock at night the American
commander came and told Mrs. Motto
That all was ready. Taking the pail,
with the soaking arrows, in her hand,
she called upon her stout negro servant
10 attend her. lie was powerful lol-
low, and used to tho bow. Arrived Mt a
favorable locality she opened her lantern
and lighted q pitch wood splinter. Then
/ Cuhae liked an arrow-torch to the bow
string and the widow set the innamma-
bic tow on fire. In another instant the
fiery messenger was sped on its way, and
it alighted upon the roof OF the mansion,
far from the immediate reach Of the gar
rison.
BY the time FIVE Of these ignited torch,
es had been surely landed upon different
parts Of the roof, the mansion was in
flames beyond the power Of the aroused
! inmates to sub1un tLao
And yet the brave, noble woman did
not lose much Of her property. The Bri-
tiah, sorely frightened, aud fearing a
horrible death by fire, laid down theiI
arms and surrendered, and then joined
with their captors in e1tinguishing the
flames, which was accomplished before
the fire bad extended below the ganets.
Lecturer.