Smyrna times., 1878-08-21
Romance of Valley Forge.
BY GEORGE LIPPARD.

hidden away there in a deep glen, not |
n,anv miles from Valley Forge, quaint |
nIS aI farmhouse rose darkly over wide
mostn Of snow. 1t was a cold dark winter |
,,;rbt the snow began to fall-when from |
.he broad fireplace of the old farmhouse |
.bo cheerful blaze of massive logs flashed |
sround wide and spacious room.
Two persons sat there by that fire, a
father and child. The father, who sits
yonder. with soldiers belt thrown over
his farmers dress, is man of some fifty
wears. his eyes bloodshot, his hair changed
to an untimely gray, his face wrinkled and
bollowed by care, and by dissipation more
than care.
And the daughter who sits in the full
lobt of the blaze opposite her father-a
slender formed girl of some seventeen
wears, clad in the coarse linsey skirt and
kerchief which made up the costume of
farmers daughter in the days of the Revo-
luton.
That farmer, Jacob Mannheim, was a
peaceful, happy man, before the Revolu-
ton. Since the war he has become
drunken and idle-driven his wife broken
hearted to the grave-and, worse than all
Joined a band of Tory refugees, who scour
the land at 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 and murder Washington, whose
starving soldiers are yonder in the huts of
Valley Forge.
Washington on his lonely journeys is
wont to pass this farm house; 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, Washington
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 daughter in solemn betrothe
with the hands of a young partisan leader
Harry Williams, who new shares the crust
and the cold of Valley Forge.
Yesterday afternoon she went four miles
over the roads of ice and snow, to tell Cap
tain Williams the plot of the refugees
She did not reach the Valley Forge until
Washington had left on one of his lonely
journeys; this night, at twelve, the partisan
captain will occupy the rocks above the
neighboring pass, to strap the trappers" o
George Washington.
Yes, that pale slender girl, remember
ing the WOfuS Oh her uylLR nOIueT ia
broken through her obedience to her father
after long and bitter struggle. How darl
that struggle in faithful daughters heart
She had betrayed his plots to his enemies
stipulating first for the life of her traito
father.
And now as father and child are sittin
there-as the shouts of the Tory refugee
echo from the next room-as the hand {
the old clock is on the hour of eleve
there is pause-the door opens-a ia
stranger, wrapped in a thick cloak, whit
with snow enters, advances to the fire, an
in brief words solicits some refreshmeI
and an hours repose.
Why does the Tory Mannheim sta
aghast at the sight of the strangers bit
and gold uniform-then mumbling som
thing to his daughter about "getting foe
for the traveller" rushes wildly into I'll
next room where his brother Tories a
fasting?
Tell me, why does that young girl star
trembling before the tall stranger, veiliT
her eyes from that calm face, with its bll
eyes and kindly smileP
Ah-if we may believe the legends
that time, few men, few warriors, wi
dared the terror of battle with a smil
could stand unabashed before the solen
presence of Washington.
For it was Washington exhausted with
long journey-his limbs stiffened and
face numbed with cold-it was the gre
"Reber' of Valley Forge, who, returnir
to camp sooner than his usual hour, W
forced by the storm to take refuge in Il
farmers house and claim little food al
an hours repose at his hands.
In few minutes, behold the soldiC
with his cloak thrown off, sitting at tn
oaken table, partaking of the food, spre
out there by the hands of the girl, who NJ
stands trembling at his shoulder.
And look Her hand is extended as it
grasp him by the arm-her lips moved
IT to warn him of his danger, but made
sound. Why all this silent agony for
man who sits SO calmly there?
One moment ago, as the girl in prepari
the hasty supper, opened yonder clio
door, adjoining the next room, she hea
the dice box rattle; she heard the
whisper Of her father and the Tories
they were casting lots who should 81
George Washington in his sleepl
But now the words: Beware, for &
night you dier' trembled half formed uE
her lips, when the father comes hast
from that room and bushes her will
look.
Show the gentleman to his chant
Mary-that chamber at the head of
stairs, on the left. On the left you min
Mary takes the light trembling and p
They stand on the landing, in the VIM
the farm house, composed Of two roo
divided by thick walls from the main b
of the mansion. On one side, the righ
the door of Mary's chamber; on the otl
the left, the chamber of the soldier
him a chamber of death.
For moment Mary stands ii
trembling and confused. Washington g
upon that pale face with look OF surpl
Look She is about to warn him OF