Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-07-04

Some Of the little 6nes i waIk bat a
short distance IL lime 90 had to be
carried=<Alary havihgs y one, some
times t,s6, Id her arms fvetaI of the
servants were near; BIT pe Of them
seemed 10 notice her uf burdens.--
The last horse had besa aflled of that
very day; there was no eapg but On
foot.
Suddenly, q ball car crashing By
them through tn ts@ess.s ss.ess charge
Of grspe-sh5ss1 Sotsd. ana ni !. -: .. !.
They were exactly in The range of the
guns! 1t was evident they had taken
the worst direction, but there was no
help for it now-it was too late to turn
back. In her agony, the mother cried
aloGd on God to protect her family
Mary Rugged closer the child in he-
arms, and trembled so she could hardly
keep up. Another crash! The shot
shrieked past them, striking the trees in
every direction. The assault was fierce,
the roar was ihcessant: The frightened
family rushed on as swiftly as possible
toward friends plantation, far back
from the shore; but i; was soon seen
that they would not have strength TO
reach it, even n they were not struck
down by the flying shot. The Ameri-
cans were pouring their fire into these
woods, thinking the enemy would seek
refuge there. The wretched fugitives
expected every moment TO be the last.
On they pushed through mud and rain
and screaming shot.
Soon they found they were getting
more Out OF range of the guns. They
began 10 hope; yet now and then ball
tore up the trees around them, or rolled
fcarfully across theirpath. They reached
one Of the houses where their field
hands lived, with no one hurt; they
were OVER a mile from the mansion, and
out OF range. Unable TO fee further,
the family determined to stop here. As
soon as, they entered, Mrs. Gibbes felt
her. strength leaving her, and sank upon
allow bed. Chilled toihe BONG, dtenched,
trembling With terrdf and exhaustion,
the family gathered around hef. She
opened her eyes and locked about
She sprang up wildly.
ooh. Mary !" she cried, where is
John;'
The little girl turned pale. and
moaned: "Oh, mother mother! he's
left" She broke into crying. The
servants, quickly sympathetic, began to
wiring their hands and wall.
"Silence - said Mr.. Gibbes, with
stern but trembling voice. The tears
were in his own eyes. The little child
now missing was very dear to them all
and, moreoter, was deemed a sacred
charge, as he was one of the orphan
children Of Mr.. Gibbes's sister, intrusted
to him on her death-bed.
The wailing ceased; there was silence,
broken only by sobs, and the master
asked:
"tFho is willing 10 go back for the
child?''
No one spoke. Efr. Gibbes turned TO
his vile for COUNSEL. Asthe twotalked
in low tones, Mrs. Gibbes called her
husbands attention to Mary, who was
kneeIing with clasped hands, in prayer,
at the foot of the bed. In q moment,
the little maid rose and came TO them,
saying, calmly:
"Mother, must go back after baby"
"Oh, my child" cried the mother, in
agony, 81 cannot let your
"But, mother, must" pleaded Mary.
"God will care for me-"
1t was fearful responsibility. The
guns yet reared constantly through the
darkness; the house might now be in
flames; it might be filed with carnage
and blood. Mrs. Gibbes turned to her
husband. His face vas buried in his
hands. Plainly, she must decide IT her
self. With streaming eyes, she looked
at Mary.
Come here, my child" she called
through her sobs. Mary fell upon her
mothers neck. One long, passionate
embrace, in which al mother Il love and
devotion we're poured out. and the
cIinging arms were opened without a
word. Mary sprang up, kissed her
fathers forehead, and sped forth on her
dangerous mission of love.
The rain had now ceased, but the
night was still DARK ara tail of terrors,
for through the trees she saw the fte-
quent flashes of the great guns. The
woods were filed with the booming
echoes, so that cannon seemed to be on
every hand. She few on with all speed.
Soon she heard the crashing trees ahead,
and knew that in moment she would
be once more face to face with death.