The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1878-08-09
Grandmother's Story.

This war was in 1912, and, although
was very little girl, I remember
many things about it very distinctly.
Our father at that time lived In the little
town Of Hampden. on the Penobscot
river, IN Maine, and one beautiful morn
ing in Septembera a neighbor burst into
the house as we sat at breakfast, inform
ing us with breathless haste that Heet
of English war ships was coming up the
river and making for our wharf,
where was nloored for safe-keeping a
prize that some of our cruisers had
taken short time before.
For moment not O word was spoken.
Ny father glanced irresolutely about
him OF the dear, childish faces that
looked up into his in silent terror; but a
feeble wall from the adjoining bedroom
decided him Immediately, and he said
firmly. though with quivering lips:
Eve can not leave them" and he
nodded toward the bedroom; $50 we'll
stay and face the worst together. Don't
cry. Dolly" and he laid his hard hand
caressingly upon the head Of my little
sister. Englishmen are but men after
all, and don't think that there's any
danger of their troubling helpless women
and children.
At that instant the sound of gun
made us start to our feet, and rushing
to the door we could see the stately feet
sailing slowly up the river in the gray
morning light, looking, to our childish
imaginations, like huge birds of prey
ready to swoop down at any instant
upon our helpless little town.
AS the troops landed and marched up
to meet the militia, that were still at
some little distance, fog arose, envel-
oping them in ten minutes so complete
", that a man could not see his way a
yard before him.
.''It's the pillar q cloud" sobbed
frightened Aunt Debby; s'but I du wish
the Lord d let the bright side shine on
them militiamen of ourn.
But the fog was as thick for American
as for British, although, owing to their
superior knowledge of the locality, the
former were much Eurer of their posi-
ton than strangers upon the soil could
be. And here occurred the unlucky
blunder that gave our enemies the ad-
vantage that they could not otherwise
llnNO AdQs - uct h6 tllO lJIlblCA bLOOOp
were defiling past our house, some Of
our men, who we're utterly unframed,
mere raw recruits hurriedly gathered
together for the emergency, commenced
an irregular fire upon the enemy. and
when their commander ordered them
to desist until the lifting of the fog
should enable them to aim with some
accuracy, they fell into disorder at the
first volley fred in return, broke ranks,
and actually took to their heels without
stopping to fire second gun.
In a few hours the British had taken
possession of our little town, disporting
themselves very much like pack of
mischievous boys out on sstime."
They entered all the houses, unceremo-
n 7,sly ordering the frightened house
the larders afforded, a. diff they didn't
happen to fancy dish, disposing of it
on the hearth in the shape Of smashed
crockery, much to its owners chagrin,
for earthen dishes were a luxury in those
days, and broken one was not easily
replaced. They slyly pulled the bung
from the farmers cider barrel, and drunk
his majestys health in rum that his enc
mics were forced to pay for; and now and
then theyfrightened some anxious mamma
pretending to a great fancy for chicken
OF her featherless brood, and insisting
upon taking him on board ship as a
promising recruit In his maiesty's SER
vice.
The frightened people enjoyed these
little pleasantries very much as the
frogs enjoyed that stoning match that
we read about in the old spelling book;
but hush CT horror fell upon man,
woman and child, when the only two
soldiers, who were killed by the unskill-
| fully aimed gums of our troops, were
buried by their comrades in a shallow
trench that they compelled man to dig
| in corner of his door r-yard, wrapped In
a table-cloth that they took from the
table, and laid away.
| At last, as the afternoon waned, they
marched away on the Bangor road, fol
| the purpose Of visiting that then insig
nificant town, and exploring localities ia
which they evidently felt all the curios-
itv and interest of strangers and foreign
ers
The good people. relieved Of theil
| presence, took time to draw long
| breath and congratulate themselves upon
coming off SO much easier than they had
| feared, while neglected duties Of all
kinds presented themselves TO the now
reassured housekeepers. Aunt Debby
/ found time 10 mold and salt her butter,
| while our eldest sister prepared supper.
and little Dolly was sent to the barn k
| faad fhe oosset lamb whose hungry