The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-25
asked the blacksmith. Had anybody but
John RnDples rnlahed into the smithv in

asked the blacksmith. Had anybody but
John Ruggles rushed into the smi1hy in
that manner and made such a remark of
q sudden, he would have heard how ter
ribly John Folsom could speak when he
had mind to-. But ever since John Rug
giles had been. stunned by stroke Of
lightning, and was found in the lot sense
less, with his coat and waist coat thrown
over little Abby TO save her from the
rain and storm, John Folsom's words to
him were as gentle as those OF his gentle
wife's, especially as the stroke had SEEM
ingly blotted out the greater part of John
Ruggles' reasoning powers, as well as
frightened the little that was left.
"The British came over the sound,
say. and they did enter the house of Gen.
Silliman last night, while he was sleep
| ing, and they took him and the boy in
the small boat back to. Long Island, where
they will keep them as prisoners, if they
don't shoot them first.
"The vengeance of God be upon Them"
shouted John Folsom, throwing down his
hammer and bracing up his small
clothes.
"Why, father, do you imprecates What
IS the meaning OF it,"
! So said Miss Abby as she stood on the
threshold of the shop, with a bunch of
purple lilacs in one hand and some white
ones in the other. She wore no bonnet.
but instead, a cap that only partly con-
cealed her thick dark hair. Her petit
coat seemed to be OF homespun, and was
not long enough to hide foot of which
she was as proud as she ought to have
been. Her father did not heed her, but
went on down the main street in terrible
excitement. "
"Cause enough-cause enough to call
for vengeance These words came with
muffled tone, as if from the fireplace,
but Miss Abby knew we'll enough who
uttered them.
"Come now, 1 beseech you, John, tell
me what this IS that has stirred my faith
er so greatly"
She seemed to be talking to John Rug
gles' legs. He had, at the sound of her
voice, thrust his head up one of the Chin
neys, so that an inch or so of his red
waist-coat, his leather short clothes, and
his wooden stockings were all that was
left visible of him. But this Miss Abby
took as matter of course. For, from
the day he had been struck by lightning,
with little Abby in the lower meadow
with him, he had avoided the sight of her
face, so that he concealed his own in the
places most easy OF access when he came
upon her sud 1enly. 1t he ventured into
John Folsom's kitchen, he did not heed
the gentle mother, who was said to have
some OF England best blood in her veins
but so surely as Miss Abby came into the
room, John would 60 to the cupboard or
great open fire place, and once, being. in
need of haste, he thrust his head into the
huge brick oven and took in the fragrance
of mince pie while singing song and
| talking to Miss Abby.
They had come, long years ago, to pay
no attention to this, saying that it was
visitation from heaven, and remarking
that "God moves in mysterious way"
But if John Ruggles could not bear to see
Miss Abby, there was no person for whom
he would sooner use his big muscle, eth
er by way of walking, running, or dig
glng paths in the snow so that she might
safely venture to church in the winter
season.
"Tell me, John, what is the meaning
of this? Why does my father talk SO
earnestly with Mr.. Dickerman, and Mr..
Peter Davenport, and with the other
young men, as I see Linn now over on the
Westinghouse steps?'
"The British have taken away General
Sllliman and the boy" came in reply
from the chimney, and then, to the mel
ody Of "China,' issued forth the first
lines of the hymn beginning:
Broad is the road that leads to death"
| "Captured Gen. Silliman!;' said Miss
Abby, interrupting the melody, her eyes
flashing. "Who did, and howe Tell me
now, John Ruggles."
John told her as laconlcally as he had
announced the abduction of the General
to her father.
"Then he must be recaptured," said
the tair Miss Abby, stamping her little
feet.
"And he will be- come from the CHM
ney.
Back from the meeting house steps
came John Folsom with a dozen men,
young and old, about him.
"You will recapturc the General and
his son, father"
"With Gods help" John Folsom an
swered.
"And you will help my father, I ven
ture, Ezekiel Dickermanp' she said, to a
young man whose figure was too large
and symmetrical for his clothes.
"That we will,'' replied Ezekiel, for
himself and the others.
81 pray you, if any of you have the &C.
quaintance of the manner Of capture, tell
me, that we may know how best to act"
said Miss Abby, with the decision of a
commander.
"Not so, Abby. Go back to the house
and assist your MOTHER John Folsom
answered. 1--WE will bring lack the Gen
eral."
"And his son." said Ezekiel, looking
slyly at Miss Abby.
"And his son." said the other young
men. ...' 80
''But must know it. 1 will. You,
Ezekiel, you will not refuse me?"
Ezekiel put his three cornered hat
under his arm, and with more color in
his face than strong man ought to have,
except while granting favor to one so
tair as Miss Abby was, told her that
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