The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-05

ACnOC anu OCn1uO CNCIS llCCs wan VI
clump of bushes by the roadside. Uncle
Jasper and had a shot at a squad who
passed near US and little Jonas popped
up from behind the wall and threw a
stone after them with his sling.-We
are jubilant over the result, although
there were more than fifty of our brave
men killed and many more than that
number wounded. My father and nv
three brothers were among those who
followed the rapidly thinning army to
Charlestown; and while others grieved
over their dead we have our patriots all
at home safe and sound and impatient
for another chance at the red-coats.-
When they came in late at night,
smoke-stained and weary, they bore in
their arms a wounded man, red-coat
whom they had found fainting and near
ly dying at the foot of the raspberry
wall. When he was laid upon couch
father and both recognized him as the
polite officer whom we had met in
Boston.
''Ho, lassr' said my father. "Do
you see? We asked him to come in
May, he has but forestalled his invita-
ton, we must do our best by him."
One might think that, since the out
break, there is less trouble in the air.
The farm work goes on, the fruit-trees
are budding, the birds build their nests
and my little brother maneuvers his boy
company; but the storm which is gath
ering in silence must break with great
force ere long. 1t seems to me so fool
ish to fight for the rights which are our
due as c0l0niStS merely. Why not throw
off the British yoke altogether? Were L
a man 1 would 90 to Boston and put
that question to the crowd in the Hay
market Square. 1t is my fathers SEN
timent. and it is good DR.. Warren's and
Samuel Adams and Mr.. Hancock's and
although they talk together in whis-
pers they do not yet proclaim their
ideas publicly.-Our invalid officer
has improved greatly under moth
er's careful nursing, although the
musket-shot in his thigh makes it
painful for him to move. He endures
the suffering with great fortsude and
enGeavors to give as little trouble as
possible. He is a gallant gentleman.
1t is great pity that he is a red-coat
His manner and conversation are both
very elegant, and when combined with
his expressive eyes, agreeable cOunte-
nance and soft, low voice he is really
very charming. He and my father talk
for hours upon the justice and in
justice of our cause, and although
the gentleman's arguments have the
grace of elOquence my fathers have the
ring and strength of justice. My father
and his wounded guest talk and talk
in the intervals OF my fathers work.
The officer calls his host Cincinnatus;
and declares that we are living an ideal
life here in this lovely spring and early
summer weather; that he breads the
shock which is to break the charm which
holds us. Ever and anon when my father
and brothers are in the field he breaks
out to me in burst of real poetry over
the natural beauties with which he is
surrounded. He declares that the won
drous glory of the spring compensates a
hundred fold for the severity of the
winter. The verdure, the early flowers,
the soft warbling of the birds, the very
luxury of the cherry trees shade as the
heat augments, all seem to possess a
powerful charm for him. Sometimes |
wish that he were less delightful in his
talk and manner, we shall so grieve at
parting with him. Even my busy, nota-
BILE mother feels the force of this. He
was talking to her of me yesterday, l
thought as caught word in passing,
that he was urging it upon her as a duty
to send me to England for the advance
ment of my education. would never
consent to such a project.
AS sat on the door stone under the
spruces making that last entry in this
little book our guest said softly:
You should call that record a daisy
chain, for each entryis adaisy pure and
white as your spotless, maiden soul,
strung on the fine, strong thread of your
daily life. l would give worlds to read
it" l shook my head without looking
up, but knew L blushed to my very
ears, for, glancing back along the writ
ten page, l found that many of the
" daisy records" as he called them,
were concerning him.
You will take the dear little book
with you to England, will you not?" he
went on. " and allow me to read it after
you are my wife?'
THAT time will never come" l cried
excitedly.
And why not?' he persisted, "your
parents are willing. l have talked them
over TO my side. They fully appreciate
what the advantages for you will be-"
"My parents willing to have me marry
one who has taken up arms against my
countryr' l flashed. "Let me tell you,
sir, it will never, never be; never
neUern' and in a great passion ran
away into my own room. 1t is all too
cruel. love my country next to my
God-better than | love my own life,
and now | know that were our guest
patriot he would stand next to my
country in my affections; but L will
never marry a royalist; never, neUer.
| dreaded to meet our guest after this
and tried to avoid him the next morn
ing, but he called to me in his usual
soft, sad tones: "All hail to the, Miss
Annie viii you kindly will that my
crutch shall come to my aid?" As 1
handed the horrid, stout, spike-pointed
stick without which this stalwart young
man cannot move from his arm chair,
l could not help glancing up into his
face. He looked so very, very pale that
my heart smote me and the ready tears
ran down my cheeks and upon the gar
ments was ironing, when heard him
tell mother that he had not slept at all
during the night. 80, it was not my
bodily wound" he replied, still in an
swer to her kindly inquiries; "but one
thinks a great deal in times like these"
Uncle Jasper came to-day, still quite
lame and walking with the aid of
stick. He has been securing about the