The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-10-29
THE GOVERNORS ESCAPE.

BY Fred Myron Colby in Golden Days.
More than a hundred years ago, in the sweet
spring time of the year, pretty little Hetty Mar
win sat in her fathers orchard tending the bleach
ing of the household linen.
On the grass in the sunshine, by the little
brook, lay the long web of fifty yards or more
the spinning and weaving of which had occu-
pied Mrs. Marvin during the long months of the
previous winter
1t had been carried there by the farmer and his
%stout help" on one of the earliest of the warm
spring days, and after being thoroughly wetted
was spread upon the green turf, to pass through
the long process Of whitening necessary, before it
could be cut up for the family USE
Hetty was not old nor strong enough to help
her mother in the heavier work of the kitchen
and the dairy, so it devolved upon her to super
intend the bleaching She was not quite twelve,
a wee bit of girl, with bare feet and profusion
OF soft dark hair that would not be trained, but
persisted in struggling over her pretty face, and
yelling half the time pair of vivacous although
thoughtful dark eyes.
Her task was not hard one Whenever tie
folds Of the linen grew dry, Hetty sprinkled them
-afresh with water obtained from the brook in
whitening.
The rest of the time she sat under the orchard
trees, busy with her book or her knitting, or
romped with TOwser, the big house dog that
bore her company.
On this particular May afternoon, Hetty sat
under an apple-tree, reading Bunyan's Pilgrims
Progress" But, like the notable little house
wife that she was, she did not allow the adven-
lures of Christian and Hopeful to keep her mind
from the task she was overseeing.
The great web Of linen was nearly whtened,
and it had to be mOistened quite often nova
labor that left the little maiden no large amount
of spare time.
This seemed the harder, as Hetty was now at
the most interesting portion of Christians wan
behring's, when that hero and Hopeful were in
Doubling Castle under the surveillance of Giant
Despair and his plotting wife. Every leisure
minute that she had was devoted to the book
The afternoon was very beautiful and still.
The sun shOne warmly upon the green hillsides,
where the violet and the saXifrage were bloom
ing in yellow and snowy and purple glory upon
tfs red farm-h house. set in its frame of lilac bushes
all abloom. and upon the dry and dusty highway
which here came up close to the orchard and
was Joined by wel-traveled path that led from
the farm house through the field, although upon
the other side of the house the broad thorough
fare swept up close to the front yard.
The boughs of the old apple-tree shook their
green leaves TREMENDOUSLY above the head of the
Young housekeeper and the water of the little
brook murmured musically in its channel. as il
tumbled over the messy pebbles to join the broad
Connecticut, not far distant, whose surface was
visible where it emptied into Long Island Sound
peaceful day, with only peaceful sound:
around her, and yet even little Hetty knew that
there were other agencies abroad in the early
summer air.
On the morning of that May day, 1777, look
ing from her childhoOd's home, she had seen the
reflection of the flames in the eastern sky, thai
told of British and Tory vengeance upon New
London.
The night before, when she and her elder siste
were in bed, horses hoOfS had dashed up to tbs
door, and fugitive had been stealthily let in
no less parsonage than Governor GrswOld him
self who fleeing for his life had sought a retrea
among his relatives in this secluded farm house.
Her cousin was still there, concealed behint
her mothers chest of drawers in a hole in tn
wall for she herself had carried his dinner to him
That his enemies were likely at any time to tract
him thither was fact patent to the Marvin
household.
Hetty had not troubled herself much abou
this latter danger to the safety of her kinsmar
Perhaps she had not thought enough about tn
matter fully to understand the peril that woul
accrue to her distinguished relative in case sue
An event happened