Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-07-29
A Story of l775.

OacE, merely ioi tcSAOo'io 80 We"
frequently the case. he rode unattended
and wore the dress of a civilian. de
had proceeded couple of miles in the
direction of Watertown. when he saw
woman, far advanced in years, sitting
in a doorway and moaning plteousiy.
His sympathy was at once aroused, and
bringing his horse to halt, he in
CURED
I" What troubles you. my good wo-
MANI"
20 SIR" was the reply, "some rebel
soldiers have been here this morning.
and stolen or destroyed everything IN
nv garden. | had cultivated the gar
den with my own hands, and looked to
what should gather from it for the
support Of my invalid husband and
myself. during the coming winter"
MAY l see your husband p
Certainly. He is always glad to
have anv one call upon him."
Washington dismounted. tied bis
horse to a fence, and then followed the
woman into the house, where. on every
side, no found evidences of extreme
poverty. He was, however, cordially
welcomed 10y the feeble old man, who.
bolstered up in bed, extended to him
thin, colorless hand. For half al
hour, or more, the Commander-in-
Chief of the American army held CON
verse with the aged couple, during
which he learned they we're most pro
nounced Tories, and had two sons
their ouly children-among Cages
troops in Boston. Before taking his
departure, he drew some money from
his pocket and held it towards the wo-
maD, say ing
This will enable you to provide for
your present needs" She at first
manifested u rslaotanoe to resolving 1t,
uut finally accepted Il, with protuse
| thanks. Then he promised that It II
Washington should be informed OF thu
treatment to which his soldiers hao
sui cted her.
Gen. WashiEgtonr she exclaimed
He is our bitteresr enemy, and Will.
doubtless. rejoice to know that any Who
y mpath q, with the British have beeI
abu~ed."
II think you are mistaken 10 regart
to his dIsposltiun; hope you are
! least" was the answer, with u smile, a.
| he left the house.
He immediately rode to NJ j'r-Gep-
eral Putnam, Who cOmmanued The
center division OF the stationed
at Cambridge and having acquainted
him with what he had just learned
ordered search for the nArauders t.
be instituted, and that, when identified
they be seut to his hesdq uarters. The
third day thereafter, an aid de-cannp
conducted three soldiers into his pres
ence.
Are you the ones who disgraced
the uniform you wear by piunioriDg u
iefenseless wOmsn's garden Z" asked
Washington. sternly.
"She is Tory" was the indirect
reply.
$50 she told me, and also that her
sons are in the British army. But she
is u toonia. nevertheless, aud for thai
reason, If for no other, entitled to re-
spect. Your wantOn conduct wa
worthy of oppressors rather than OF
those who-ss does the American army
aim to prevent oppression. Accom-
pany them to the woman whom they
molested." addressing the officer hsv-
ing them in charge. aud SEQ that they
fully compensate her for the damage
they wrought. Another offsnse Of q
like nature will not be dealt with so
lieniently."
Later. that same day, while he was
engaged in writing, u servent informed
him that woman waited in an cjoin-
ing room, who was urgent to see him,
privately.
ASK her to step in here" said Wash
ington, laying aside his quill.
When the woman presented herself
before him, he saw she was the one in
whose behalf he had acted few hours
previously. She went to him and
placed her trembling hand upon his
arm. saying, God bless you'll Then
the tears came and she could articulate
no more.
Please be seated, madam" and
Washington placed chair for her.
She seated herself, and, SO soon as
she could command her voice, con.
tinued,-
"Only little time ago, the soldiers
who robbed nay garden came and gave
me sum Of money, more than snM
cient to mako good my loss. From them
learned that my visitor Of the other
morning, was Gen. Washington him.
self of whom had held SO erroneous
an impression, and that it was ut his
-your-oon msnd they recompensed
me. When they had gone, my husband
and l, talking the matter over, came to
the conclusion that such Q commander
80 unlike Gen. G .ge, who ever calle
bis men to account for ally violence or
lsjnIy they may have doue t. the reb-
els would not be- likely to have charge
Of An u Just csus, and, though. We had
been tim auberents OF the King, VT
then ami there resolved to espouse
your Cause in the future think our
,oos. when thes learn what has ue CURED
10 us, will do the same. came her.
to tell you this. God bless yool" and
touching her lips to his hand, she went
from the apartment.
WItnin the month, two soldiers
this wOmans sOns-deseried the British
standard aud enrolled themselves with
those who fought beneath the Il * which
Vas +mDiematIcAl of freedom, Justice,
|eqa,lity. Que Of them Was killed, the
otner was severely wounded in the as.
-ault Oh Q iebec, uuder A, mold.
THIS story WAS often told la B Istop
aud Cambridge during The Revolntion
aud after its Close, but We do not know
hat it has been given IN history.
I is one of many local traditions Of
Washington, aud we present the version
of it that was told by the oldtime IRE
sides
Stories OF popular kings acting the
part Of unknown benefsctors hav- often
oeen told, as. for example, Kiag Henry
and the Miller. K Dg James AMI the
Tinker, but we have not before met
with like incident Of Washington.-
+. L. Foster. in Youths Companion.
June Musings.
Where shall We so this summer
To the mountains or seaside2