Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-08
A CUP OF TEA.

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the whisper had eliminated in hoarse.
fulI-throated cry
1.-THE British are comingw
Mrs. Sandcrson had finished ner iron
ing, and after rocking the baEy to sleep,
swept up the hearth and set the kettle
on for the cosy meal she meant to pre-
pare for her husband and her brothers
when they should return tired and hum
CRY from the village. She had just got
out the precious canister of tea, which,
ever since the terrible fuss in Boston two
Chrismases before, she treasured as one
of her most valued possessions, when her
brothers burst into the little kitchen with
the thrilling cry:
''Thc British are comingw
s'Oh, dear Oh, dearl What shall
we DOR cried Mrs. Sanderson, wringing
her hands.
..Do?r answered her husband, who
caught her words as he came hurrying in
behind the boys. doe Why, meet
the pesky critters on their way to Con-
cord, where they are bound, and scatter
every mothers son of 'em to atoms;" and
he pulled his musket down from its
place and looked quite equal to the MUIR
derous deed.
''They will pass here, right through
Lexington. then, Silas, said Mrs. San
derson, catching up the baby from its
cradle and holding it tight to her breast
Not if we can help it, motherl We're
only seventy men strong, to be sure, but
keep up your spirits; there's fire and
fervor in the American heart that can
outblaze any dull, Pickering flame of
courage in the breast of King Georges
hirelirgs Come, boys we've not mo-
ment to lose" Then kissing the sobbing
woman, and bidding her keep up, the
men fastened on to their brave duty of
defending hearth and home.
Again the CRY resounded on the clear
spring air: ssThe British are coming!'
and looking out of her window on the
village that lay little ways below, Mrs.
Sanderson could see the signals; and now
the bells rang out and signal guns were
firing
''Oh, dearl What shall do9" she cried
again They may pass by here and pill
lage the house and kill baby and me-"
Then, as thought struck her, ssPll es-
cape to the woods before they reach the
road. shall be safe in the little log hut
! the boys built last winter"
She wrapped the child up warmly as
she spoke, and throwing heavy bed
quilt about her own shoulders, was about
to start, when catching sight of her be-
loved tea-caddy standing upon the table,
she said to herself, and she laughed af-
terward when she recollected how ridic-
ulous and trivial it was at such s3Esous
! time, 1.-THE Satanious redcoats shall not
have any tea for their supper, so there!"
and she quickly emptied the contents of
the caddy into an old battered coffee pot
and hid it in the oven.
II guess you'll have to whistle for
your cup of tea in this house, Mr..
Rritisherr' said she, as she ran hur-
riedly out of the house toward the piece
of woods half mile or so away.
1t was dark now and growing cool,
though the weather for the season had
been warm. Parches of snow still fingered
on the hedges and in paths which the
sun could not reach at midday. The
wind whistled through the bare boughs.
and she was chilled through when she
reached the little hut in the woods. The
baby wakened and cried, and his voice
seemed louder and shriller than ever
before. She Rugged him closer to her
bosom and stilled his cries quickly, lest
some prowling British soldier should
detect their hiding spot.
Flashes of FIRE and the sound of the
excited voices of the men could be heard
in the distance With prayer upon
her lips for the safety and preservation
Of her loved ones, Mrs. Sanderson at
i last succumbed to nature, and lay down
to rest. Tired and worn out with the
fatigue ana excitement of the day, she
soon fell into q profound slumber.
It was late In the morning when she
Weakened. In spite of the disccmforts
and cold in her strange quarters, she had
slept soundly through the night; the
baby too had been unusually
good, and had not disturbed her.
/ For an instant she could not re-
cover her thoughts. Where was she. and
what did it all meang Then . fash of
recollection swept across her dazed brain,
aEd she remembered ali.
She made her way at length TO the
edge Of the woods and looked down to-
ward the village The fighf seemed to
be raging fiercely, but could she believe
her eyes,. Is, shading them with one
hand, she seemed to see the red-coats
fleeing back toward the Boston road.
closely pursued BY the Minute men9
Il They have been routed and are re-
treatingl Brave men oE Lexington ~
she cried. proudly. as she watched with
brcathless interest tho quick march Of the
enemy. which were driven before the
Americans ike lock II sheep
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