The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-16

brothers were still away, she had great
deal of responsibility to bear and very
hard work to do. That evening, just before
dusk, she stood at the kitchen window,
when she saw q man, apparently very
weak and weary, struggling up the lane
that led to the back door. He proved to
be a continental soldier who begged for a
nights shelter and something to eat.
Bethiah had often performed similar acts
OF hospitality, and she did not hesitate to
open the door to the stranger, taking him
into the best room, where he rested while
she prepared him nice hot supper. But
he had hardly begun to eat it when the
tramp of horses was heard coming down
the lane.
"'The British dragons are coming,
said the young stranger, starting up. Il
am lost unless you can hide me some
where
"Bethiah had only a moment to think,
but she was quick-witted girl and she
Immediately decided upon clothes.press,
as it was called in those days-a sort of
wardrobe at the far side of her mothers
sleeping-room-and there was Just time
for her to lock her tired soldier visitor in
there aud make some hurried explanation
to her frightened, sick mother, when there
was laundering knock at the door. She
answered it herself, and British officer
with guard of soldiers demanded Lieu.
tenant Carteroon, whom they had seen
entering the house.
q" You must have sharp eyes if you could
see anything but women and children
here said Bethiah you are welcome to
search the house,
"The soldiers went from room to room,
but of course found no one; when they
came to the room where the sick lady lay,
Bethiah asked them to make as little
noise as possible, and they 30 far yielded
to her wishes as not to give this room the
thorough scrutiny they had bestowed else
where. They even passed the clothes
press, and seeing it was locked did not
demand the key.
"After they had gone one of them
reminded the officer in command of the
fact, and he Immediately sent back a
soldier to insist upon looking into the
wardrobe also. The man, however, found
Bethiah attending to her mother, who had
tainted with the fright and excitement.
The girl at once knew his purpose and she
sprang to the door, seizing an old horse
pistol and pointing it at the intruder.
"You shan't come in here shrieked
she, you've almost killed my mother
"The pistol did not happen to be
loaded, but how should the man know
that The girl looked very resolute, she
had the advantage of him as she stood in
the doorway, and the sick woman in the
bed looked as though she were really dead
1t was almost dark and the intruder
soldier though he was, turned and ran
down the stairs, telling his officer when
he got outside that Lieutenant Carteroon
must have escaped, for he certainly was
| not in the house.
"When the war was over, in 1882 and
Bethiah's father and brothers came home
to stay, they brought with them certain
Lieutenant Carteroon, who was no longer
a tired, hungry wanderer, and who after.
wards became Bethiah's husband and
your greatgreat grandfather. l have
often heard him tell the story of the
clothes.press and the empty horse. pistol
which, by-the-by, he always kept as relic
and know that he and my grand
mother always celebrated the Fourth Of
July together as great family festival
He at least, Roger, did not ask what girl
had to do with the Fourth of July."-M
E. Winsloy, in NeW York Observer.