The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-12-12
A CUP OF TEA.
A Story Of the Times That Tried
Mems Souls.

Mems Souls.
ssThe British are comingr'
It was a fearful cry unto the ears OF
those upon whom it fell that warm
April day. Whispers Of a. purpose on
the part of the red-coats had reached
the town of Lexington several days be-
fore, and now the whisper had culmin-
ated in hoarse, full-throated cry:
1.-The British are coming!'
Mrs. Sanderson had finished her
ironing, and after rocking the baby
to sleep, swept up the hearth and set
the kettle on for the cozy meal she
meant to prepare for her husband and
her brothers when they should return
tired and hungry from the village.
She had just got out the precious canis-
ter of tea, which, ever since the terri
bic fuss in Boston two Christmases be
fore, she treasured as one of her most
valued possessions, when her brothers
burst into the little kitchen with the
thrilling cry:
we do?" cried Mrs. Sanderson, wiring
ing her hands.
s.DoPa' answered her husband, who
caught her words as he came hurrying
in behind the boys. do? Why, meet
the pesky critters on their way to Con-
cord, where they are bound, and scat
ter every mothers son OF 'em to
atoms" and he pulled his musket
down from its place and looked quite
equal to the murderous deed.
They will pass here, right through
Lexington, then, Silas," said Mrs. Sam
derson, catching up the baby from its
cradle and holding it tight to her
breast
Mot If we can help it mother
We're only seventy men strong, to be
sure, but keep up your spirits there's
a fire and feryor in the American heart
that can outblaze any dull, Pickering
flame of courage in the breast of King
Georges hirelings! Come, boys! we've
not amoment to lose" Then kissing the
sobbing woman, and bidding her keep
up,n 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 J"
and looked out of her window down 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.
ssOh dear! What shall do?" she
cried again. "They may pass by here
and pillage the house and kill baby and
mel Then, as thought struck her,
sI'n escape to the woods before they
reach the road l shall be safe in the
little log hut the boys built last win
ter"
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 beloved tea caddy standing upon
the table, she said to herself, and she
laughed afterwards when she recol-
lected how ridiculous and trivial it was
at such serious time. ssThe Satan
Sous redcoats shall not have any tea for
their supper, so therei' and she quick
" emptied the contents of the caddy
into an old battered coffec-p0t and hid
II in the oven.
81 guess you'll have to whistle fol
your cup Of tea in this house, Mr.. Brit.
!. isher r said she, as she ran hurriedly
ont Of the house toward the piece 81
woods half mile or so away.
It was dark now and growing cool,
though the weather for the season had
been warm. Patches of snow still
fingered on the hedges and in paths
which the sun could not reach at mid
day. The wind whistled through the
bare boughs. and she was chilled
through when So reached the little
hut in the woods The baby Weakened
and cried, and his voice seemed louder
and shriller than ever before. Shs
Rugged him closer 70 her bosom and
stilled his cries quickly, lest some
prowling British soldier should detec
fheir hiding spot :
Flashes Of fire and the sound of til,
excited voices Of the men could b,
heard in the distance. With q prayer
npon her lips for the safety and pres
ervation of her loved ones, Mrs. San
derson at last succumbed to nature
and lay down to rest. Tired and wor1
ont with the fatigue and excitement O
the day, she soon fell into . profouni
e1umber.
g was late IN the morning when sh,
Wakcned. In spite of the discomfort
and cold In her strange quarters, sh,
had slept soundly through the night
the baby too had been unusually good
and had not disturbed her. For an in
sfAnt she could not recover he
{ thoughts- Where was she and wha,
did it al meana Then . fash of recol
lection swept across her daxed brain
snd she remembered I'll.