Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-17
THE RAJ OF NA TIA MEL TO- OWN-
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A STORY OF GENERAL PUTNAM's ESCAPE AT
HoRsENEoK AND OF HOW THE OLD POWDER
HOUSE WAS SAVED.
few months ago an effort was made by
two students Of colonial history to fix with
accuracy the precise place where General
Putnam took his traditional plunge down the
steep preoipice in the town of Greenwich
An aged man whose early. years had been
spent with those who witnessed the incur
sion Of the British into the town, some Of
whom professed actually to have seen the
rascible patriot spur his horse over the Jag.
ged and appalling declivity, was a welcome
though voluntary guide for these investiea-
tors. This veteran, as he stood on the brink
OF the precipice, the wind tossing his long
white locke, e1citedy denounced the tradi-
tion a. a myth, and asserted that General
Putnam disappeared from the astonished red
coats, not by plunging down the steep rock,
but by dashing into q bride path made OBJ
scure by the thick underground of bushes
and the interlocking Of branches. He led
the students to the spot where traces Of the
old path were yet to be seen, and, suddenly
stopping by the followed and ragged stump
of an oak Of large circumference, said
Right here lived Nathaniel Townsend, on
the very day that old Put escaped, and be
did a braver thing than that which people
say the General did" Then he told the sto-
ry as be had it from one who knew it:
hut fianked the bride path through the
woods that skirted Horseneck Hill. By all
accounts, 80 skilfully had its builder Joined
the chestnut logs, and 80 srtfully had he ar
ranged the rough clapboards which covered it,
that 1t was pleasant TO look upon, rather than
such an unsRhtly object as a solitary cabin
in tho 10 80, ~. A
pute, whose farm house stood on the level
plain that stretched back from the brow Of
the precipice, had suffered the builder and
occupant there to live rent free, e1acting on
ly in return such assistance as the tenant
could give upon the farm. He had chosen
the spot, because, by reason of natural
opening between the trees, q vista of the
rich green valley below, Of the river beyond,
and OF the blue waters Of the Sound, and far
away the seeming meeting OF the misty Long
Island hills with the horizon, could be OBJ.
tanned. Here lived Nathaniel Townsend, and
he was won't on fine days, Just as the sun
began to tnge the water OF the Sound away
in the east, to sit by the door of the cabin TO
enjoy the sight.
He thus sat perhaps an hour after sunrise
on morning in June, 1878, and be was
mendiDg q small net. He seemed, however,
10 be listening as he piled his great bone nee
die and when be lifted his face from his work
he glanced anxiously down the path. At last
his fingers stopped with the twine half drawn
through the loop, and he listened.
"Yes, It's she" he said, aud he cast bis
net down and went inside. In an instant be
returned to the door, having bunch of wild
flowers with him. The dew of the morning
still seemed to be upon them, for the tender
blue violets were unwilted, and the pink
azalea blossoms were unfaded. and the sprig
Of laurel fresh as when plucked. He cast
his eyes down the path awaiting the coming
Of some one around the bend.
Soon there appeared a young girl, who
came tripping along with as much ightness
OF step As the narrow, briery path permitted
Her dress, though of the coarse home-spun
linsey woolsey OF that time, hung so grace
fully upon her slender, lithesome figure, the
white and ribbed calssh that fell back and
down almost upon her neck revealing her
brown hair all dsordered by her wrestling
with the bushes that intertwined over some
parts of the path, her cheeks blooming by
reason of her exercise in the morning air, and
her blue eyes, that but half allowed look of
recognition to go from them to Nathaniel as
she passed-all these combined to make a
picture that to him was fairer and more fas-
eina,ing than the most gorgeous sunrise that
he had ever seen.
n lOOh VI hOEIOW uitttu IOI moment over
his rugged face as she tripped by with no
smile for him, scarcely a token that she knew
he was there. He had less hold Of her
thoughts, be saw, than the tree that she
passed, far less than the scarlet tanHRer that
she frightened, for upon that she stopped to
look.
As she watched this brilliant. colored bird.
Nathaniel made bold to approach her, but 1t
was with amazing shyness and confusion that
this broad shouldered, stern -vissged young
man called her by name.
Mistress Rose" said he, and SO timidly
that she scarcely heard him.
"Oh, it's you, is II" said Mistress Rose
Bush with an indifference that she could not
but know most grievously panied him.
'Yes, l saw you when you passed below"
That is not strange. l passed your
house"
II wouldn't do it, Mistress Rose" he said.
''Do what?' she asked, now for the first
time looking at him.
81 suppos you went by this short cut on
some errand to your uncle below. wouldn't.
There be rumors of another advance of the
British and it might happen at any time that
you would lind yourself a prisoner Go by
the highway, or, il there be need Of haste,
come to me and will gladly do your errand
for you. 1t is safe enough for you to come
the short distance between my house and
yours, though the way ia rough"
She looked at him with q half-amused ex-
preston, ganoing once at his feet and then
she said "If there be need of haste, do you
think you could go more than quickly than
II"
His face showed that she had panied him,
so she quickly added "Well, then, Nathan
iel, you mean we'll enough. The next hasty
errand that have I'll intrust to YOU"
hAnd Won shall aaa how onicklv n will he
done, in spite-in spite of my misfortune"
he said. Then he added, l presume you
we're at the ball last evening ~
Her face frightened at the recollection that
he stirred. Indeed, was, and General
Putnam did lead me in the minuet and did
dance with one of his aids, handsome Off.
Ger, Nathaniel, and with many others.
could be happy il there was ball every
night"
"And did many seek your favors in the
dancer"
"Of course. More partners could have
had than would have been enough for a doz-
en- dances more"
"Of course-of course. l knew II, and
glad it makes me, Mistress Rose"
why should it please you so, Nathaniel?"
"Who else of all the village maids should
be SO eagerly sought for favors, mistress ?"
She looked demurely at him that she might
conceal her delight because of such compli-
ments even from him.
Then he took the flowers that he had con
cealed behind his back all this time and said
"You were so blooming this morning, mis-
tress, that l did almost doubt that you did
dance all the night. / surmised that the fra
GRANGE Of some buds of the woods might re-
fresh you, so picked them after you passed
by on your way below. You will lind them
very sweet"
She looked at him in surprise, and then
she laughed, tossing her head prettly to one
side and the other as she did So
''lhat is the strangest care-all that ever
heard Shall boil them like catnip or like
pennyroyal, Nathaniel2 Why, they grow
wild in the woods, Nathaniel, and, IL 1 want
cd flowers, there's sweet william aud sweet
pea in the garden"
SIN truth had not thought of that" said