Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-05-03
"THE ARMY OF TWO >


gust, 1882, and the tide rolled gently
over the long beach at Scituate, wash
ing with soft murmurs the glistening
pebbles of which it was composed.
In the harbor lay tossing at anchor
one or two small vessels, and the do.
ries rocked along the shore, but not
a person was in sight, and more
peaceful scene could scarcely be inn
agined. Although all nature was
lulled in repose in the soft, sleepy
sunshine, the hearts of the people of
that little hamlet were ill at ease, for
not a day passed that some tale
of British aggression did not reach
their ears and even now fathers and
sons from their own little number
were languishing in foreign prisons
for refusing to enter the service of
the hated king. The children listen
ing eagerly to the stories of selznre,
Imprisonment and suffering, had
caught the spirit of resistance, and
childish amusments were neglected as
they gathered in little groups and re-
ported what they had CLEANED from
the conversation of their elders.
The sun shone clear and bright in
to the kitchen of the lighthouse on
the point, and in the open door sat
the two little daughters of the keep
er, knitting their afternoon stint on
the wooden socks for their fathers
wear the coming winter. They were
winsome looking girls, and as the
glittering needles flew round and
round, their tongues chattered un-
ceasingly of the prevailing topic of
excitement. Overhead in the tower
the faithful keeper cleaned his lamps
and kept watch over the quiet har-
Dor.
"Abby, don't you feel sorry for
poor Mrs. Chapman and the boys?
Just think how we should feel to see
our father dragged away from us,
and carried on boaid that horrid
British war ship"
"But Becky, why didn't he run
and hide when he saw the soldiers
coming? Father talked so low, and |
was so sleepy last night L didn't
hear it ALL"
"Why, you see, he was working
in his garden not far from the shore,
and bending over pulling weeds. He
was so busy he did not hear sound,
for the boat crew landed quietly be-
hind the rocks, and stole up still, land
caught him from behind, then tied
his arms with rope. HIS poor wife
did not know a word of 1t till he call
ed, Good bye, wife, take good care
of the boys and then he was drag
ged off in spite of her sohs and
cries"
''Do you know, Becky, it makes
me tremble all over to think of it,
and [ wish the coast guard had not
! gone out to his mothers this after
noon. | feel just as if something
would happen here. | know she is
, awfully sick, and he wanted to see
her once more, but l am afraid Just
the same.'
"Well, Abby, l don't feel bi,
afraid, for father told me he would
+ keep watch from the tower, and we
have got his drum and fife here. You
Y know we can play one tune together
e and if anything should happen we
S could call the men from the village
And see! the mackerel feet are be-
ginning to come in; how pretty the
white sails look in the sunshine.''
j The sun sank lower and lower II
S the western sky, and tinged will
long bars of cleaning gold the toss
t ing waves. Little Bessie rose from
: the stone step with a sigh of relief
rolling up the coarse sock and say
: ing: Il am glad l have knit IN,
twenty times around How nea
0 done are you?"
y ''Oh, dear!' sighed Abby; 81 hav,
got to knit round twice more.
y wish | could work as fast as you do. ;
;, Suddenly from the tower abov
rang their fathers voice, ''Abigail
- - Rebecca come up here quick !''
IS Down went the knitting and wit
t. fleet steps the two girls ran up th
d winding stairs to the tower.
IF Look look girls, isn't that
British frigate out in the offing? Sc
u the flag flying from her mast head
>, My hand trembles so | can't hold th
1t glass;
a In moment Rebecca seized tn
Id glass and swept the quiet harbor an
the open ocean. Eyes yes [ Sc
a. it; it is, father; and see they al
!" putting small boat off to shore;
T. is loaded with men, and l see tn
d. muskets glitter and shlne.''
at "Oh?' groaned the keeper, "wha
:" shall We do-and the coast guar
L. gomez"
III Father broke in little Abigail
y ,' all her fear gone, and the fervor c
- the old Kentish blood firing her eyes
is "Father, Becky and l will take th
II old drum and fife, and get behind th
point of rocks, and play, may b
id they will think We have some troop
ed here"
= ;, But child, how can you get dow
IN there without their seeing the drum
ID They have glass too
5: Il Know broke in Becky, 1--WE