Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-23
1.-THE ARMY or TWO"


Mrs.. y. cdvatra IN Harper's Bazar.
1.-THE ARMY or TWO"
That scared a British FrIgate from
Scituate In Is12.
1t was a sunny afternoon in August, 1872
and the tide rolled gently over the long
beech at Scituste, washing with soft muir.
mers the gistening 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 person
was in sight, and a more peaceful scene could
scarcely be imagined. Although all nature
was lulled in repose in the soft, sleepy sun
shine, the hearts of the people of that little
hamlet we're i'll 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 Ian
gushing in foreign prisons for refusing to
enter the service of the hated king. The
children listening eagerly to the stories of
seizure, imprisonment, aud suffering had
caught the spirit of resistance, and childish
amusements we're neglected as they gathered
in little groups. and reported what they had
Cleaned from the conversation of their elders.
The sun shone warm and bright into the
kitchen Of the lighthouse on the point, and
in the open door sat the two little daughters
or the keeper, knitting their afternoon stint
on the woolen socks for their fathers wear
the coming winter. They were winsome
looking girls, and as the glittering needles
flew round and round, their tongues chatter
ed increasingly of the prevailing topic OF ex-
citement. Overhead in the tower the faith.
ful keeper cleaned his lamps and kept watch
over the quiet hArbor
ABBY, don't you feel sorry for poor Mrs.
Chapman and the boysT just think how we
should feel to see our father dragged away
from US, and carried on board that horrid
British war ship"
But Becky why didn't he run and hide
when he saw the soldiers coming2 Father
talked so low, and was 80 sleepy last night
l didn't hear it ALL"
why, you see he was working in his gar
den not far from the shore, and bending over
pulling weeds. He was so busy he did not
hear sound, for the boat crew landed quiet
ly behind the rocks, and stole up STILL and
caught him from behind, then tied his arms
with rope. His poor wife did not know
word OF 1t till he called, Good by wife, take
good care of the boys, and then be was drag
ged of in spite Of her sobs and cries"
DO you know, Becky, it makes me trem-
ble all over TO think of it, and l wish the
coast guard had not gone out to his mothers
this afternoon. l feel Just as if something
would happen here. 1 know she is awfully
sick, and he wanted to see her once more,
but am afraid just the same"
WELL Abby, l don't feel bit afraid, for
father told me he would keep watch from the
tower, and we have got his drum and fife
here. You know we can play one tune to-
gether, and If anything should happen we
could call the men from the village. And
see the mackerei feet are beginning to come
in : how pretty the white sails look in the
sunshine"
The sun sank lower and lower in the west
ern sky, and tinged with long bars of gleam-
ing gold the tossing waves. Little Becky
rose from the stone step with a sigh of re-
lief, rolling up the coarse sock and saying
II am glad have knit my 20 times around.
How near done are you?"
"Oh dear! !" sighed Abby; 81 have got to
knit round twice more l wish could work
as fast as you do"
Suddenly from the tower above rang their
fathers voice, Abigail ~ Rebecca come up
here quick !"
Down went the knitting and with feet
steps the two girls ran up the winding stairs
to the tower.
Look look girls, isn't that British
frigate out in the offing2 See the flag flying
from her mast head. My hand trembles so
1 can't hold the glass"
In a moment Rebecca seized the glass and
swept the quiet harbor and the open ocean.
"Yes yes l see it n is, father and see
they are putting a small boat of to. shore it
is loaded with men, and l see the muskets
glitter and shine"
"Oh !" groaned the keeper, "what shall
we do-and the coast guard gone ?"
Father" broke in little Abigail, all her
fear gone, and the fervor of the old Kentish
blood firing her eyes, Father, Becky aud
will take the drum and fife, and get behind
that point OF rocks, and play, may be they
will think we have some troops here"
but child, how can you get down there
without their seeing the drum? They have
glass too"
~ know" broke in Becky, "we'll take the
table cloth and tie it up in that and they will
think it's nothing but bundle. They won't
mind two such little girls as we are"
God bless you, children it's faint hope,
but the only one, and you may try it. Don't
begin to play till hang out this white cloth
from the window, then you will know they
are near the shore"
Down sprang the girls, and moment after
the little army of two sailed out of the light
house door, and with the bundle between
them hurried to the rocks which would con-
ceal them from the boats crew, while from
the tower the anxious father watched his
darlings, as with beating hearts but undaunt-
ed steps they went their way, perhaps to
death, for il the boats crew should land,
what treatment would his brave girls receive
at the hands Of the angry menY
The drum is united, the fife is raised to
Abby's lips, and soon the girls hear the rattle
of the oars over the quiet water. Then from
the tower fiutters the white signal, and out
on the still air rings the sharp ratR.tat tat of
the drum and the shrill notes Of the fife. 1t
wakes the echos among the rocks and star
ties the fishermen from their work on the
maekerel heet-while from the dwellings of
the town, the men in shirt-sleeves and with
muskets in their hands come running down
to the shore.
And still the martial music rings out clear
and shrill--with not quiver nor a pause
and the boats crew hear it too-their oars
are suspended In air look of rage passes
over the faces of the seamen as they see the
rallying on the shore, and with muttered
curses against the Yankee troops for baking
them in their purpose, they turn and row
swiftly back to the frgate. As they board
the vessel after their fruitless effort, one
heart on deck throbs with exultation, for
neighbor Chapman, held a prisoner in sight
of his own little home, thanks God that their
purpose was not accomplished, and that none
of his friends have been seized to join him in
the service Of George ILL.,, or to suffer, as he
has already done, the torture of the dark
prison ship.
The men from the village have reached the
shore, and looking eagerly around for the
ooast-guard, are amazed TO see in the place