Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-05-06

swung her yards round, and lay quiet
about half mile from the First cliff.
They were going to land to burn the
town. With their spy.glasses the peo-
pie could see the boats lowered to take
the soldiers ashore.
Then there was confusion and up
roar. Every horse in the village was
put into some kind Of team, and the
women and children were hurried of
to the woods behind the town. The
men would stay and offer as braye q
resistance as possible. Their guns were
light and poor, but they could use the
old fish house as fort, and perhaps
make brave fight Of it. If worse came
to worse they could at last retreat and
take shelter of the woods. 1t was a
splendid sight. Five large boats man
neil by sailors, and filled with soldiers
in gay red coats. How their gunsglit-
tered in the sun !. The oars all moved
together in regular order, and the off,
GERS in their fine uniforms stood up to
direct the expedition. It was d coura.:
geous company coming with a warship
and cannon to fight helpless fishermen
So Rebecca and Abagail Bates thought
as they stood up in the lighthouse tow
er looking down on the procession OF
boats as it passt the point and enter
ed the harbor.
oh, if were only mani cried Re,
becca.
what could you do? See what a
lot of them, and look at their guns!'
4 don't care. I'd fight. I'd use
fathers old gun-anything. Think OF
uncl e's new boat and the sloopp
Yes, and all the boats.
It's too bad, isn't it?
Yes, and to think We must sit here
and see it all, and not lift a finger to
help.
DO you think there will be fight?'
i don't know. Uncle and father
are in the village, and they will do all
they can.
See how still 1t is in the town.
There's not a man to be seem
oh, they are hiding till the soldiers
get nearer. Then we'll hear the shots
and the drum.
The druu! How can they! It's
here. Father brought it home to mend
last night
Did be? Oh. then let's
See, the first boat has reached the
sloop. Oh! oh! They are going te
burn her.
It's too bad! too
where is the drum2'
It's in the Kitchen
I've great mind to go down and
beat itp
what good would that do"
Scare en-
They'll see it was only two girls
they would laugh and go on burning
Just the same.
No. We would hide behind the
sand hills AMI the bushes. Come
let's
oh, oh, look. The sloop's on fire.
Come, can't stay and see it any
more. The cowardly British, to burr
the boats. Why don't they go up te
the town and fight like
Come, let us get the drum. It'll
do no harm and perhaps
Well, let's. There's the fife, too
we might take that-with u.s.
Yes, and we'll
No time for further talk. Down t.
the steps of the tower rushed the tive
patriots, belt on dong what the.
could for the country. They burst int
the kitchen like whlrlwind, with rosy
cheeks and flying hair. Mrs. Bates
sat sorrowful gazing out Of the window
at ihe scene Of destruction going on IL
the harbor, and praying for her coun
try, and that the dreadful war nigh
soon be over. She could not help
Sons and husbands were shoulderine
their old guns in the town, and ther'
was nothing for her to do bat to watcl
and wait and pray. Not So with TIN
| two girls. They meant to do some
thing, and, in the fever Of the excite
ment, they got the drum, and took tn
cracked fife from the bureau drawer
Mrs Bates, intent on the scene outside
did not heed them, and they slippet
out by the door, unnotlced.
They must be careful, or the soldiers
would see them. They went round p