Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-02

grand bonGrcs for the boys to work by Then
the little scout, with mule and clothes line,
disappeared over the brow of the hill. A
few rods below this point of vantage, he
stretched the clothes line across the road it
was about foot from the ground aud fasteu-
ed on either side TO the trunk of tree. He
then reported to the chief and received rein.
forcemonts one boy and munitions of war
an empty bag in which he gathered stones.
Meanwhile at the gun the skds had been
well adjusted by the freight and the lifting
went sturdily on. Upon the height OF the
hill Eph awaited the onslaught of the enemy
The deploying force made brave line Of
battle Eph on the right flank with pile of
stones, his aid on the left and the mule in
the centre. They had not long to wait.
heavy team was heard laboring up. Moving
shadows soon were seen in advance Of it.
Now don't waste your stones,' Eph or
ders his command. Don't fire one of them
till you see them Ogdens keel over the rope
and hear them boiler Then pelt away like
Jehu, and whoop like an Indian, and they'll
think it's the regular army"
The enemy came on en- mdSse, they tripped
over the rope 70 beautifully that Eph Stearns,
boy and man, has laughed at the thought of
it ever since, they fell kicking aud struggling
and tangled up as to legs and arms. Rattle
and whiz came the stones in showers upon
them, and, to crown all, the mule cavorted
right down into the thickest of the scrim-
mage as if be had been jobs war horse
smelling the battle from afar.
1t was full ten minutes b fore the Ogden
boys got themselves together again, and dur
ing that ten minutes the last long pull aud
strong pull had been given to the cannon aud
the iron giant was rolling comfortably home
ward in Seneca's wagon.
Then the bovg HOT exultinp shoutinp
made wild break for the enemy as they
came peting over the brow of the hill.
"Sneaks !" calls one, with a stone.
Thieves !" yels another.
"At 'em-6ght EN-! :" shouts another brand
ishing big stick.
Lets lay EN- out thrash EN-
"Hold on Halt !" cries Captain Ethan
with the voice of a trumpet and he springs
to the front of his little troop and faces them,
his arms ahoat with a kind of imprisoned
dominance of voice and mein that hustles
back the pell- nell and advance.
Halt Form in line ~ he calls, and the
wild crowd sways into kind of half circle
about their captain.
"Three cheers for Hennepin county and
the gun !" orders the captain.
Shout, shout, shout. Oh, how they shout
ed That wild hurrah rifted the clouds and
shook the mountains. Then as the echoes
uled away, IN Tue sharp interval OF Suence
that followed Captain Ethan faced around to
the enemy:
Now, gentlemen, what will you have
"Three cheers for Ogden county ~ return
ed the leader.
-"Ogden county-without the gun, ameu!'
piped up Eph like a fife.
But the three cheers were Justify given.
The old Vermont hills echoed and re echo
ed again, aud vast deal Of spleen spent it.
self in those six cheers.
Now, all hands," said Captain Ethan
Allen With a strident voice that cut the air
like a fail. Now, both sides and everybody
give three cheers for the Green Mountain
boys and the Fourth Of July !"
Again, and doubly loud roared out the
great shouts. Again the mountains heard
and the echoes reverberated around the skye.
The stars listened in their far heights, aud
knew that America was stronger nation for
the throb of patriotic telling that pulsed
through those hot young hearts and voiced
itself in those fine huzzas - Margaret Emma
DittO, in July Wide Atcdke.