The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-05-12
Selected Storp.
"The Army of TwO."

bles of which ii was composed. In the
harbor lay tossing at anchor one or two
small vessels, and the dories rocked
along the shore, but not person was
in sight, and more peaceful scene
could scarcely be imagined. Although
all nature was lulled in repose in the
soft, sleepy sunshine, the hearts of the
people of that little hamlet were 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
languishing in foreign prisons for re-
fusing to enter the service of the
hated king. The children, listening
eagerly to the stories of seizure, i'm
prisonment and suffering, had caught
the spirit of resistance, and childish
amusements were neglected as they
gathered in little groups and reported
what they had cleaned from the con-
versation of their elders.
The sun shone clear and bright into
the kitchen of the lighthouse on the
point, and in the open door sat the two
little daughters of the keeper, knitting
their afternoon stint on the wooden
socks for their fathers wear the com
ing winter. They were winsome look
ing girls, and, as the glittering needles
flew round and round, their tongues
chartered increasingly of the prevailing
topic of excitement. Overhead in the
tower the faithful keeper cleaned his
lamps and kept watch over the quiet
harbor.
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 car
ried on board that horrid British war
q but Becky, why didn't he run and
hide when he saw the soldiers coming?
Father talked so low and l 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 a sound, for the
boats crew landed quietly behind the
rocks, and stole up still and caught
him from behind, then tied his arms
with rope. His poor wife did not
know a word of it till he called, Good
bye, wife, take good care of the boys
and then he was dragged off, in spite of
her sobs and cries"
"Do you know, Becky, it makes me
tremble 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. 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 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 together, and if anything
should happen we could call the men
from the village. And see the mack
erel fleet are beginning to come in;
how pretty the white sails look in the
sunshine"
The sun sank lower and lower in the
western sky, and tinged with long bars
of cleaning gold the tossing waves.
Little Bessie rose from the stone step
with sigh of relief, rolling up the
coarse sock, and saying: " am glad l
have knit my twenty times around.
How near done are your"
Oh, dear" sighed Abby; 81 have
got to knit around twice more. l wish
/ could work as fast as you do
Suddenly from the tower above rang
their fathers voice, " Abigail. Re-
becca! come up here quick!"
Down went the knitting and with
fleet steps the two girls ran up the wind
ing stairs to the tower.
''Look! look. girls, isn't that a Brit
ish frigate out in the offing? See the
flag flying from her masthead. My
hand trembles so can't hold the glass"
In moment Rebecca seized the
glass and swept the quiet harbor and
the open ocean. " yes! yes. | see it;
it is, father; and see! they are putting
small boat off to shore; it is loaded
with men, and | see the muskets gilt
ter and shine"
Oh?" groaned the keeper, 'w what
shall we do--and the coast-guard gomez
Father" broke in little Abigail, all
her fear gone, and the fervor of the old
Kentish blood firing her eyes, " Father
Becky and will take the old drum and
fife and get behind the point of rocks
and play; maybe they will think we
have some troops here"
"But child, how can you get dowr
there without their seeing the drum?
They have glass, too"
II know" broke in Becky, We'll take
the table-cloth and tie it up in that, and
they will think it nothing but bundle
They won't mind two such little girls
as we are"
&C God bless you, children; it's fain
hope, but the only one, and you ma,
try it. Don't begin to play till hans
out this white cloth from the window
then you will know they are near tn
shore"
Down sprang the girls, and a mo
ment after the little army of two sallie,
out of the lighthouse door, and wit
the bundle between them hurried to tn
rocks which would conceal them iron
the boats crew, while from the towe
the anxious father watched his dan
lings, as with beating hearts but un
daunted they went their way.
The drum is untied-the fife is raise
to Abby's lips, and soon the girls hea
the rattle of oars over the quiet water
Then from the tower flutters the whit
signal and out on the still air rings tn
sharp rat-a-tat-tat of the drum and tn
shrill notes of the fife. 1t wakes tn
echoes among the rocks and startles tn
fishermen from their work on the MACK
erel fieet-while from the dwellings {
the town the men in shirtsleeves an
with muskets in their hands come ruI