Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-06-18
Vermont Patriots.

a
was not the Vermont of to-day. Con
fiicting claims had retarded it
growth, and that territory bounde
by Lake Champlain on the west an
the Connecticut River on the eas
was somewhat behind other states il
population. The Green Mountain
running parallel with the lake wer
sparsely settled but such inhabitant
as had made their homes in that re
glon were of the sturdy type, and a
| "Green Mountain boys in the Rev
olutionary War made a notable recorC
in the days of 1776.
The Wilcoxes' stony farm lay OIL
the east side of the lake and on the
sunny western slope of the mountain
From the log house perched on a rise
of ground, one could see the blue wa,
ters of Lake Champlain in the sum.
mer time, with Fort Ticonderoga in
the emerald background. To the left
was Mount Defiance, on the summit
Of which Gen. Burgoyne's troops
showed themselves the previous
Fourth of July, with a battery of
heavy cannon which they had drawn
along the ridge by night, and placed
in that commanding position.
The scenery in summer was beau
tiful; but at this season of the year,
the lake was an ice-ield, the hollows
were filled with snow, making almost
dead incline, and the evergreens on
the mountains were burdened with
their white coverings.
Grandfather was at first 'Emin-
ute-man." That meant go when you
were called, and no delay. If the
horses were harnessed to the plow,
leave them and start; though, when
the messenger warned him out to join
Ethan Allen in the taking of Fort Ii
conderOga, Sin the name of the Great
Jehovah and the Continental Con-
gress," he did stop to unloose his
horses from the pillow, that they might
90 home as a token to his wife that
he was off to the war.
After that, with his fiint-lock gun,
he had joined the patriots under the
command of Schuyler, and marched
by way of Lake Champlain to Cana
da, and, after the taking of Montreal
came home, his term of enlistment
having expired. But that was only
for grandma to buckle on his sword
again to meet BurgOyne. The old
forts, right under their very noses,
had been recaptured by the British.
The summer passed; and grand
ma, with Reuben's help, had tended
the farm and cared for the horses,
COWS and sheep. Many a time grand
ma had said: "When John gets
home, won't he be surprised to find
things in such good shape! The corn
is in the crib, plenty of hay in the
barn; and L guess he'll enjoy having
plenty of milk to drink
The second battle of Saltwater had
been fought in October, land Burgoyne
compelled to retreat to Saratoga,
where he surrendered to the rebels
The prospects were good for a little !
respite, and grandfather had sent |
word he would be home on New
Y Year's Day. In honor of so great an
event, the house had undergone a
thorough overturning. To be sure
there were but two rooms, and bit
Of dust was never allowed lodging
place but that made no difference.
An extra scrub with soap and sand
vas indulged in; and now, on this
January morning, everything was in
prime order for the reception.
Grandmother was up early in the
morning, busy with her household du-
les. She was going to give grand
ather a royal dinner. | don't know
'ut, if she should see the word "roy-
- applied to one of her dinners, she
7ould rise out of her grave and or
er the obnoxious word stricken out,
he so thoroughly detested anything
avoring of the crown or Toryism.
The chicken, mince and pumpkin {
les, plum pudding and loaves of
rown bread-wheat bread there was
one-were done to a tnrn, and stood :
n a shelf waiting to be eaten. The
lrkey gobbler that was master of t
he barn-yard on Christmas Day, and :
aunted his red muffier and spread
all, to the utter disgust of the more l
oberly attired fowls, divested of all |
is fine feathers, was sputtering and S
izzling in the tin baker before the t
replace. The potatoes, already |
eeled, were in q pan of water on /
de table, waiting to be put in the I
ettle of boiling water that hung on
he crane to receive them. There /
as general air of expectation t
bout the place.
Grandma had been on tiptoe for t
yo hours. Between little nervous f
ouches of things here and there, she t
ould open the door and look toward S
he lake or cast a hasty glance out of 7
le window,-looking, longing, hop q
lg, fearing. a
The Dutch clock, with it's polished
ice, stood against the wall in lofty f
ignity, and slowly tolled the hours. e
struck eleven, twelve; and, as the il
ands travelled on toward one o clock,
randma dropped the potatoes in the O
OF, and with considerable anxiety \
,epped to the door for another sur n