The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-18

another survey of the road running
south. Reuben was in the barn. Grand
ma had scarcely closed the front door be-
fore Reuben rushed in at the back door,
exclaiming "The IDiuns are coming The
Ipjuns are cominep At almost the same
instant the chatter of horses feet were
heard, and neighbor rode up in breath
less haste, saying: ga party OF Britishers
are close by Flee to the lakel My family
are therel'
Grandma declared che would not leave
her home; she would stay and fight it
out. But by that time other neighbors
had arrived, and Reuben had the horses
at the door. Her saddle was taken from
the wall and buckled on Black. Grandma
swung her feather bed and pair of
blankets over the horse, and dropping
the steaming turkey and whatever eat
sbles she could quickly gather into bag
mounted and was away.
Reuben hurried to the barn and loosed
the COWS, but before he left the bullets
began to patter around him. He had let
ont the COVE, but forgotten the calves;
and true to their maternal instincts, the
COWS would not desert their young. As
Reuben turned to look back, he saw
Brownie drop with cruel bullet, and
with pang remembered the imprisoned
calves.
The fugitives fed along the shores OF
the lake toward the north, and were soon
out of sight among the hills.
Night came on; and their party-eleven
in number, five of whom were children
were without shelter, and only such pro-
lection as the hastily gathered articles
they had snatched in their flight afford
ed. The men gathered some pine knots,
and with the aid of the old fiint-lock gun
and the contents of the tinder-box, soon
started q fire and proceeded to make a
shelter of fir boughs.
Grandma united the bag of provisions,
and, with the weather near zero, set out
the New Years dinner. The plum pud-
ding came first, and was set down in the
snow. That was to be eaten without
sauce. The brown bread and doughnuts
were little the worse for their journey,
and the turkey had buried his neck in a
mince pie. He would have looked very
dolefal on table proper, but now he was
tempting bird to this furnishing crowd.
After grace-for under no circumstances
would that be omitted, grandma dealt
out to each one liberal portion, say
ing: "Now just eat all you can. I can't
begin to tell all the pride and comfort I
took getting these things ready for John.
I wanted him to have good dinner to-
day. wanted him to know how priced
his coming home, and how proud was
of my rebel. But believe the good
Lord is in it all, and that was to cook
all these victuals against this very time
OF need. I wish, though, had put pizen
over those pumpkin pies before left.
It would have been sight cheaper and
surer than bullets for them red-coats.
The last time John was home, he melted
all my pewter spoons but two, saying I
could get along with wooden ones" Then
as if conscience were getting in little
work, she added, "Maybe, though, the
Lord don't honor fighting that way"
At this moment Cap began to bark.
The men grasped their rifles, and the
whole camp was thrown into consterna-
ton.
The crisp snow gave out the sound of
coming feet, and long whistle was fol-
lowed by rush from Gap. Grandfather's
stalwart figure emerged from the outside
gloom into the circle of freight, and
clasped grandma in his arms. She was
laughing and crying at the same time.
Grandpa had seen the squad of soldiers
in time to evade them. He knew they
we're merely on raid for plumber, and
waited till he saw the house in flames.
Then under the lee of the hill, he made
for the lake, guessing the fugitives would
seek this belt of frs up the shore.
The dinner now went on uninterrupted
with renewed thanksgiving that all were
safe. The stars twinkled and blinked
overhead, as much as to say: "Sleep well.
We have our eyes open, and will guard
YOU" Cap seemed to consider himself on
duty, and no other sentinel was needed.
So intelligent was he that, when the two
deputized to keep the outlook, from sheer
exhaustion fell asleep, he noiselessly
made the round OF horses and camp with
out awakening them.
The next morning they retraced their
steps to their desolate homes. When
grandma came in sight of where was once
their happy home, nothing but shoulder
ing ruins was left. The COWS and calves
had been slaughtered or driven off, and
SO had the sheep. The only living thing
left on the premises was a speckled hen
that crept from beneath the roots of an
upturned stump, evidently recognizing
familiar voices, and illustrating the "sur-
vivaI OF the 6ttest."
Grandma got off her horse, and taking
handful of thewarm ashes from the
hesrth-stone, flung them to the winds of
heaven, exclaiming $50 scatter and perish
every red-coat and Tory in New England
And 1 bequeath my hatred of tyranny's
rule as a legacy to my posterity for