The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

ished face, stood against the wall in
lofty dignity and slowly tolled the
hours. 1t struck eleven, twelve, and
as the hands travelled on towards
one O'Clock grandma dropped the
potatoes in the pot and with consider
able anxiety stepped to the door for
another survey of the road running
south. Reuben was in the barn.
Grandma had scarcely closed the front
door before Reuben rushed in at the
back door, exclaiming, "The Injuns are
coming The Injuns are comingl" AT
most the same instant the catter of
horses feet were heard and neighbor
rode up in breathless haste, saying,
I" A party of Britishers are close by!
Flee to the lake! My family are there!''
Grandma declared she 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 a pair of blankets over the
horse, and dropping the steaming
turkey and whatever eatables 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 out the cows, 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 a pang remembered
the imprisoned calves.
The fugitives fled along the shores of
the lake towards 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 protection as the hastily-gathered
articles they had snatched in their flight
afforded. The men collected some
pine knots, and with the aid of the old
flint-lock gun and the contents of the
Undertook soon started fire and pro-
ceeded to make shelter of fir boughs.
Grandma united the bag of provis-
ions, and with the weather near zero
set out the New Years dinner The
um-pudding came first and was set
down in the snow. That was to be
CCtlCl NlJllOul SduCC' uC DlONn DIttu
and doughnuts were a little the worse
for their journey, and the turkey had
buried his neck in mince-pie. He
would have looked very doleful 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 a liberal portion, say
ing, Now just eat all you can. l
can't begin to tell you all the pride and
comfort l took getting these things
ready for John. | wanted him to have
good dinner to-day. wanted him to
know how l priced his coming home
and how proud l 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. / wish,
though, | had put pizen over those
pumpkin-pies before l left; it would
have been sight cheaper and surer
than bullets for them red-coats. The
last time John was home he melted up
all my pewter spoons but two, saying |
could get along with wooden ones"
Then, as if conscience were getting in
little work, she added, " Maybe,
though, the Lord don't honor fgting
that way"
AT this moment Cap began to bark;
the men grasped their rifles and the
whole camp was thrown into conster-
nation.
The crisp snow gave out the sound
of coming feet, and a long whistle was
followed by rush from Cap. Grand
fathers stalwart figure emerged from
the outside gloom into the circle of fire.
light and clasped grandma in his arms;
she was laughing and crying at the
same time. Grandma had seen the
squad of soldiers in time to evade them.
He knew they were 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 uninter-
rupted, 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 eX-
haustion fell asleep, he noselessly
made the round of horses and camp
without 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
smouldering ruins were left. The
cows and calves had been slaughtered
or driven off, and so had the sheep.
The only living thing left on the prem
ises was speckled hen that crept from
beneath the roots of an upturned
stump, evidently recognizing familiar
voices and illustrating the survival
of the fttest'
Grandma got off her horse, and
taking a handful of the warm ashes
from the hearthstone flung them to the
winds of heaven, exclaiming: " So
scatter and perish every red-coat and
tory in New England! And l bequeath
my hatred of tyranny's rule as legacy
to my posterity forever"