Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-04-27


as she had endured much trouble. Her
voice was sweet music continued Mrs
Mel and OH how the poor and the
church missed her when she went home af-
ter experiencing much trouble here She
was often at my mothers house when she
first came, and almost worshipped her be
cause of her beauty and goodness
is her dwelling place here yet stand
ing y | inquired.
mo; it was partly burned in great fire
here about twenty years ago As you pass
from the market house to the court house
you may sec the ruins Of it near the creek "
The old lady then stepped to n quaint
looking chest Of drawers, and taking out a
dingy letter written by Flora 10 Mrs Nc.
Is elder sister, then maiden Of twen.
ty, handed 1t to me 20 read It was a brief
note but an exceedingly interesting one, as
it was in the bold handwriting Of the hero
inc Of Skye. | was permitted to make a
copy Of it and h tracing Of Flora's sigma
ture. Here is copy:
Feb /, i7i6.
bedr Maggie. Allan leaves tomorrow to Join
ponnll's standard at Cross Greek, an l shall b,.
alone wi my three BARNS. Gamma We com an
stay wi me aWhuey There Are Troublesome times
ahead, wern. God will keep the right I hope
our al" ar" the right P6R5 P5SyS yGST ySTcfb6ahIb fb%@ Tfd
"Yousee, said Mrs Mel, "she wrote
her name Flory-she always did. The let
ter was written at her new house at Cam
eron Hill, near the Barbacue church, where
the good Mr.. Campbell preached as often as
possible. Flora was piOus member Of the
Barbacue congregation
Then she did not live here long = said
''No. she soon moved % Cameron Hill
about twenty miles north Of here"
On the day when that note was written
the royal Governor Of North Carolina issued
"A proclamation calling upon all friends Of
the King 30 assemble with arms at Cross
Greek aud join his standard The MacDon-
aids we're all staunch loyalists. They had
been loyal 10 the Stuarts, now they were
loyal to the House of Hanover The troubles
Of Flora in North Carolina now began Her
husband and others, to the number Of about
fifteen hundred, mostly Scotchmen, readily
obeyed the call Of the Governor
Flora came with her friends. " said Mrs
Mel. ~ remember seeing her riding
along the line on large white horse and en-
couraging her countrymen to be faithful to
the King. Why, she looked like a queen
But she went no farther than here, and
when they marched away she returned to
her home. She dined with us and the next
day sister Maggie went out 10 Barbecue to
stay awhile with Mrs Mac cDonald, as she
had desired
Nearly a month afterward these Scotch
loyalists we're routed dispersed made pris-
oners or killed in battle at Moore's Creek
bridge. Flora's husband was among the
prisoners and was sent to Halifax Jail He
was soon afterward released on parole.
when he left North Carolina with his family
for Scotland in a British war-soop On the
way the vessel was attacked by French
H.. 81 & 81 1
seamen and marines appeared to desert
them, and capture seemed inevitable They
were about to surrender when Flora ap-
peared ON deck, aud by works and deeds so
stimulated their spirits that they beat OF
the enemy, and the MacDonalds were land
ed safely on their nntive soil Of the Isle Of
Skye. During the engagement Flora was
severely wounded in the hand She re
marked, when speaking Of her peculiar sit
uation, II have hazarded my life both for
the House of Stuart and the House Of Han
over, and do not see that | am "A great
gamer by it,"
Flora Macdonald was the mother Of five
sons and two daughters She retained
much Of her beauty and all Of her lowell
ness Of character and dignity until the last.
She was always modest, always kind, al
ways sweet and benevolent in disposition
She died early in March, 1890 and was
buried in the cemetery at Kilmuir, in the
Isle OF Skye. Her shroud AS she had re-
quested long before her death, was made of
the sheets which the Young Pretender,
whom she helped 10 escape TO France re
posed at the house of her kinsman, the
Laird of Kingsburgh, on the night before he
sailed for the continent. Two years later
the remains OF her husband were laid by
her side. Their resting place was covered
with greens~Hrd for eighty years. In 1871
a beautiful monument was erected over
them.
when the news OF Flora MacDonald's
death came to the Barbacue congregation,
said Mrs. Mel, "a solemn funeral ser
vice was held in the church, when the Rev.
DR.. Hall preached a sermon"
The venerable lady attempted to tell the
story of Floras exploit which made her ia
nous, but her narrative was so mixed and
meager that il was unsatisfactory. | will
endeavor TO give the narrative as concisely
and clearly as possible from the best author
tiles, prefacing the story with the remark
that | regard my personal interview with
one who had conversed with the heroine as
IA memorable privilege. | gratefully press
ed the hand Of the old lady when bade her
good-by.
The Young Pretendcr," as Prince
Charles Edward Stuart grandson of James
| II. of England, was called, had landed in
| scotland to attempt the recovery of the
| British throne, from which his grandfather
had been driven nearly sixty years before,
| lie drew hosts Of adhereuts around him.
| lie fought battles with the English, but was
| finally beaten at Culloden. His followers
were dispersed and he was for five months
"A fugitive, hunted from mountain and glen,
| from crag to cave, among the highlands Of
| Scotland. lie at length found a hiding
| place on the Isle Of Uist, one Of the Heb
rides, and friend in Laird Macdonald
To the house Of this Laird came his young
kinsvunan Flora, in June, l1iG, beauti-
lul aud romantic girl fresh from school at
| Edinburgh, 10 visit her relatives The
island was swarmiug with soldiers in search
uf the Prince, at the head of whom was
| ltlora's stepfather The fugitive could not
much longer elude his pursuers Lady
| Macdonald had conceived plan for his eS
cape, hut found no assistant willing to
brave the consequences. Flora heard the
plan and became deeply Interested She
had seen the Prince when he and his follow
ers rode into Edinburgh,
'Will You undertake TO assist the Prince,
Flora Z" asked Lady Macdonald.
81 will was the prompt reply.
She was Joined in the perilOus enterprise
by "a young kinsman, Neill Macdonald. Flora
obtained from her stepfather a passport
from the island, with Neill and three 9th
ers as a boats crew, and Betsey Burke, n
stout Irish woman, whom she pretended to
have engaged as "a seamstress for her mother
in the Isle of Skye.
Betsey Burke was the Prince in disguise,
On bright afternoon the little party em-
barked from Uist, A terrific storm burst
upon them that night, but they reached
skye in safety the next morning. Con
lronted by soldiers on shore, they rode east
ward and landed near the home of Sir Al
exander Macdonald. Leaving the Prince
among the rocks, Flora told her secret IA
Lady Macdonald, who entertained them all
for the night,
On the following morning Flora accom-
panied the Prince 20 Portree. She had con
Quoted him as her servant through crouds OF
soldiers and people who were eagerly seek
ing him, for a reward of $3.50, 900 had been
offered for his arrest. A small vessel was
at Portree ready TO convey the fugitive out
L a. q l.