Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-02


Swinging IN the grapevine swing.
samuel w. Peek h Times Democrat.
AN INCIDENT IN TIfE AMERE
CAN REVOL UTTOM
The sun was slowly rising in the east
Brighter and brighter grew the great round
ball, until with II sudden movement it seem
ed 10 burst and golden, dazzling flood
covered the sky. The birds were slowly
wakening first a faint peep was heard
and as family answered then sudden
twitter and the air was full of bird voices
The flowers were lazily, drowsy opening
their petals, and all nalure, refreshed by
still nights slumber, awoke TO a probable
day Of joyousness.
! 1t was Just after the battle of Long
Island where the Americans, pressed in on
/ every side had suffered a serious defeat
and the Tories were everywhere-in the
| bushes, up the trees, taking possession of
comfortable farm-houses anywhere where
rest was to he found there also was found
a Tory.
Good Farmer Whitcomb, among all the
mass Of British, was IA true patriot in the
cause of freedom, but residing as he did in
| a Tory neighborhoOd, outside from very
near neighbors he was thought TO be 10y
| alist.
Great CONSERVATION reigned in the kitch-
| en- of the farm house ON that beautiful
morning, for news of the American defeat
| had Just reached there. Joel Ashley, the
1 boy who had brought the news, just now
added to his tale, "And do you know that
they are going ~ the different farm houses
/ demanding shelter and food. | shouldn't
wonder bit but what they would soon be
! here " he added, comfortngly.
The nasty varmints not a rest or a
morsel Of food will they get here, and if
| they demand it-why, they will find out
| with whom they have 70 deal, and Ger.
| tainly Mistress Dorothy looked fierce enough
/ to make the bravest heart quail as she
stood, with one hand upraised as if to
strike the foe with large iron spoon
| which she held and the other hand placed
/ defantly on her hip.
"Sh, sh, ~ murmured the old man, ''if
/ thine enemy hunger"
! "Now, father, you just keep quiet
| there's no use in quotin' Scrptur' tn me,
/ when know them Britishers are comm
/ you know if 'twan't for your blindness and
my bein' a woman there would he two of
| the hest soldiers in the Continental army
/ rs they would want
just then was heard the patter of tiny
feet, and the door was burst open, admit
| ting little girl, followed 10y young WON
an.
'The Tories have beaten - exclaimed
/ Mistress Dorothy.
"No - the young woman answered sur
prise
"But | say that they have, and, what's
more, they'll probably come here and ask
| for lodgn' and food. I'll give it to EN-
] 4 f.,. A,.l Itaf fh.r
hustled around, setting breakfast on the Ia
BILE.
"Well. well, was all Patty Whitcomb
could find to say, but she finally exclaimed
Mother, if you refuse them admission,
they may seize the property and fire the
house,
That's so, ~ the old woman said musing-
ly. 81 suppose if it comes to the worst
wen have to let them in Breakfast is
ready come, father
They had no sooner sat down than a
knock was heard at the door. The two
women looked at each other, and the old
mans lips were just framed to say, Come
in, ~ when his wife said "No you don't,
father; I'll meet EN-" but the younger
woman was even quicker, and the dame
sat down ON her chair.
But for all her bravery Patty felt a sort
Of faint heartedness creeping over her.
She threw open the door, and there, to con
firm her worst fears, stood two soldiers in
the uniform of the hated redcoats. Good
morning good MISTRESS said the older
man, stepping forward Il pray you to
give us bit of breakfast, for we have had
long fast and my comrade here is all but
completely exhausted.
Conquering her repughance with mighty
effort, she managed to say "You and your
comrade may enter and partake of our
breakfast"
With grateful look, both men crossed
the threshold. Mistress Dorothy sat rigid
ly in her chair. She had tightly closed her
eyes when the knock was heard, and had
kept them closed, until the strangers enter
ed the room, and now she glared ferociOus
~ at them through her glasses. Her daugh-
ter law, noticing these glances, stepped
behind her and whispered, Not fierce,
mother not so fierce, or they will surely
suspect something"
"Don't fret. Perhaps you would like me
to go up to them and shake hands with EN-
and say why didn't they come before, and
hope they'll stay-oh the wretches," and
the old lady shook herself with a grim We
hemence.
The two invaders were not so fierce and
terrible looking, indeed, for soldiers who
had Just won u victory. They looked
strangely worn, weary and disheartened.
Mistress Patty felt stir Of sympathy in
her heart, for the younger man reminded
her so vividly of her husband, who was so
bravely fighting in the true cause in fact,
little Dorothy went up TO him. laid her
dimpled hand ON his knee, looked trustful-
" up in the handsome face bent over her
| and said, Papa"
"And where is papa, my dear " he asked,
/, lifting the child on his knee.
"'Way, way off, fghtin' the"
r dorothy :" her grandmother's voice
sounded like gravel crunched viciously to-
: gether, "your mother is going to feed the
r chickens and you'd better help her" With
: that she began busily to clear off the table.
, II don't suppose you want anything more 2
she suddenly said, when the table was al
} most cleared.
2 ''No we have had sufficient, thanks tc
2 your kindness courteously replied the old
3 er man.
, "'Tain't no thanks to me at all " she re-
turned tartly. You're soldiers, so | had
to do it,"
"What an exceedingly curious cream
cup, exclaimed the young man, taking the
curious piece of workmanship up and ex
amning it with the air of IA connoisseur
i That was the last drop in Mistress Doro
thv's cup of bitterness, which was already
Overlooking. She had let them enter hei
house, given them her breakfast, and now
after allowing them all those liberties, al
ways under protest, that they should begin
Z to confscate her property was too much
! She snatched the cream-cup out of the as
= tonished mans hands and began excitedly
J you'd better go now, you'd better go
, you've had your breakfast and little rest
= and at this time o. day visitors amt want
: ed round the farm
/, "But, my dear madam" the young maj
, broke in, 81 assure you | meant no harm
: and really my friend and l need a rest 81
) badly that we are afraid we must trespas
= on your hospitality" (here a faint smil
. crossed the young mans face "a littl'
longer. Give us but bed TO rest our wea
; ry limbs little while and then we will de
part"
q Dame Dorothy looked at the young maj
I sternly. ''In my days, young man, whel
!, folks told us we want wanted we got out.
= "But, madam, - the older man interposed
= circumstances alter cases. Remembe
\ that these are strange days and strang
I things happen in them but by the way
madam, are you Tory or a rebel :"
""faint none of your business, was tn
uncompromising reply,
- "Well, will you allow US bed = Ia
asked.