Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-06-26
0BiDIAirS MISTAKE.

On certain April day. over a hundred
years ago. the British being i'm possession
of Staten island. the hammer of st. George
waved above the Richmond inn i'm all it's
crir,soncd glory. and Capped and Haunted
In tfcwind * S;syly Az though it expected
to remain in that position for n long time
To come. From the window of ho,,se
near by. Lieut.. Wilde of the Queens
rangers locked cut upon the village street.
AMI apparently gave great attention TO a
Eock of geese that wadtlled Indian file
Gown la The salt creek just back of the
OIL church. The peaceful array was
broken by an obstrepcrous yellow dog
who jumped ct them and then occupied
the ground cf observation and lay down
lii the dust and the sun and cnioved n
nap. but the faze of the lieutenant never
wandered and it was evident that he had
paid NO attention To this rural panorama
There was II rap; expression in his face.
s;ich as II 'nnn has who fosters some great
scheme, and he rap.pd his foot once or
twice on tho floor In order to emphasize
approval Of his ideas. lie nodded his
head, cnd then going To- table where
Isy papers and quilts, he was again lost
in thought.
IL was fully twenty minutes before he
rut quill 10 q sheet Of note paper. and
them he wrote carefully. From tho care
with which lie folded and sealed il. II
was evidently some great and important
paper that he had written. The red wax
received the impression of IA shield
crossed and quartere0. and the lieutenant
again wc.:: ~ the window q small bow
OF about twelve years WAS shuiiiin,, along
the dusty road, throwing UP clouds of
dust which covered his bare feet and legs.
"otaii~h.' GALLEY tlie officer, Il have
All GRAND for yui"
The smalI boy came up to the window.
You know where Capt. Towards
quarters AFRO. ] believe"
The tcy respectfully nodded and mum,
lied 1sssoi.t.
We'll" continued tho officer. spcsk.
ing s.c1iy. II want you to deliver this
note into his hands-mind YOU. TO him
slonc. and bring inc back an answer.
Tel him 10 write it. and If you are back
10y 3 O'Clock there will he n gold piece of
the kings for you. Mind-be very caro-
sful."
The boy took the letter and nodded as
sent. Tho lieutenant watched him as he
started on run, saw him disappear he
hind the trees of the hill by the side of
the church, and then turned with a si-h.
ltwas evident that some important bust
hess was on hand. and the Englishinan
hoped that the boy was sufficiently i'm
pressed with the weight of his mission.
Obadiah Green climbed the hill. at the
IS f,L fsI..
eight. Inc sat down and gazcd earnestly
ut the paper in his hands. The seal and
the officers words made it very precious.
and he looked at tho representation and
tried TO imagine what il was. for Obadiah
was not learned. Ills eye caught sight
OF tho red flag above the inn, and caused
his heart to beat quickly.
Obadiah was Patriot. or. as some
called linn, "a rebel" lie lived with his
parents, who had no particular leaning
to either side. but tho boy was possessed
Of sufficient patriotism for the family.
lilo had often wished in secret that the
war might LIST long enough for him 10
roach the proper age TO enter the army
and Highland wouldn't lac fight lie
had seen party OF Americans como over
from Jersey and rout larger party of
British soldiers. and retreat only when n
reinforcement came running up the
Richmond road. So Obadiah wondsred
whether he was conveying ncws to the
British captain that would be hurtful 10
the Americans. Then he would DO a
traitor-at least to himsclf-and-and-
might not the news contained in that
precious letter be Of service TO the Amer
leans? He jumped upquickly and looked
about lie expected to sec the red coat
Of soldier behind each tree. or to hcnr
volley Of musketry about his head.
But the wood was quiet and the red fac
was tho only thing that told Of King
George md his army.
The sight 81 the nng gave Lin cournoe
rs he started OF ia the other direction
than that which be should have taken IA
deliver the note into tle hands OF the
proper party. lie thought himself n
hero rs he sped on-he pictured himself
10 q blue coat and cooked hat leadinr nm
assault on tho headquarters Of the Brit.
ish commander be would spnro his
own home and win his father Ia tbo
American side. That was ono Of hia
ambitions. The waters Of the Achter
XIII came IN sight and on tho other eide
was Jerseyl jersey the Apcri.
cans werei He stopped q moment az tho
marsh and made dctour to Us most
narrow part, through which hc waded
until be came 20 an old bateau tied 10 n
stake. The British had carelcssly Ieft
their boats along the river edge. fearing
70 destroy them, and watching them
only when they expected n raid az the
Americans from jersey.
Obadiah clambcrcd into the Fat hot.
toned. leaky boat and pushed out into
the current, where. with n small boarl
ne directed the course u the boat ma
best he might. The tide was running In
and the fat boat was carried np the
stream toward the Opposite shore. II
seemed hours 20 the 10y az he crouche,l
low. aud slowly, slowly loft tie sl,ores
OF staten Island, bat Jersey came nearer.
and at last tho bottom d the b,tt grated
the valve. and aliOwc1 tIs cur 10 c,,tus
50 "a standstill
Vow for spin back" he said. and
quickly reversing the engine, he opened
TIC throttle again. There waa n peculiar
jumping motion as we started. and Harry
~ some way lost bis balance. fell for
ward and sideways, and, carving the
lever down with him oroood 81 -.