The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-02
An Incident in the American
Revolution.


ment it seemed to burst, and a golden,
dazzling flood covered the sky. The
birds were slowly Weakening: first a
faint peep was heard and as family
answered, then sudden twtter-and
the air was full of bird-voces. The
flowers were lazily, drowsily opening
their petals, and all nature, refreshed
by still nights slumber, awoke to a
probable day of ioyousness.
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 every
wherein the bushes, up the trees,
taking possession of comfortable farm
houses; anywhere where rest was to be
found there also was found Tory.
Good Farmer Whitcomb, among all
the mass of British, was a true patriot
in the cause of freedom, but residing
as he did in Tory neighborhood,
outside from very near neighbors he
was thought to be loyalist.
Great CONSERVATION reigned in the
kitchen of the farmhouse on that beau
tiful morning, for news of the Ameri-
can defeat had just reached there
Joel Ashley, the boy who had brought
the news, Just now added to bis tale,
And do you know but they are going
to the different farm-houses, demand
ing shelter and food. | shouldn't
wonder bit but what they would soon
be here" he added, comfortingly
" 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 to deal" and
certainly Mistress Dorothy looked
fierce enough to make the bravest heart
quail as she stood, with one hand up
raised, as if to to strike the foe with a
large iron spoon which she held, and
the other hand placed defantly on her
hip.
Ssh, sh," murmured the old man,
eff thine enemy hunger"
Now, father, you Just keep quiet +;
there's no use in quotin' Scriptur' to
me, when ! know them Britishers are
comm; you know if 'twan't for your
blindness and my bein' a woman there
would be two of the best soldiers in the
Continental army as they would want. -
Just then was heard the patter of tiny
feet, and the door was burst open. adj
hitting little girl, followed by a young
woman.
The Tories have beatenl" exclaimed
Mistress Dorothy.
emo :" the young woman answered
in surprise.
" But say that they have, and, what's
more, they'll probably come here and
ask for lodgin' and food. I'll give it to
'em-food for thought" And Mistress
Dorothy hustled around, setting break
fast on the table.
Well, WELL" was all Patty Whit
comb 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,
musingly. 4 suppose if it comes to
the worst we'll hev to let them III.
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 'em," 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 confirm her worst fears, stood two
soldiers in the uniform of the hated
redcoats. "Good morning, good mis-
tress," said the older man, stepping for
ward; " pray you TO give us a bit of
breakfast, for we have had long fast
and my comrade here is all but com.
pletely exhausted"
Conquering her repugnance with a
mighty effort, she managed to saw
" You and your comrade may enter anG
partake of our breakfast -
With a grateful look, both mer
crossed the threshold Mistress Doro
thy sat rigidly in her chair. She had
tightly closed her eyes when the knock
was heard, and had kept them closed
until the strangers entered the room
and now she glared ferociously at then
through her glasses. Her daughter-in,
law, noticing these chances, stepped
behind her and whispered, Not 81
fierce, mother, not so fierce, or they
will surely suspect something"
Don't fret. Perhaps YOU would like
me to 90 up to them and shake hand,
with 'em, ana say why didn't they come
before, and hope they'll stay-oh the
wretches," and the old lady shook her
self with a grim vehemence.
The two invaders were not so fierce
and terrible-looking, indeed, for soldiers
who had just won victory. They
looked strangely worn, weary and dis
heartened. Mistress Patty felt stil
of sympathy in her heart, for the
younger man reminded her so wildly
of her husband, who was so bravely
fighting in the true cause; in fact, lit
tie Dorothy went up to him, laid hel
dimpled hand on his knee, looked trust
fully up in the handsome face ben
over her and said, " Papa"
" And where is papa, my dear?' HI
asked, lifting the child on his knee.
"Way, way off, 6ghtin' the"
Dorothy" her grandmother's voic
sounded like gravel crunched viciousl,
together, "your mothers goin' to feeC