Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-08-07
0BADIAIIS MISTAKE.

On certain April day. over hundred
years ago, the British tclns In possession
of Staten Island. tho banner Of ST. George
waved above tho Richmond Inn In all ia
crimsoned glory. and .inppcd and Haunted
In the wind IA gayly as though II expected
TO remain la that position for long time
TO como From the window OF house
near by. Lieut. Wilde of the Queens
rangers looked out upon tho village street,
and apparently gaso great attention 10 q
nock of geese that Nvaddlod Indian fllo
down Ia the suit creek Just back of tho
old church. Tho peaceful array was
broken 10y en- ohstrepcrous ycllow dog
who Jumped at thou and uicn occuplcd
tho ground Of observation and lay down
In the dust and the sun and en- loyod n
nap. I,nt tho gnzc of the lieutenant never
wandered and It was evident that no bad
paid no attention TO thisrurll panorama.
There v'as rops oxpfv'sion IN his face,
sieli as q Inan haa who fosters come great
scheme. and he raped his foot once or
twice on thopiioor In orderto eunphasIzc
approval OF his IDEAS. lie nodded his
head, aud then going TO a table where
hay papers nni qrilla ho waa agnin lost
Ia thought. ~
1t was fully twenty minutes before he
put quiIl TO sheet Of note paper, and
then le wrote carefully Nom Tho care
with which ho folded and scaled Il. IL
was evidently somo great and important
paper that he had 1rlttcn. The red wax
received the impression. of a shield
crossed aud euarteret. sn,l the lieutenant
again went to the window. A smnll boy
Of about twelve years was shufIlinQ along
the dusty road. throwing up clouds Of
dust which covered his bare feet and LEGS.
Obadiah" called tho officer, "I have
an orr,1Dd for you
The small boy camc up TO the window.
s"You know where Capt. Howard's q
quarters are. I believe." =
Tho boy respectfully nodded and mum
blod assent
We'll continued tho officer. spcnk-
Ing slowly, IL want you % deliver this
noto into his h;1nds fnifid you, 10 him
alone, and bring me back an answer.
Tel him 70 write IL. and ~ youDro back
by 3vclock there wiii'bo a gold piece OF
the king's for you. MInd-be very caro-
full"
Tho boy took the letter and nodded as
sent The lieutenant watched him as he
started on n run, saw him disappear bo
hind tho trees Of tho hill by the side of
the church, and then turned with sie,h.
It wns evident that some important btisi-
ness ~aB ca hand. and the Engiishman
hoped that the Uoy wns sufficiently ira.
pressed with the weight OF bis mission.
Obadiah Green climbed the hill. at the
top OF which, and out Of tho iIeutenant's
sight, lac sat down and gazed earnestly
at tho pap5r Ia his hands. Tie seal and
the officers words niade IT very precious.
and no looked mt the eupcrscrlption and
tried TO Imagine what Il wna. for. Obadiah
wne not learned His eye caught sight
Of the red ilag above the Inn, and cati5cd
his heart 70 bat quickly.
Ohadiah was 0 IatIlct. or. o. Some
called biin, "a rebel" lie lived with hls
pafcnts. who had no particular leaning
10 either side, bat tho boy was possessod
Of sufficient patriotism for tho fnnaily.
He had often wished IA secret that the
war might Inst long enough for him %
reach tho proper age b enter tho army
and figllt-and wouldn't no fighti Ho
had seen a party Of Americans come over
from jersey aud fout a larger party Of
Britlsh sosdiefs, and retFeat only when a
re-cnfofcctneht came running up the
Richmond rotd. So Obadiah wondered
whether 10 was conveying news 20 tho
British captain that would be hursf,d 10
tie Ln4o6icsna. Tileh be would 10
traitor 70 kat to hinoelg-nnd-an
might not tll8 ncws contained IN shat
pTscil'ur Ietscr ~ " serS3cc - tlo Amer
leml@ iic sinnped W quickly and i0ol.ed
about. ~ oxpccted % ~ tlso fed coat
" q foidier behind each tree. o. 70 hear
a yoiiey of Auskelry as,Out bis haad.
but tho wool ~ Qniet Af.,l liso rod flag
ve5 tlse oniy thing that told " KIM
George ard ti5 army.
Iao slgl.l Cf tie fag gavo him courage
as 30 oiariod oiI iutbo ether direction
thar that which ~ should have taken b.
deliveI DE note iotO t,ie hands If the
ploieT party. 10 thought bifnsclf a
nero ~ DO sped on he pictured hlnpoif
in q blue coat and cooked bet loadin.< m
asoauit on tho headquarters n the Br;f.
iali commander but iio would snare, lis
own boasf aad VII hi6 fltl.sr 3, fhs
Amc1caH si1c. That was ono 6f hia
ambitiOus. Tie winters At tho Achter
k4i eaipe la sigiit. aid "a tbo other ssas
era8 Jcrscyi Jen<y where the Anarl.
ciu.3 ~eroi To stopped q inomont &c tiso
marsh nnd made a dctour ~ ts most
ioTOw paFt. fhrongh wiach fo saded
until he caalo " az old batoau TED % q
stake. Tho British had carelessiy iefl
their boats along the river edge. fearing
%. dcsirDy them. end uafcliuS them
only When they expected raid 81 the
Americans from jersey.
Obadiah clambered into tho fat bot
tometh iealty boat md poohed out into
the currentswhere. with a small board,
ne directcd the course Of tho boat ~
best he might The tide whs running In
and the nat boat was carried up the
stream toenfd tho Opposite shore n