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

81 think it's time you startin', was
the laconic answer.
Then since IL becomes necessity de-
mand il in the name Of -" Here some
thing seemed to choke him, for he seemed
unable 10 20 on.
"Well If | must | suppose ! must but
il ever | wished a feather bed was filled
with pine needles, ! wish that thar one
was, and with that she opened door, dis
closing comfortable bedroom They 81
lently entered the room, and She with a
bang of the door, fled to the kitchen
There, I've gone and done it, she said, in
high wrath "Pve harbored two British
soldiers under my roof, and il anybody
ought TO be taken before General Washing
ton and convicted as a spy feel like that
one. Joel Ashley, she said, suddenly turn
ing to the boy, who was the sole occupant
of the room and who was gazing at her in
bewilderment, I've got an errand for you.
''Yes'm," he said, meekly enough. Joel
was always meek when the madam was in
such a wrath.
"You know where the Continentals are
stationed, about ten miles from here. eh ~
Joel nodded. well, you Just stir your
self and go over there and tell their com
mander that there are two redcoats in this
house, and, if they want them, to come for
them right away-right away, mind you.
Now hurry" And Joel did hurry.
Madam sat rocking herself violently 10
aud fro. "There you've gone and done
another mean thing" she said to herself,
angrily. "Doin' a mean thing is just like
telling a lie-you do one and you'll surely
do another. guess I'll just peek in the
room and see il they've set it aire yet. "
She tiptoed across the hall and looked
through crack in the door. Then her
conscience smOte her worse than ever.
Carelessly lying on the bed, his fair, hand
some face looking so worn and thin, even
in sleep, he reminded her also Of her own
soldier boy. The older man was YEARLY
writing at table, resting every once in
while, but soon resuming his task
"I'm mean old woman" she solilo-
quized, 'but they're Britishers.' That set
tied the question, and she returned TO her
work
Morning entered into afternoon, and af
ternoon slowly melted into early evening.
The shadows were gently creeping over the
land, the birds were twittering good
night and still the soldiers slept Softly
cautiously, a band of fifteen men were
vending their way towards the Whitcomb
farm house. Nearer and nearer they got,
until you could see that they wore the Con
tinental uniform. They reached the house
and were met by its mistress. She pointed
to the room where the soldiers were, then
sat herself rigidly down in her rocking
chair to have an argument with her con
science.
Suddenly y--what is that she hears A
hearty laugh reGchoes through the house
She hurries to the door where the soldiers
were. And what did she see Her two
redcoats shaking hands heartily with the
Continentals And what does she hear
Captain" one Of the men says, eve
had given you and the colonel up for lost,
and the camp was in sore distress about
you"
And he, the admirer Of the cream jug,
answers, in a full, rich voice The colonel
and were surrounded by the British on
every side. We just escaped capture ;
stole those uniforms from two dead Tories
and Travelled, weak and weary, through
bogs and swamps to Join you, but, over
come by fatigue, stopped here for few
hours rest. Thinking the people were 10y
aists we kept up the disguise. But how
did you come here =
1--WE came TO capture two British sol
diers, but instead have found our colonel
aud our captain. Three cheers, men three
cheers :"
And they did cheer, strong and hearty.
And Mistress Dorothy She crept back
to the kitchen, rocked herself back and
forth and said, Dorothy Whitcomb, what
a fool you've been !n-MdH and Express