The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-08-28
A TALE OF A TOLL-BRIDGE
By PATIENCE srArrEros.

o
saith one morning, smoothing my hair
that vexes me so sorely, for it viii never
lie smooth as a decorous maidens should.
/ felt bitter pang in my heart when she
repeated the meaning of my name for
knew full well that between my father
and me q coldness was growing. Sad
thai it should be so in such troublous
times, and after all my fifteen years of
love and reverence. Yet, even my moth
er, though she always saith woman
should only think as the men folk di-
rect, is in sympathy with our adopted
country.
Not my adopted country, for ! was
born in this dear land, and every breath
l draw now is prayer for her safety and
triumph. Freedom is in the air here, in
this refuge for oppressed people. Have
| not heard of Polish exiles in Dresden
and of French Protestanis seeking refuge
in the same quaint town, and / am not
so young but that can see far ahead in
the coming years and know that people
from every country will turn their weary
feet to this safe asylum.
SO this year Of our Lord l775, in the
fair month Of June, even our quiet town
is bewildered and terrified by strange
news from Boston, brought 10y the ships
that sail upthe wide sheepscot to beau
tiful Westport, ten miles away. Our
river, known as the Nequasset, is divided
from the Sheepscot by long island, run
ming away TO the sea, but in places the
land is low, and from our bridge can
see the the masts Of the ships and their
white topsails as they glide onward TO
the town. 1t seems link to me with
that mysterious world outside. When
the tide runs up the Sheepscot it runs
down our river, that is navigable only
for small boats, scOws or moving humber
RATS, and is beset with eddies and whirl-
pools
Over our cottage a woodbine grows
that almost covereth our porch, and,
though my father is never tired oftelling
Of that beautiful England. / know my
home is dearer to me, Once in unseen
ly anger said TO my father:
~If England be so much fairer and
more glorious than our land, why came
you here at all ?"
To turn his hot, quick anger, my moth
er saith "Bly child, that was not cour-
teous," and, with sigh, Zone must live,
and it is overcrowded there"
Then persisted /, surely to the
country that gives so dear a home as
ours, and room TO live and be happy,
should not my father give his strength
and arm2 Should be not become one Of
her defenders, keeping her freedom,
helping to relieve her from grievous tax.
and the iron rule of bad king who only
wants our gold?"
And for that speech was l forbid to 60
to Westport again, or to the village, and
my father said sternly:
Thou hast traitor blood in thy veins;
well for thee thou art not lad"
"lf / were," / cried, Il would be a sol
der, and fight for our land. | would be
in Boston now, eager to show was an
American, not Britisher"
Verify but for my mothers interfer-
ence my father would have boxed my
ears. but from that time his love for me
is changed. He looks at Inc darkly, sell
dom ventures a caress, and harden my
heart and my mother weeps often.
On the Goth Of June my fa-her and
mother were summoned some fifteen
miles down the island, TO my Cousin
Richards home. He came from Eng
land with my father, and is now on his
deathbed.. He, too, is Tory, and is
greatly attached to my father / have
been often left alone and fear not Ny
mother kissed me tenderly when she
stepped in the shay; how fair and sweet
she is; nothing will change her love, but
my father looked at me coldly.
~You viii remain in the house. Abi-
gail" he saith, NOR spend your time in
idle converse with other silly maids.
Thy mother has set thee tasks; see that
thou are not idle"
'Hast thou ever heard at night passers
on the bridge, the clatter Of many
hoofs7"
Il am not deaf and surely so good a
company Of cavaliers passing our quiet
place often would awaken any one"
"Hast thou told Of their comingf"
@You forbid me to go TO the village,
father; whom should ] tell 7"
See that thou art silent for thy life,
he said sternly, @and tell them | was
summoned out to my cousins deathbed,
or / would have kept at my post. Be
prudent, for prattling maid is a scourge
to any household"
They drove ON, leaving me with flush |
ed cheeks and rebelliors eyes. As