Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-07-05

dered off to the State House Inn or Old
London Coffee House; children lifted up
their voices and wept, and women faint
ed from the heat and were borne off by
kindly hands; but still our loyal little
Casabianca kept his post, although the
hours dragged by on leaden wings, and
often from above came down the de-
spondent tone of the old bell-man,
whose hope was beginning to waver,
groauing: "Oh, they never will do it!
They never will do it,"
About noon, though, there was a
slight interruption, for determined
four-footed creature came, making its
way through the crowd, and with cry
of pleasure Nelson recognized Penn.
bearing in his mouth small basket, in
which Mrs. Harding had packed light
lunch for her son. With joyful bark,
the dog discovered his master and laid
his burden at his feet, while, as the lad
patted his faithful creatures head he
moaned: "Oh, Penn, dear Penn, how
can 1 ever bear to part with you! If
only there was some other way to help
my father"'
The bread and fruit, however, soou
revived the boys tagging spirits, and
when Penn trotted off with the empty
basket he was once more the loyal
young American, who had forgotten his
private troubles in suspense for his
country's good; and soon after two
o'clock the great doors swung open and
the keeper whispered few words in his
ear. Then. with glad cry and his blue
n
the street, and clapping his hands
shouted: Ring, Grandpal Ringr' and
instantly the old man seized the rope
attached to the ponderous tongue and
struck it with all his might against the
side of the bell, sending the iron music
| floating forth on the summer air, Joy.
fully proclaiming, Liberty throughout
all the land, to all the inhabitants
thereof"
The debtors heard it in their gloomy
cells, and one, at least, longed to be
able to join in the struggle that must
| follow
Margaret Harding heard it and
thought: ''Oh, that it would ring free
dom for those in the grasp of the law
! And Reginald Cathcart heard it and
laughed contemptuously, saying: LET
the high and the mighty Yankees de-
clare all they like! They will find it
another matter to maintain their inde-
pendence, with their rag-tag army
against our Kings gallant menw
But what a burst of acclamations
went up from thousands of throats,
while couriers and post-boys were dis
! patched in all directions with the glad
tidings Bonfires blazed on every side,
cannon roared, and by evening the
whole city was one carnival of banquets,
gay illuminations and mutual congratu-
| lationS.
| Grandfather Darrah was so jubilant
| that he doubled Nelson's well-earned
shilling, and with fleet foot the boy
| sped home to throw the silver in his
mothers lap; while the happy smile
that irradiated her face as she dropped
it into the debt-boX made his heart
leap, and he thought: 'If two shilliugs
can make her so glad what would she
say to four golden guineas" Then,
while carried away by the spirit of the
occasion, he hurried at once into the
yard, INDUCED in brief moan over his
pet, and then bravely fastened chain
about Penn's neck and started with him
for the British barracks, which lay a
short distance outside the town.
AT the entrance, however, of the
large, three-story brick building, where
the officers had their quarters, he en-
countered young lieutenant, in a
scarlet uniform, who informed him that
Captain Cathcart was particularly en-
gagged and had given strict orders not to
be disturbed.
"Theu - then, may see Reginald
Cathcart?" asked Nelson, bringing out
the detested name with an effort. Yes
terday he said he would like to buy my
mastitf; and now am ready to sell him,
If he be Of the same mind"