Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-09-19
THE NIGHT ATTACK.

Among the dwellers in northern New
England, more than hundred years ago,
was old Grandfather Moore; not, as the
appelIation would seem to indicate, fee
BILE and superannuated, but a hale old
man Of so years, able to strike out from
the shoulder with any pioneer of 25. He
was an Irishman, and his strong vitality
and the generous vehemence of charac-
ter which accompanied it were gifts of
which the green isle is prodigal to her chill
dren. His appearance, with head erect,
coming squarely and almost fiercely up
to the work, when he had aught TO say
or do, would not have discredited his an
cestors. One of these, though the old
man cared not TO speak of it in Protest
ant New England, had fallen in st. Ruth's
battle with General Ginckel; while an
other, having gone over to Scotland, had
shed his last blood at Dumblaine. Per-
haps he himself had smelt powder in
more than one bloody fray with the Sas-
senagh. IL so, he knew IL was nothing
70 be ashamed Of.
have said perhaps" but there is no
need of this qualification, for the old
mans more intimate friends know that
once he had carried his own brother
pierced through with British bayonet-
a mile upon his shoulders, from one of
those dreadful scenes of strife. Grand
father Moore's neighbors felt for him a
kind Of rough admiration; so frank, so
ready he was with word and deed so
II ~. -,
we may imagine TO have disputed the
island soil with Strongbow and his
robber knights in the days of that Eng
lish Harry the Second, who was sur
named "Broomcorn.
And the old man was very genial. Be
sides his wife and his immense watch
dog, he had but one living treasure-his
beautiful grandchild Mary, now IL years
old-and upon her he poured the ardent
sunshine Of bis nature till she became
glorifed i'm his imagination. All nations
have lovely women, but all women have
not the fresh, vigorous beauty of the
Scotch, the Irish, and the Welsh. The
most lovely elements of the Celtic type
were met in the old mans grandchild.
When u little creature, scarce able to
toddle alone, he had carried her in his
arms by the banks of the Shannan; and
now, in the great American wilderness,
she was his solace and delight.
1t was dark epoch in the history Of
the colonies. English and Anglo-Ameri-
can were alike depressed by the successive
victories of the gallant Montcalm. Month
after month the British lion croUched in
unavailing resistance, or shrank cover
ing away. The abilities Of the renowned
French marquis had inspired the Gallo
armies with unwonted energy, aud from
post to post they pushed on their sue
cesses. under the leadershipof that brave
and most able man.
Grandfather Moore feared nothing for
himself; but the wild Hurons, and the
warriors of many another tribe by the
great lakes, penetrated the country
around him, carrying many an unfortu-
nate 10 long captivity, and leaving only
death and silence by the ashes Of many
hamlet He feared nothing for himself /;
he could fight and die stout hearted but
his white lily from the banks of Shannon
who would protect her when his old
head-when the old grandsire that so
loved her-should lie cold in death, his
gray scalp dancing at the belt Of Huron
warrior?
1t was in the middle Of the night. As
Grandfather Moore awoIe. the old clock
that he had brought from Dublin was Just
finishing the 12. A tall clock it was. that
40 doubt had cost 20 guineas. 1t stood
upon the rough floor, with great feet like
those of lion; its arched top reached
almost to the beams above the room and
sver the dialplate a ship swung lazily to
and fro 1t took long time to speak
tong, tong, tong and sometime in the
night, when it began thus holding forth.
Mary Moore could not help wishing
1t little less circumspect. It was too
like stammering man bringing news.
But Mary was not now awake. Grand
father Moore heard the closing strokes
and guessed that the old clock had been
striking 12.
The voice of his favorite heirloom car
ried Grandfather Moore back to Ireland
and the past. he lay and unused very
naturally Of his ancestors; Of the former
scenes Of blood IN the old land; the
hopes Of his kindred, and their disap-
pofnfmenfe.