The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-06-14

It was on the evening of the twelfth
of September, in the year seventeen hun
bred and seventy-seven. The yellow
sunlight streamed in through the win
dows, and all the room was full of the
good smell of supper. The blue china
cups and saucers and plates and dishes,
the pewter spoons, and the iron knives
and tmo-pronged forks, polished till they
shone like silver. caught the light and
winked and sparkled and twinlzled back
again at the broad yellow patches Of
light on the floor
Friend Sparks and his family sat at
supper, but though the smell of it was
80 good the knives and forks and spoons
clattered in hstless fashion, and the
family ate and drank without much
heart in the matter.
II don't know said Friend Joseph,
laying down his knife and fork and look
ing around at his daughters, and more
especially at his niece, Matte Dixon
Il don't know what it is that sets you
girls go agog over a laced hat and epau-
let's and a blue coat and brass buttons
Here was General Washington and his
army not more than a month in town,
and now, because he has gone and takes
away with him his snipe jack aids-de-
camp and captains and majors, all the
women In Wilmington and Brandywine
are in the vapors."
Now men are not quick at seeing
things, but the women knew very well
why Matte Dixon's eyes were red In
deed, a gloom had fallen upon them all
ever since young farmer had ridden
down from Chadd's Ford that morning,
bringing the news of great battle that
had been fought up the Brandywine.
Later in the day two farmers wagons
had passed through the village, bringing
each a load of wounded men lying in the
straw.
But Friend Joseph Sparks did not
notice MAttie's red eyes.
II do not" said he presently, separat-
ing the don't in his emphasis 81 do not
SEQ what it is about a shedder of blood
that turns a woman's head. l, for one,
should be sorry to see a daughter or a
niece Of mine tied to such an unregener-
ate, soulless son of Anak as one of those
young men who make bloodshed trade,
and think that blue coat and brass but
tons excuse murder. Now there was a
battle fought yesterday he continued,
leaning back In his chair and folding his
hands, and no doubt a many likely
young men killed or MANNED for life.
There was that Philip Van Cleft who
came here so often when The worthy
Friend was suddenly interrupted in his
monologue by Matte Dixon rising SO
precipitately as to knock her chair over
backward with loud clatter upon the
floor, and then hurrying from tie room
without word, feeling in her pocket
for her handkerchief as she went.
Friend Sparks stared after her with
open eyes A momentary pause fol-
lowed as the door banged behind the girl.
How could thou talk 50, Joseph said
the good mother presently. Didn't thou
BEE that 1t was as much as she could do
to contain her spirits" Then she, too,
pushed back her chair and followed her
niece.
sBotherstionw said Friend Sparks,
and then he also pushed back his chair
with q loud scTspe upon the floor. and
taking his pipe from the mantel shelf,
filed it with tobacco and lit it with a
coal he chose very carefully from the
eznbers On the hearth.
His three daughters. Rebecea. Mary
Jane and Susan, said nothing, but as he
went ont Of the door in q swirlihg cloud
OF tobacco smoke they exchan Ned very