The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-01-01
REVOLUTIONARY GIRLS.

When the revolution broke out the
Van Alstines, with numerous other
families, inhabited the lovely Mohawk
valley. A fairer landscape did not ex-
list, but despite its beauty it soon be-
came the theater Of stirring and bloody
scenes. 1t was the battle ground
where the Indian waged relentless
warfare on the patriot settler, and
every rod of it was trodden by the
willy and sanguinary foe. The people
who then dwelt in this region were a
mixture of hardy New Euglanders
and of Dutch, the Van Alstines be-
longing to the latter race; but all
were equally brave, the women vying
with the men in deeds of heroism and
devotion.
Mrs. Van Alstine, the mother had
passed through some of the most
thrilling scenes of colonial history.
and, dwelling on the New York
frontier in the midst of savage alarms,
she had reared family of fifteen and
lived to count almost 100 years of life.
Her Oldest daughter, Betty, was a
child who inherited her mothers
bravery and determination. She was
still in her "teens' when Sir John
johnson, the famous Tory leader of
the Mohawk valley, descended on the
patriot settlement at the head of a
band OF Tories and Indians Intending
to complete the work of devastation
which Brant had inaugurated the pre-
vious year.
Everybody had cause to fear these
merciless marauders, who sometimes
plundered friend as we'll as foe, and it
was expected that the Van Alstines.
being stanch patriots. would be among
the first visited by the invaders. Dur
ing Brant's invasion the family had
been compelled to seek safety on an
island in the river near by, and, from
the shelter afforded by this retreat,
see the houses of their neighbors in
flames, their own home being spared
by miracle.
When it was known Sir John and his
army were actually on the march the
suffering patriots began to quit their
homes.
''You won't go this time. will you,
:mother?' asked Betty, her eyes kind
ling with Indignation as she looked up
into her mothers face.
ave haven't decided what to do"
was the matron's reply. eve will
know tomorrow, if we are spared till
Them
That very day, just as the sun was
sinking behind the lovely hills of the
Mohawk, a band of yelling Indians
burst upon the little settlement, and in
few moments the Van 'Alstines we're
surrounded. Escape was not to be
thought OF now; it was too late.
Mrs. Van Alstine knew that it would
be useless to argue with the savages,
and thought the best way to deal with
them would be to let them have their
way SO long as they did not attempt
any personal indignities. In a short
time they swarmed into the house,
breaking everything breakable, and
the mother saw her most valued arti-
'cles, nearly all Of which had been
brought from the old homestead in
Holland, demolished and the floor
strewn with the fragments. J. In vain
did the girls try to save from destruc-
ton a handsome mirror. In response
to their pleadings the savages led in a
colt from the family stables and COM
PEELED it to walk over the glass,
wrecking it completely, after which
they placed the frame around the
animals neck.
There was one article which Bette
Van Alstine was guarding with watch
ful eye. This was a new hat which
her father had brought her from
Philadelphia, and, being a present, it
was highly priced At the first alarm
she had placed it in basket which
she had secreted in the darkest re-
cesses OF the closet, in hopes that 1t
might escape the Indians eyes.
But alas! for Betty's care, the red
searchers espied the closet, and in a
moment the basket was brought forth
aud young warrior was making off
with the trophy when the patriot girl
bounded after him and seized the
property.
E'You can't have my things!' ex-
claimed Betty, as the Indian turned to
resent the interference, and then a.
sharp struggle ensued. which was
watched with delight by the other
anarauders, who left their work of
plumber and gathered round the pair.
Betty Van Alstine was stout girl,
used to the hard knocks of border life.
and the warrior soon discovered that
he had no mean antagonist. He was
forced to relinquish his hold on the
basket, which Betty did not give up
Tor a moment, and all at once he found