The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-05-28
A BOLD STROKE.
a Boys Plan for Taking Fort I'll
conderoga.
The 9th Of MAY. 1775.

The 9th Of May, l775.
The day was serenely fair and the
warm sunshine of spring shone pleas
antly upon beautiful scene. A broad
green clearing sloping toward the long
tract OF the far-stretching waters of
Lake Champlain, which seemed to lie
asleep in the rays of the descending
lumiuaTy Through the clearing
meandered pretty little brook, which
emptied itself into the lake at place
where a narrow bay indented the land.
In the midst of the opening and but a
few rods from the shore of the lake
stood an old-fashioned farmhouse, with
an outhouse, barn and garden, all
showing signs of more or less enter
prise and thrift From the chimney of
the farmhouse curled cloud of smoke
that Aoated dreamily over the land
scape and finally melted away indis.
tiuguishably with the vapory atmos-
phere. Several other chimneys belong
ing to scattered farmhouses that stood
farther back from the lake were send
ing up smoke likewise, and back of the
little settlement, with green uplands
and forests between, extended Il ridge
of hills, forest-clad to their SUBMITS.
Across the lake and in full view rose
the frowning walls of Ticonderoga,
from which foated the lion flag OF
Great Britain, soon to be pluclled down
by the fearless hands of the free sons OF
America.
supper will be ready as soon as Ma.
than cOmes,' said matronly woman,
appearing at the door of the farmhouse,
sleeves rolled to the elbow, and the
signs of culinary toll apparent on her
person.
ITS time that he was here" replied
Farmer Beman, as he Strengthened up
from bending over a harrow that he
was mending and turned his bronzed,
honest face towards the lake. He isn't
usually so late as this"
The figure in the doorway followed
the direction of his gaze, shading hen
eyes with one hand from the rays of the
westering sun.
II think he is coming nowi yes, that
Is his boat. You can just see it in the
glare of the sun, Wen, suppose you
are ready when he gets here" Aul
Mrs. Beman disappeared within the
kitchen.
The Bemans being thrifty people auC
living on the shore of the lake, here
only mile wide, were in the habit oi
sending their produce to the fort where
the soldiers paid good prices for the
same. Their son Nathan, boy of four
teen, usually acted as agent on these
occasions, and on this particular after
noon he had rowed across the lake witt
a basket Of poultry and fresh eggs for
the garrison. He had started immedi
ately after dinner, and expected to bC
back in three hours, but 1t was nearly
six o'clock as he drove his canoe up the
mouth of the little brook and anchored
it TO clump of hazel bushes. He
walked up the path, crushing whole
phalanXes of the Starry blossoms of the
white wood violets-a sturdy, boyish
figure, clad in shirt and trousers, with.
out shoes and with ragged cooked
hat on his head. Whistling merrily
basket on arm, he entered the farm
house, from the open door and windows
of which now came the fragrant odors
of steaming fiapjacks and hoecakes and
pcnnyroyal tea.
you are late, Nathan" said his
mother, who was just pouring cup OF
the hot drink.
yes, mother, know am, but there
was q good deal to see, and l couldn't
seem to get away"
"Anyth ng new at old TIP" asked Mr..
Beman.
Nothing particular, father, only
they've got barber there"
"A what?"
"A barber, man who cuts hair and
shayes you, The soldiers were all being
shaved; it was fun to SIZE some of them
vince and squlrm."
Ibid you see the commandant?"
"Yes, Capt. de la Place bought the
chickens and eggs himself, and took me
10 his room to pay me. He told me,