Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-08-15

years ago.
"The men. will come like drawing
teeth, he resumed. "Old Put is-what
was that Latin phrase you used about
him to Lafayette the other dayg'
"Tenax proposit," Skerrett replied.
"Anglice, obstinate as mule. All,
slzerrettl we poor land surveyors. that
had to hug levels and compasses through
the woods, know little Latin and less
Greek. But there was more of your
quotation TO express the valuable side of
Putnams character"
"Nec vultus instantis tyranni, Mente
quatit solida." quoted the major: and
then translated impromptu, "Never
scowl Ger tyrant's jowl his stiff old heart
can shake"
Washington laughed. Sberrett laughed
louder He was at that ebullient age
when life is letting of its overcharge Of
laughter. Young fellows at that period
are bore or an exhilaration--a bore to
say the least, if their animal spirits are
brutal spirits-no bore, even if not quite
the ripest company, provided their glee
! does not degenerate into uproar.
81 don't know what I should do, Peter,
in these dark times without your ire
pressible good spirits" said the chief
my boys-you and Hamilton and La
fayette and Harry Lee-keep me up.
get tired to death of the dependencies
and preiudices and jealousies Of some Of
these old women in breeches who wear
swords or cast votes"
perhaps you cannot spare me, then,
TO go to Peekslill ~ the major said slyly.
His country's father smiled. BE off.
my boy, but don't stay too long. Your
head win be worth more to Old Put than
a whole regiment. He's growing old.
He shows the effects Of tough campaign
ing in his youth. Besides, keeping a tav-
ern was not the best business for a man
Of his convivial habits"
I'VE youngsters found that out at the
siege of Boston, when you, general, We're
keeping your head cool on baked apples
and milk"
late 'em because l liked 'cm, my boy.
My head keeps itself cool. BY the way,
you will be able to help General Putnam
with that hot tempered La Radiere. The
old gentleman can never forget how the
him in Canada in fifty-eight."
He never can let anybody else forget
it. would give odds that he'll offer 10
tell that story before I've been with him
fifteen minutes"
"Well, goodby. Hurry on the regu-
lars. Let him call in the militia in their
places. Tell him he must hold the
Highlands. If he cannot keep Sir Henry
Clinton back until Gates takes Jack
Burgoyne, you and /, Peter, will have
to paint ourselves vermilion and joir
the Tuscaroras.
After such a talk with our chief, who
was not the stilted prig that moderi
muffs have made him, Major Skerret
departed on his mission. He left head
quarters a few days before that hit anC
miss battle Of Germantown.
Skerrett was young and hard rider
He famed his horse the first day. Ill
lost time in getting another. 1t was tn
evening of October eighth when, as b
approached the North river TO cross &
Peeksl1ill, the country people warnel
him back with the news that on tn
sixth Sir Henry Clinton had taken tn
Highland forts and Putnam had rul
away to Fishllill
"Black newsl" thought Szerrett
General Washington will turn Tusca
; rora now if ever"
Skerrett made a circuit northward
crossed the Hudson at Newburg and re
ported to General Putnam, Octobe
nine, sunset, at the Van Wyck farm
house, on the plain, half a mile north o
the Fishkill mountains. The height
= rose in front, rampant a thousand fee
, high.
Old Put limped out to meet Washing
1 TONS aid-de-camp. He was a battere
veteran, lame with a fractured thigh
stiff with coming paralysis, and nov
4 respondent after recent blunders.
D "Dusky times, Skerrett," says he fol-
lornly Il suppose the chief sent 20
for men. He's cannibal after huma
2 flesh But don't worry me tonight
u Tomorrow we're to have a council q
: war, and III see what can be done.
suppose you know what's happenedY"
"Yes-generally."
a well, it's all clear for Clinton to G
2 up and Join that mountebank, Jack Blu
u goyne. might just as well go HON
5 and set up tahvern again 70 Pomfret fC
VI anything ! can do here. God save tn
s King is going to make Yankee Doodl
e sing small from yesterday on. 1t W;
i all the fault of that cursed fog-we Ia
l. a fog, thick as Inush all day on IL
: sixth. / believe them British shil
brought it with 'ein in bags from u
u channel They choked up the rive
& with their fog, and while | was watt
" for EN- over to Peekslill they crep aero
8 and took the forts Darn it all"
n Putnam paused to take an indignai
% breath. SlSerrett smiled at the old hero
II manner When he was excited the va
20 keeisms Of his youth came back to hin
d His lisY also grew more decided. N
q body Knows whether the lisp was natur
W or artificial and caused by a jawbreak
n with the butt of a musket he got fro
an uncivil Gaul at Fort Ii in fit
S. eight. His Yankeeisms, his lisp, h
d, drollery his muddy schemes made Il
IL holly old boy the chief comic charact
of our early Revolutionary days.
~ uTIotty lack Rurvovro will stick nj