The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-07
DAUGHTER OF THE REVOLUTION.

| clareQ MISS prudence OCdpleS, CdIoluiiy
examining newly completed homespun
coat.
IF an enemy comes hungry"
81 shall not give him bread; am no
Tory" replied the young woman, look
ing searchingly into Neighbor Hard's
kindly blue eyes.
Mrs Hard was suspected of having
given aid to a wounded British soldier in
his sore need. In this patriotic, loyal
woman's breast beat a heart so warm and
tender that it overflowed with love and
pity for every unfortunate who asked OF
her a cup of cold water.
The little woman rolled together scraps
of homespun jeans. The sun was low
and there were no men at the Hard farm
to shelter the stock or milk the cows.
Reuben Hard and his son Benjamin were
following General Washington's leading
in the patriot army.
"This war is righteous war. If my
country's enemy, wounded and hungry,
asks me to aid him in regaining strength
that he may again rejOin his commander,
am not traitor when yield to PHYS
pleadings? Away with soft-heartedness
The women of Massachusetts, must steel
their hearts"
"Softly, softly, my dearv' said Mrs.
Hard, holding open the heavy wooden
door. you are brave maid. l hope
no wounded straggler will come this way
asking bread. These red-cOats are but
brother men. IL am no Tory-but it
is cruelty hard to say nay when starv-
ing man begs a crust. The women of
Massachusetts, in this year of our Lord,
| TIT, are not lacking in courage. God
forbid that they should ever lack heartl
1t grows late. My patient COW should
have been MIXED an hour ago. Farewell,
Prudence"
Daughter said Mrs. Staples, a
comely New England dame of fifty,
stirring the fire in the wide and deep fire.
place. ''Tll bake the shOrtcake upon
the hearth The milk pals are out in
the back stoop. While you're dom the
chores I'll jest do up these socks an
mems wear, as Hiel Sloane's goin' to
camp airly in the mornin'. Neighbor
Hard is master hand at the needle.
HE'LL carry good cheer in this bundle
to more'n one needy soldier. wish
father and Jason could hev PAIR OF
4 these stout socks"
In the barn yard a flock of sheep
needed sheltering. The COWS lowed i'm
patiently. In their stalls Dobbin and
Prince neighed for supper. This gray
gOwned, dark eyed Massachusetts, maiden
did not spare her pretty hands when
duty demanded that she must perform
many heavy tasks.
at is supper you want, bonny Prince
ChfGe! The hungry shou d be fed, said
the youngs woman graspiug pitchfork.
"Say you so, dear lady? If starving
man--if a starving enemy asks Dread"
III will not"
The cruel sentence was never finished.
An emaciated, pale young man, wearing
a soiled scarlet uniform, crept out OF his
hiding place in the old sleigh.
~ am in your power, young lady; do
with me as you will; but give me little
food" he pleaded, falling weakly at her
| feet.
Prudence blew a keen blast on a silver
whistle, a signal which Mrs. Staples
speedily answered in person.
"a wounded straggler, Prue-hungry
an wounded"
Eyes, mother. But we cannot take
him into our house-he is an enemy"
IF General Washington was here,
don't think he'd counsel refusin' bite
to starvn' man. He's likely lookin'
young fellow, too. He's goin' to the
house an we'll nurse him spell. l
can't be hash with him. We can keep
him prisoner, daughter returned
sturdy Mrs. Staples, assisting Prudence
in her effort to revive the unfortunate
| stranger.
Edwin Chervil was indeed in need of
| food and nursing. Two weeks wore on,
anxious weeks to Mrs. Staples and Prue.
Their prisoner lay weak and exhausted
in the spare room; his presence un-
suspected by friends and neighbors.
Prudence worked early and late, card
ing, weaving, spinning and knitting; or
preparing delicacies for the soldiers,
which messenger carried to the nearest
camp.
Three more weeks brought returning
strength to the invalid who was evident
ly not pining for freedom.
The October rain beat against the win
dow panes one evening, WREN Prudence
packed a bundle of homespun clothing
and box of home prepared sweets. The
rosy light from the blaz NC logs in the
deep fireplace played upon the bed
valance, window curtains and bright
striped rag carpet
"Pack them coats tight in little
bundel, Hiel Sloane III be along airly In
the mornin' on his way to camp. l
s'pose you'd best notify the officers that
we've a British prisoner in the house.
| wish it wasn't wrong to let him 60 free.
The minister would say It wasn't right
to go agin our cause, n pad never get
over it if we should free him. You're
not so soft hearted Prudence, as l be.
Sence that boy has suffered so dletfully,
I've come to set store by him. Can't
you manage to have him go when I'm
not about the place? / can't abide the
idee o. SEEM him taken away prisoner
You're grittier than your old mother,
an won't mind"
mot mind! Oh, mother" cried
Prudence.
"May l venture out, kind keepersP'
inc uired the prisoner, peeping into the
room.
"Come right along. You mind me of
nv Jason tonight" called Mrs. Staples,
her wide cap border hiding a pair of
fearful eyes.
Edwin Chervil noted with pleasure
that Prudence wore holiday gown, a
calico in which brown tints and scarlet
dashes of color were prettily mingled.
"Or' cried Prudence, letting fall to the
floor plate of crullers. "a face at the
window! 1 saw it plainlyi" she gasped.
Nonsense, child! You're imaginin'
queer things tonight. Nobody's prowl-
ing about in this Storm" said Mrs.
Staples, sharply.
Two hours later Edwin Chervil, clever
" disguised in discarded homespun
suit which had belonged to Jason