The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-12
A PATRIOT GIRL.


completed honespun coat.
III an enemy comes hungry"
Il shall not give him bread: I am no
Tory" replied the young woman, looking
searchngly into Neighbor Hard's kindly
blue eyes.
Mrs. Hard was suspected OF having given
aid to wounded British soldier in his sore
need. In this patriotic. loyal woman's
breast beat = heart so warm and tender that
1t overlooked with love and pity for every
unfortunate who asked OF her 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 shell
ter the stock or milk the cows. Reuben
Hard and his son Benjamin were following
General Washlngton's leading In the patriot
army.
This war is a righteous war. II my
conntry's enemy, wounded and hungry,
asks me 10 aid him in regaining strength
that he may again rejon his commander,
am l net a traitor when / yield to PHYS
pleadings? Away with soft-heartedness
The women of Massachusetts must steel
their hearts"
softly, softly, my dear % said Mrs.
Hard, holding open the heavy wooden door.
you are a brave maid / hope no wounded
stTsggler will come this way asking bread.
These Tedcoats are Dut brother men. II
am no ToTy-but it is cruelty hard TO ay
nay when starving man begs crust. The
women OF Massachusetts in this year of
our Lord 1777 are not lacking in courage.
God forbid that they should lack hearti
1t grows late. My patient COW should have
been MIXED an hour ago. Farewell. Pru-
dence."
Daughter" said Mrs Staples. comedy
New England dame of 90 stirring the fire
tn the wide and deep fireplace, "Pll 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 W ear, as Hiel Sloane's goin'
10 camp airly in the moTnin'. NeighbOr
Hard is master hand at the needle. Hiel
III carry good cheer in this bundle to more
q one needy soldier. l wish father and
Jason could heya pair of these stout socks.
In the barnyaTd 8 flock Of sheep needed
shelteriBg. The cows lowed impatently
In their stalls Dobbip 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.
ut is supper you want, bonny Prince
ChaTliel The hungry should be fed" said
the young woman grasping a pitehfork
''Say you SO, dear lady? II a starving
man-if starving enemy asks bread"
q will not"
The cruel sentence was never finished.
An emaciated, pale young man, wearing
soiled scarlet uniform, crept out from his
hiding place in the old sleigh
Il am in your power, young lady; do with
me as you will but give me little fo0d"
he pleaded, falling weakly at her feet
Prudence blew keen blast on a silver
whistle, signal which Mrs. Staples
speedily answered in person.
"a wounded straggler, Prue-huDgry 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 Tefusn' bite to a stary-
In man. He'sa likely loOkin' young fell
low. TOO. Hes goln, TO the house an Wen
nurse him a spell. / can't be- hash with
him. We can keep him prisoner, daugh-
ter, returned sturdy Mrs. Staples, assisting
Prudence in her effort to revive the unfor-
tunate stranger.
Edwin Chervil was indeed In need of food
and nursing. Two weeks wore on, anxious
weeks 10 Mrs. Staples and Prue Their
prisoner lay weak and exhausted In the
spare room, his presence unsupported by
friends and neighbOrs
Prudence worked early and late eardinr
weaving, spinning and knitting; or prepar-
Ing delicacies for the soldiers, which mes
senger carried TO the nearest camp.
Three more weeks brought returning
strength TO the invalid, who was evidently
not pining for freedom.
The October rains beat against the WIN
dow panes one evening, when Prudence
packed bundle OF homespun clothing and
box Of home prepared sweets. The rosy
light from the blazing logs In the deep fire.
place played upon the bed valance, window
curtains aud bright striped rag Garnet,
'Pack them coats tight In a little bundle. |
Hiel Sloane II be along airly In the mornin' |
on his way TO camp. / spose you'd best |
notify the officers that we've British pris |
ouer in the house. wish it wasn't wrong |
to let him 90 free. The minister would saw |
I wasn't right TO go Rgin our cause, n pa |
d never get over it il we should free nun |
You're not so soft hearted. Prudence. as |
be- Sence that boy has suffered so dret |
fully. I've come to set store by him. Can't |
you manage to have him 60 when I'm not |
about the place? can't abide the idee O.
seeln him taken away prisoner. You're |
gElttler than your OLD mother, an won't
mind"
Not mindl Oh. motheri" cried Pru.
dence.
May venture out. kind keepers9"
inquired the prisoner, peeping into the
room.
Come right along. You mind me of nv
Jason tonight" called Mrs. Staples, her
wide cap border hiding q pair Of fearful
eyes.
q Edwin Chervil noted with pleasure that
Prudence wore holiday gown. a calico, In
which brown tin.s and scarlet dashes of
color were prettily mingled
oh" cried Prudence. letting fall to the
moor a plate of crullers. "a face at the
window. saw it plainly" she gasped
Nonsense, child. YOU'RE imaginin'
gaeer Ihings tonight. Nobody's providing
about In this Storm" said Mrs. Staples
sharply.
Two hours later Edwin Cheryil, cleyerly
disguised in discarded homespun suit
which bad belonged to Jason Staples. quietly
left the house, unseen and unheard by
mother and daughter
HeI Sloane was an early visitor
"pve come for the bundle. / s'pose-"
you needn't stop long. Your load is
ready for, you, Hiel," said Mrs. Staples.
brIskly. I'm extra busy spinnin' stockin'
yarn this mornin'. Prudence. get the
bundle. Don't keep Uiel waitin' mint"
I'm sorry to poster you, Mis- Staples,
but there's talk goin'. Granther Crowell
your keepin'-room. Mis- Hard denies up n
down at It's redcoat; says she's heerd
Prne declare more'n once she'd refuse a
crust Of bread to g. staryin' Britisher
Gran'ther sticks to his tale; says be saw
the man. an want any of your folks. Ell
this story should get TO your mon"
S'pose, Elel, yous jest look about and
satisfy yourself that there is no Brtisher
here" advised Mrs Staples. calmly.
81 guess will so l can tell folks they're
qulsitiye brown man, peering into closets,
cellar and attic.
Prudence calmly collected the camp SUD.
plies. convincing Hiel Sloane. against his
''gran'theI's imagination" had played MIN
trick.
You expected to find"
wall now, Mis- Staples, gran'ther was so
sure az Britlsher was bein' harbored here
at mot best TO make sure the old man
was mistaken. You're sending fine chance
o. things thapll be royalty welcomed by the
boys. I'd best be gittin' on" replied Hisl.
Fastening away.
''Hiel Sloane expected TO find somebodv
an he didn't" said Mrs. Staples exuItantly.
tits high time Edwin Cheyril was leayin' IN
Gran'ther CrowelPs bin spyin' around. I'm
glad our prisoner slipped away 'thout tellin'
Us he was goin'."
Prudence, too. was rejoiced tina Edwin
Cbevril was safe. She resolved to speedily
forget him, his handsome face and courtly
haa rinu