Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-10-06
PEG WESSON.


sun. In the spring twilight three young
men made their way, with noisy jest
and song, toward a wretched cottage
that stood in the outskirts of the town
and raped loudly for admittance.
The door was opened by withered
old crone. A candle, burning on
small table, dimly revealed the black
ened walls of the interior, the punches
of herbs hsnging from the ceiling, a
scant supply of battered pewter plates
and coarse earthenware on some shelves
in a corner, few old chairs and pack
of worn and greasy cards apparently
just flung down.
"What ye here for? OFF with YER cried
the old woman when she saw who her
visitors were.
"Oh, now, Peggy" said the tallest of
the three in wheedling tone, ''we're
off in the morning for Louisburg, you
know, and we thought we'd pay you a
farewell visit and get our fortunes told"
"Tll warrant ye've no siller to pay me
wi, Martin Sanders" said Peggy, keep
ing firm grip on the door and pushing
it a little closer as she spoke.
Here's bright new silver sixpence
for ye," displaying it as he spoke, "and
Tom and Job have more of the same
sort. So now let US come in and give
us good send off,"
The money proved an argument not
to be gainsaid, and Peggy admitted
them. When they were seated she took
up her cards, shuffied them and pro-
ceeded to tell the young mems fortunes.
Job Ayers came first, then Tom Good
win. When Martin Sanders turn came
and Goody Wesson crossed his palm
with the coin he handed her, his imper-
turbable gravity, contrasted with the
irrepressible snickering of his compan-
ions, made her suddenly suspicious. She
gave him a searching glance; then, as
she was about to place the coin on the
table with the others, she scrutinized it
keenly and balanced it on her hand.
Ayers and Goodwin giggled and moved
toward the door. But not the ghost of
smile passed over Martin Sanders
face. Peg struck the coin smartly
against the base of the iron candlesticl1
and listened to the sound, then pressed
it against the edge of the table. 1t bent
with the pressure.
Course ye, Mart Sanders" she cried
in sudden fury; ''it's lead~
Then Martin Sanders laughed, and the
three, roaring with laughter at the
result of their poor trick, opened the
door Of Goody Wesson's cot and rushed
out into the night.
She ran after them, brandishing her
staff and raving like mad woman.
Course ye, Mart Sanders"' she
screamed; course tn three of We, body
and breath, flesh and bone! Curse We
lying down and rising up, sleeping and
waking, living and dying! I'll take
vengeance on ye at Louisburgr' The
night wind bore the dismal threat and
its repetition to their ears and silenced
their laughter as they ran down the hill
to their homes in the more thickly set
tied part Of the town.
The great feet of nearly 100 vessels,
that made up the expedition against
Louisburg sailed from Boston on the
1st day of April. Favored by wind and
weather it soon reached Cape Breton,
and was coasting along the shore of that
island toward its destined haven. In
many of the vessels the soldiers were
watching the hills and woods on shore
with the interest inspired by new scenes,
but every indentation of the coast was
familiar to most of the Gloucester men,
for they had often been there on their
fishing voyages. Their attention was
attracted to the singular movements of
solitary crow that hovered persistently
above them, now and then alighting on
the topmast.
As they were entering the harbor of
Louisburg, Martin Sanders was sent for
ward to assist in furling the jib. A
rope parted suddenly under his feet and
he fell headlong into the sea.
The last sound that fell upon his ears
before the rushing waters closed over
him was the hoarse screaming of the
crow. Apowerful current was running,
and it was only with great difficulty
that Sanders was rescued.
When the excitement was over, and
the half drowned man was once more
safely on deck, the crow had disappeared.
The feet cast anchor in the harbor
and countless boats took the men on
shore. Before the siege could COM
mence the cannon must be landed and
placed in favorable position. 1t was
arduous toll, for the soil was boggy and
the men often sank to the knees, but all
worked with will and the guns, one
after another, were landed.
Goodwin and Ayers, with others, were
dragging a cannon on sledge through
half frozen mud when suddenly with a
whir of wings crow alighted on it.
Job Ayers made dash at it with his
cap. At the very instant that he did SO
the rear of the sledge sank in the treach-
erous soil, the cannon gave a sudden
lurch and the arm he had flung out was
caught between the cannon and sledge
and hopelessly crushed The unfortu-
nate man was carried into camp and his
arm amputated.
The work of the siege went on day
after day. Foraging parties were sent
out sometimes, for the rations were
somewhat stale and monotonous, and
there was excellent game in abundance
in the vicinity. Sanders and Goodwin
made two of such party one pleasant
May afternoon. Often during their
hunting they noticed a crow .circling
| reported outbreak of cholera at Helmet
ia. Nj. s., created much excitement in that
vicinity. Investigation showed that the dis
ease was not cholera but aviolent dysentery