The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-02-20

THE OLD HOUSE IN BLOOMFIELD.
It was Rip Van WinlSle amid the gen
GRAFTON that had grown mp since he fell
asleep ! fel, that the decrepit old
structure must have history, and the
answer to my inquiry confirmed the
thought that had come to me in some
mysterious way
ut doesn't look now MS if it ever had
that honor does itg asked my infor-
mant
| had to confess that it did not
could easily imagine that it might have
sheltered ghosts or that a witch may
have once made it her home could
almost fancy that saw her lean and
whitened visage peering through the
narrow dormer in the middle OF the
long, moss covered roof, or her thin
bony hand thrust through one Of tho
windows on either side Of the old
weather beaten porch.
But there was nothing about it but
the two tall naples in front that sug-
gested the dignity and stateliness that
the American always couples with the
name Of Washington 1t was low, only
a single story in height, and from where
stood, beyond the old trees, It looked
small and cramped
mo, sir; the. house is not so small as
you think It has frontage Of nearly
fifty feet, and its depth is fully thirty.
There is, besides, an annex on the west
side in the rear twenty feet square. The
roof used to cover big families in those
good old times when a dozen children
gladdened and sometimes saddened the
hearts Of tho pioneers. There are
good many children shouting and
screaming in the yard and on the walk
now, but they belong to the three fam
lilies that now live in the house
"In the days Of the Revolution it was
one of the finest residences in this part
Of the country True enough, there
were not at that time many houses in
Bloomfeld--not more than score-but
most of them wore Of logs This is,
however, Of stone, as you SEQ; and is
you look at it closely you will see also
that the stone in front and on the north
side toward the street are cut and laid
in courses; those on the other two sides
are rough and laid without any regular
ity. The wide hallway that runs from
tains marks of its ancient glory. The
castings and wide window seats in the
two rooms on each side Of the hall are
not without marks Of a luxury that was
unusual in a farmhouse a century ago.
"The old freplaces with their man
tells, that have been removed to make
room for the tenants that now crowd it,
would have, brought joy to the heart Of
the Colonial househuilder could they
have been transferred in their primitive
size and beauty to his hall and library.
The eight or nine rooms up stairs are
not large, it is true, but they are not
smaller than those Of Washington's
mansion at Mount Vernon The annex
in the rear is not eleganti but dare say
it was as convenient and useful to its
Colonial owners as the old kitchen on
the Potomac Like the main part Of
the house itself, this part has been cut
up and changed a good deal to suit the
needs Of tenants Were Washington to
return | fear that he would recognize
but little that met his eyes when a Mr.
| Cadmus, who then owned it, welcomed
him to his freside.
Evca hasl the old house been as diiapi-
dated as it is now, do not think that
] Washington would have regarded II as
an unwelcome shelter However par
ticular he may have been about his sur
/ roundings after he laid down his sword,
he was not able to give much thought
/ to them at the time of his visit to Bloom
field toward the close Of 1776 Never
during his life was his mind aud body
more severely taxed "Such is my situ-
ation " he said "that If were to wish
the bitterest curse to an enemy on this
side of the grave, | should put him ia
my stead with my feelingsH
"It was at this time, continued my
/ informant, that Washington stopped
/ at the old storehousa in Bloomfield. Ex-
hausted from a hard days riding direct
ing the retreat Of his little army, he rode
/ up to an old succeed house that now
stands ON Franklin street, near the cen-
ter Of the village Here he hoped 20
find food and FIRE and rest for the night
But he was disappointed tho house was
already occupied by General Green and
his staff Although some Of the subor-
dinate officers offered to withdraw and
thus make room for him, he refused 20
accept their self sacrifice
Continuing along the road 10 the
west he came to the old stone house.
The family had eagerly espousod the
cause Of the patriots ON the outbreak Of
the war. Gladly therefore did they well
come the stalwart officer that sought
their hospitality, Thrice welcome dio
they make him when they learned that
afau Al
heard so much about Tradition says
that Mr.. Cadmus entertained him three
days, but that can hardly be true. for
The British troops were seeking with all
possible haste TO overtako and over
whelm him and his weaIied and dis-
heartened army
"But tho great inan was not there
long enough 10 show q side Of bis heart
that Is seldom spoken Of Occupied as
be must have been with the innumera-
ble troubles and perplexities that con.
lronted him, anxious rs be must have
been to save his army and find meant
10 drive the British troops out Of the
country, yet he did not overlook little
Abram Cadmus that stood by hismother's
side IN silent awe Come here, my little
man, and tell me your name, said Wash
lngton, in a tone SO kind and gentle that
the little fellow ran up 10 him Wash.
ington took him on his knee and talked
with him as though he had done moth
ing but play with children all his life.
On leaving Bloomfield Washington ro-
] tired with his army into Pennsylvania
I The British generals thought that 30
would not attempt IN midwiuter 70 re-
gain the ground that he had lost They
returned 10 New York and plunged into
every kind Of self Indulgence. But while
they danced aud gamhled. Washington
as all the world knows, stole across the
Delaware, defeated the Hossians az Tron.
ton, marched 20 Princeton. who're ho
won another victory. and in ahol
time freed the Jerseys FROM iho pres
encc Of @ British soldier Thus was COM
ploied one oi the most masior'y cou.
uaiqna III TIA Havnlnfian