Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-12-18

Abbie returned to the kitchen anC
made preparations for the great tabl,
to receive the bounty with which til,
day was to be celebrated. while tn,
other maid stood awaiting the comins
of her father. She saw the compan,
as it marched around the bend in tn,
road, with her father at the head, ant
she was going forth to meet them
when of sudden she halted. TIL,
look of Joy upon her face was changed
to one of wonderment, and she stood
her head bent slightly forward, thai
she might the better see, perplexine
and hesitating.
The company had come as near tc
the farmhouse as the meadow that adj
joined it on the west, and there they
halted, and the maiden saw that one
was with them who was not of the com
pany when they marched away the
night before He stood alone, erect,
constrained, and she perceived that his
hands were tied with thongs behind
his back She saw her father talking
earnestly and seemingly directing two
or three men of the company to take
this man in charge, and scarcely know
ing what she did she approached her
father and WAS so near that she could
have put her hand upon his shoulder
before he saw her.
"Sir," she heard her father say,
''you were captured within our lines
without pass and having no authority
to be there. am going to send you
with guard to the commander of our
army, who is in the camp dozen
miles or SO beyond. He will discover
whether you are no British spy, but
have strayed, as you have said, within
our lines by accident.
"What has he done, father?" the
girl asked, for she was filed with pity
for this man, who seemed so proud and
yet so pleading in his manner.
"What Thankful, is it you? Why
are you here, my daughter" said the
Captain.
81 came to welcome you, father"
''But this is no place for you. We
have prisoner.
ga prisoner Surely he can do no
harm. He is not like an army man
and he seems well favored"
Nevertheless we found him wan
dering within our lines and there are
spies about and he may be one of
those"
"a spy? Surely, l think not"
And the girl went to the prisoner
and stood before him in the innocence
of maidenly confidence and looked full
into his eyes, lifting her head to do so,
| l. 81 - -
far above her in his splendid presence.
"You are no spy" she said at last.
mo, my child, not spy. I am an
officer of the Kings army who has
strayed within your lines. Thank you
for your sympathy. You have beauty
in your face, my child, but you have
what is better-you have sympathy.
The girl went back to her father and
she said:
Gather, suppose my brother John,
who is somewhere in the Jerseys with
Washington, should by accident be
captured by the redcoats. 1t would
break your heart and mine if they took
him for spy. Surely there is truth
in this mans words. Come, bring him
with you. Don't you remember that
it is Thanksgiving Day, and that we
are to have roasted goose and chicken
pie, and Abbie has baked q glorious
pumpkin pie? Let him come and be
our guest, and I'll warrant he'll promise
me that he will make no effort to
escape until you hear from the General
what shall be done with him"
The Captain seemed to hesitate for
n moment, and then turning to his
prisoner he said: Sir, | am myself
impressed with your dignity of man
ner 1t may be that you speak the
truth. My daughters intuitions are
that it is so. | have changed my mind
L shall send a messenger to the General
with dispatch telling of your capture,
and then whatever he commands that
will | do. Meanwhile, sir, it is our
feast day. We are accustomed every
year after the harvest to give thanks
to the Lord and to eat a great feast
and to make merry in our families. ]
will ask you to share this with us. You
will be prisoner, but | will take your
parole that you will make no effort to
escape.
"You do me honor, sir. [ give my
parole to you, and, if I may be per
t mitted, to this fair maiden who has
A interceded for me.
They unloosed his thongs, and when
e his hands were free he stepped up to
y Mistress Thankful and he took her hand
II ana bended over it with the courtesy
!, ana grace of one who had been accus-
u toned to places where high breeding
Il ana gentle manners prevailed
IS They had atine feast at CAPTAIN Fol
81 SONS table, and the British officer
e being no longer under great restraint
became most companionable and ven.
:. tured gentle iests with Thankful and
her cousin, Mistress Abbie, who served
d the meats and bounties with gentle die.
II nifty and unconscious grace. And
e when she turned to converse more Sc.
d riously with Captain Folsom upon tn,
war and its battles they-Thankful ant
l. Abbie- under pretense of some engage
n ment for the preparation of the dos