The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
MOLLY AYo EASTER.

O 'ONO ~
than a century ago, that an American
soldier galloped in hot haste along the
public road in the State of Pennsyl-
vanla, finging back to the sentries on
duty the watchword of the day. To
this he added in a tremolo of haste
these words:
The British are advancing; they
have sent a detachment in pursuit
delay them all you can-they are
under the protection of a flag of truce,
but I'll cheat them yet;" and he was
gone like the wind.
A handsome lad, and a brave one,
wearing the insignia of an officer in
the American army; slight of form
and fair of face, but showing a daring
energy in every motion.
Suddenly the horse he rode swerved
aside and vaUlted a low fence into a
bare barnyard. His master instantly
dlsmounted, leaving the tired animal
to find its own way into the comfort
stable. Turning his steps towards the
house, he entered the old fashioned
kitchen. An old negro woman was
blowing q live coal she held in a pair
of tongs into a flame, at which she
might light a candle.
GOOD evening, auntie. Are you
all well?"
The old woman dropped coal and
candle, and giving one frightened look
at the youth, cried in a trembling
voice:
"Foh de Lawd's sake, Marse Allan,
what you done come outen like dis
yeah9"
"Hush," commanded the young Off
Ger, q am in great peril! Where are
my mother and Molly3"
"In yander, Marse Allan, an I done
reckon they cotch awful scare wen
they see yoh comm" But the young
man was gone to the living room,
where on a low settee in front of q
pleasant wood fire an elderly lady lay
gazing sadly into the flames.
"Mother!'
She started wildly and half rising
threw her arms about his neck with a
glad cry, as she asked, a~Dxiously:
What brings you here, my son2 Is
there a truce?'
"No, mother; I am on my way to
Gen. Howe with important dispatches.
A detachment of British troops cut me
off, but I escaped and rode home on
Hero, who has not a scratch. They
will notlet those dispatches go through,
if they have to kill me to get them. l
must not stay. Where is Molly9"
"Here," said a glad, clear voice, full
of music, and a pretty girl with a
merry, sunshiny face, on which a
shade of anxiety was visible, came
from the back of the room. 81 saw
you ride in, and knew you needed help,
and have already planned something
for you. Now tell me, Allan, how
much time have you9"
81 hope until daybreak, but am not
fully sure. What I dread is that thay
will disarm our sentinels, and post
their W along the route. There is a
contingency in pursuit commanded by
the British captain, Pierrepont, who is
as brave as a lion, and he has sworn to
have these dispatches. Now for your
plan, sis. Is it. practicalQ"
81 am not sure yet, but 1 hope so.
What evening is this, Allan3 Have
you forgotten9"
ooh, of a surety, it is Easter eve,
but a sad one for you, my poor girl
for all of us. But what has that to do
with it,"
Molly whispered with him a mo-
ment, then the two partly admitted
the mother into their counsels. It
was Molly, however, who managed it
all, and who took her brother upstairs
for a final consultation. Leaving him
there, she came down and said gayly
to her mother:
LAS it is Easter eve, I propose to
have some music after tea on the har-
monium. And mother, if you car not,
what say you to having u Easter
eggs for supper, instead of at to-mor-
rows meal9 Eggs do not keep well in
these troubled times and Domin-
ioks have done themselves credit. W.
will not permit the enemies of our
country to feast a second time on such
delicacies."
"Molly, can you have the heart for
Easter sports when Allan is in such
peril2 Methinks, girl, you are merry
and not wise"
Mother" she said, gently, will
you not trust me7 Allan has trusted
me with his life, more, with his honor.
Do not question me or ANYTHING / do