Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-09-07
A Saba DAY DINNER.
The One Nancy Poundmaster Pre-
pared In Revolutionary Times

Nancy Poundmaster was so deeply
engrossed in s.The Life and Strange
Surprising Adventures of Robinson
Crusoe, Mariner" that she had quite
forgotten her purpose, to spin at least
six knots of yarn before shutdown.
The rude appointments of the cham
Der in which she sat would doubtless
be regarded with open-eyed wonder by
q girl Of to-day; for the enterprising
generations since '76 have sought out
many new inventions" and the pom
derous loom 1ivened by the cheerful
pattern of linsey-woolsey, the great
spinning wheel, and the homely reel
and swifts have either been wholly
banished from the homes of the land,
or are preserved only as relics of a less
ingenious age
1t was during the ''Mud Rounds" as
the veterans called Washington's re-
treat across 1.-THE Jerseys" when the
mud, which at first had rendered the
roads almost impossible, suddenly
froze, thereby impeding the progress
and greatly increasing the suffering of
the half-shod and often barefooted
American troops. News of the extreme
restitution of the patriots had set in
motion all the shuttles and spindles in
the vicinity, while stockings for the
soldiers were growing like magic in
every loyal household.
Nancy Poundmaster's mother had
died at the commencement of the war,
and her father had brought Nancy's
grandmother, a hale old lady of seven
ty, from cover the mountain" to as
sumo the care of his household. This
consisted Of two stalwart sons, both of
whom had lately joined the army. and
ssthe little gell," as the fond grand
mother called her sons ffteen-year-old
daughter. At the beginning of this
story Capt Poundmaster was rapidly
recovering from the effects of a severe
fesh-wound in his right leg, received at
the battle Of White Plains.
..Humphr' he exclaimed, on this par
ticular Saturday afternoon, as he placed
a wooden bowl of quartered apples on
the kitchen table. I'D pity the soldiers
If they had to depend on Nancy to spin
the yarn for their stockings! haven't
heard sound since she went upstairs,
he added, as he stepped out OF the back
door to wash his hands.
ooh, don't worry about the little CELL.
It's likely she's a-finishin' her new kir-
tie to wear to meeting tomorrer," re-
turned the old lady in pacific tone. as
she deftly proceeded to gather the juicy
quarters on strings for drying.
.sWell. she won't get her stent done
before SHUTDOWN" persisted the father;
and hastily stepping to the chamber
door he noiselessly assembled the clrcu-
lar staircase. s.Sabba' day." as Grand
ma Poundmaster always designated the
first day Of the week, commenced in
that PRESBYTERIAN household at sun
down on Saturday.
"Upon my world that must be a be-
wheeling tale" sternly remarked the
captain, q moment later. from the top
of the stairs.
At these words the startled girl, who
Was oblivious to everything but the in
coming ship that was slowly approach
ing Crusoe's island, sprang up and in
volnntarily sought to hide the innocent
rause of her fathers displeasure under
the pile of fieecy rolls at her side.
.Where did you get this?' he abrupt
1v inouired, taking the book from her
hand. and closely examining the title
page.
s.Job Van Tassel brought it from
York whea he came home to enlist last
week. f. Jared Nancy, with wistful
air.
"I knew no good would ever come OF
the lads sojourn in that worldly, traf-
-fickinc town." growled the captain, as
he hastily turned over the leaves.
Then. taking the book between his
thumb and fingers. he said, solemnly:
.,Child. know that this is one of the
devices of the evil one, to lead the fool
;sh and unwary to q most sinful waste
of time. and to draw them away from
the pages of Holy Writ See that this
MESSAGE from Satan is on its way to
reighi,or Van Tassel's ere tits four BY
the dial" he peremptorily added; and
tossing the volume into her lap nc
strobe down the stairs.
Instantly-for parents insisted upon
prompt obedience in those days-Nancy
tied on her beaver hood. and slipping
into her scarlet cloak silently left the
house with the prohibited book under
her arm.
A more patriotic heart than Nancy
Poundmaster's never beat under homo
spun: and rs she sped over the frozen
ground she remorsefully exclaimed
stOh! how could have been so forget
full of the poor barefcoted soldiers
.Mayhap," she went on. Quickening hen
spaoe q che glanced southward TOWARD