The Bessemer indicator., 1893-03-25
BRAVE WOMEN.

BRAVE WOMEN.
Tho women OF the Revolutionary
war were generous, high-spirited, and
devoted. They resigned their prop
srty without sigh, went from house
to house begging for the continental
army, embroidered colors, distributed
arms and ammunition, exhorting the
men to use them like heroes. Even
the girls in many instances pledged
themselves not to receive addresses
of lovers who had not given proofs of
love for their country. The records
are full OF noble deeds and bravery,
some Of which are presented in this
paper.
When the first call to arms sounded
through the land, Mrs. Draper i'm
mediately exhorted her husband to
lose no time in fastening to the scene
of action, and with her own hands
bound knapsack and blanket on the
shoulders of her only son. q STRIPPING
OF l6, bidding him depart and do his
Guty. 10 the entreaties OF her
daughter that her young brother
might remain ut home to be their
protector, she answered that every
able arm belonged to the country.
ale is wanted and must 90. You
and ], Kate, have also service to do.
Food must be prepared for the hun
cry; for before tomorrow night hun
dreds, | hope thousands, will be on
their way to join the continental
forces. Some who have Travelled far
will need refreshment. and you and /,
with Molly, must feed rs many as we
can" For two days and IL night she
employed herself diligently in baking
bread; and then erecting IL long table
on the roadside she covered it with
pans of bead and cheese. placing
great pals OF cider beside them.
After the battle of Bunker Hill
there was great scarcity of ammu-
milton, and Washington called upon
the inhabitants to send him every
ounce of pewter or lead in their
province. This appeal could not be
disrcgarded, but it is difficult at this
day to estimate the value of pewter,
as well as its indispensable con-
venience. The more precious metals
had not then found their way to the
tables of the New Englanders; and
throughout the country services of
pewter secured to the brightness of
silver covered the board, even in the
houses of the wealthy.
Few withheld their portion in that
hour of the country's need; and noble
were the sacrifices made in present
ing their willing offerings. Mrs.
Draper was rich in large stock of
pewter, which she valued as the
greatest ornament of her house. Much
of it was precious to her as the gift
Of departed mother. But the call
reached her heart, and she was thank
full that she was able to contribute so
largely to the requirements of her
country. The supply of domestic
cloth designed for her family was in
a short time converted by her labor,
assisted by that of daughter and
maid, into coats for tho soldiers; the
sheets and blankets with which her
presses were stored were fashioned
into shirts; and even the nannels
already made up for herself and
daughter were altered into mems
garments.
A Mrs. Pond, OF Connecticut, as
sisted only by another woman and
hired man, on n sudden emergency
prepared in single hour Il breakfast
OF milk and hasty-pudding for 100
hungry and wearied soldiers.
A patriot by the name of Israel,
falling under something more than
suspicion, was taken on board an
English frigatc as spy, and detach-
ment OF mariners was sent to capture
and slaughter his cattle. Mrs. Israel
was young wife of 10, about to be-
Gene mother. and is described as of
slight and girlish figure; modest and
retiring in manners. On seeing the
mariners land. however, and accom-
panied by boy of only eight years,
she set out at full speed to the
rescue of the cattle. This she eff
fected by driving them into the barn
yard, with the shot of tho enemy fall
ing thick about her. There they
were safe, for the British forces in
that quarter were not IN II condition
to invade farm-houses.
Ono noble woman, Mrs. Gibbs, it is
recorded, in the midst of scenes of
violence during the robbery of her
house by the British troops, COM
manded even their respect by her
calm and ladylike department. In
her presence ull was. at least, the
show of decorum. Maintaining her
place rs mistress of her household,
and presiding ut her table, she treat
ed her uninvited guests with dig
nitied courtesy that insured civility,
while it prevented presumptuous
familiarity. The boldest and rudest
among them bowed involuntarily to
an influence which fear or force could
not have secured"
Mrs. Motto appears conspicuously
in her heroism when she consented
to the destruction of her property.
Her magnificent house interrupted
the progress of an important siege.
and the American commander limited
with great embarrassment, to lady,
to whom the patriotic cause owed so
much, that its destruction would lead
in all probability TO the capture of
the enemy. "The smile with which
the communication was received gave
instant relief to the embarrassed
officer. Mrs. Motto not only consent
cd, but declared that she was graft |
fed with the opportunity of contrib
uting to tho good of her country, and
should view the approaching scene
with delight. Shortly after, seeing
the bows and arrows which had been
to carry combustible matter
she sent for Lee, and, presenting him
with bow, and its apparatus, which
had been imported from India, re-
quested his substitution of them as
better suited for the object than those
provided. The house was burned
before her eyes; the British garrison