The National tribune., 1893-01-05


suspicion who was in the habit OF bringing let
tiers 10 The rebels" concealed on his person, n
young woman entered into game of romps
with him in 1 he market-place of the town. ana
covering his head with her apron distracted
his dispatches. When she got home with her
prize and found that the missiye contained
good news this gay, high spirited lassie, not
knowing how TO give vent to her JOY without
excitin. the observation of the towns people
stuck her head ont Of the chimney and gave
shout for the Rcpnhlic!"
When the first call 10 arms sounded through
the land, a Mrs. Draper Immediately e2hOrted
her husband TO lose no time in Fastening to the
scene of action aud with her own hands bound
knapsack and blanket on the shoulders of her
only sOr, astripling Of 10 bidding him depart aud
do his duty. TO the entreaties of her daughter
that her young brother might remain at home
TO be their protector, she answered that every
able arm belonged to the country. p" he is
wanted and must 90. You and j, Kate, have
also service 10 do Food must be prepared Tor
the hungry; 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 j, with Molly, must feed as many as
we can" For two days and night she en-
ployed herself diligently in baking bread and
then erecting long table on the roadside she
covered it with pans Of bread aud cheese, piac-
After the battle of Bunker Hill there was a
great scarcity of ammunition and Washington
called upon the inhabitants to send him every
ounce of pewter or lead in their province. This
appeal could not be dsregarded. but it is dtncuit
st this day 10 estimate the value of pewter, as
well as its indispensable convenience. The
more precious metals had not then found their
way to the tables Of the New Enelanders; and
Throughout the country services OF pewter
secured to the brightness of silver covered the
board, even IN the houses of tie wealthy.
Few withheld their portion in That hour OF
the couutTy's need; and noble were the sacri-
fees made in presenting their willing offerings.
Mrs. Draper was rich in a large stock Of pewter,
which she valued us the greatest ornament of
her house. Much of il was precious 10 her as
the gift of a departed mother. But the call
reached her heart. and she WAS thankful that
she was a lie to contribute so largely 10 the re.
ouirements OF her country. The supply of do
mestic cloth designed for her family was in a
thort tmc converted by her labor assisted by
that o. daughter and maid. into coats for the
soldiers; the sheets and blankets with which
her presses were stored were fashioned into
shirts; and even the fiannels already made UP
for herself aud daughter were altered into
mems garments.
A Mrs. Pond, OF Connecticut assisted only by
another woman and hired man, on a sudden
emergency prepared in single hour break
fast of milk aad, basty- pudding for 100 hungry
and weaTied saliiers.
A patriot by the name of Israel, falling I'M
der something moro than suspicion, was taken
on board an English frgste as a spy, and de-
tachment OF marines was sent to capture and
slaughter his cattle. Mrs. Israel was young
wife Of 10. about 10 become a mother and is
described as of a slight and girlish figure;
modest and retiring in manners. On seeing
the marines land, however, and accompanied
~ rrf f,,t,+ 81
full speed 10 the rescue of the cattle. This she
effected by driving them into the barnyRrd,
with the shot OF the enemy falling thick about
her. There .Giey sere safe, for the British
forces in that quarter were not ID q condition
10 invade farm-h houses
One noble woman, Mrs. Gibbs, il is recorded,
in the midst Of scenes Of violence during the
robbery Of her house by the British troops
commanded even their respect by her calm
and ladyilke department. In her presence all
was, at least the show Of decorum. Main
tanning her place as mistress of her household,
and presiding at her table. she treated her I'M
invited guests with dignifed courtesy that
insured civiiiy, while it prevented presump.
tious familiarity. The boldest and rudest
among them bowed invOluntarily to an infiu-
ence which fear or force could not have &C.
cured"
Mrs. Motto appears conspicuously in her
hcroism when she consented 10 the destruction
Of her property. Her magnificent house inter
rnpted the progress OF an important siege and
the American commander limited, with great
embarrassment, TO lady, to whom the pa-
triotic cause owed so much. that its destruction
would lead in all probability to the capture of
the enemy. The smile with which the COM
nunicatiOn was received gave instant relief to
the embarrassed officer. Mrs Motto not only
consented, but declared that she was eratifed
with the opportunity of contributing to the
good Of her country. and should view the ap-
preaching scene with delight Shortly after
seeing the bows and arrows which had been
prepared TO carry combustible matter, she sent
Tor lee, 8nd, presenting him with a bow aud
its apparatus which had been imported from
India, requested his substitution of them as
better suited for the object than those pro-
viced." The house was burned before her
eyes; the British garrison surrendered, and,
after the captors had taken possession, Mrs.
Motto signaliZed the occasion by presiding
with feminine grace at grand dinner of the
officers.
William Martin wa. killed at the battle of
August. and 3 British officer rode out of his
WAY 10 crafty his hatred of the rebels" by
conveying the intelligence abruptly to the be-
resyed mother. You had SON." said he
in The army st Augusta2 ] saw his brains
blown out on the field of battle" The Ameri-
can woman did not blsnch for an instant; her
countensnce was calm, whatever strife may
have been going on within, and, looking
steadily st the rufian, she answered: "He
could not have died in 4 nobler cause"
At time when the failure of ammunition
began TO be yexatiously felt in the American
army, supplies OF war were secreted in hollow
trees and other such places. The amount
given 10 Col. RTatton was confided by him,
during an occasional absence, to the care Of his
vile; but the circumstance becoming in some
way known, a detachment Of tue enemy was
sent 10 secure ID.
Mrs. Bratton was made aware of their near
approach, and Immediately laid a train of
powder from tie depo. to the spot where she
stood and when the detachment came in sight,
set Grc 10 the train and blew it up. The ex.
plosion that greeted the ears of the foe in
formed them that the object of their expedition
was frustrated. The officer in command, irri-
taied TO fury, demanded who had dared to
perpetratc such an act, and threatened instant
and severe Fengeancs upon the culprt. The
intrepid woman, answering for herself: Ii
was / who did ii. Let the consequences be
what they will, l glory in having prevented
the mischief contemplated by the cruel enemies
Of my c0uLtry."
A quiet, nnobtrusive-lookin house in Phila-
oephia. inhabited by Quaker couple by the
name Of Dmragh, was chosen lsy the British
otnceTs as place for private conference; and
one evening OF their meeting, the party in COM
nand exhibited so much anxiety TO get
the family TO bed, that the alarm of the mis-
trcss, Lydia Darraeh, was excited. She could
BOT rest that night. She heard in Imagination