Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-10
JUST IN TIME.

any other haAtation and with an acre Of
cleared ground about it. That was the
only home Captain Thomas Mitchell, late
in the service of his most gracious majes-
ty King George ILL., could offer his family.
But he was content, though twice cap
tive He had been taken prisoner first
when Burgoyne was defeated at Saratoga
The second time he surrendered willingly,
for the battery trained upon his defenses
was pair of bright eyes shining forth
from the comedy face Of a patriot maiden.
He had crossed the seas to conquer the
Yankees. His sword was yielded on the
field of battle, with regret, to be sure, and
after gallant struggle. His commission
followed, but at this there was no repln-
ing, for the day he sent his resignation to
New York he won his freedom and the
love of q true hearted American girl
In the days Just after the close of the
Revolutionary war the country was poor
poorer than we Of the present gener-
alton can well imagine-and as time went
nv CAPTAIN Mitchell beheld his small store
of wealth dwindle, while his responsible
ties were increased by the birth Of two
children, vigorous boys, who at the date
of our story were and years Of age.
Therefore he resolved to go into the depths
of the Vermont woods and there make
home. Land was cheap and to be had al
most for the asking, so the purchase of
400 acres from the owner of one Of the
enormous grants was not too great drain
upon his slender resources. The fall after
his removal found him fairly comfortable.
A rude house had been built a little corn
raised, and lucky encounter with bear
had solved partially the meat problem. But
the father felt that he could not remain idle
during the long winter. He was a scholar
of no mean attainments, and from the
nearest settlement Of size, u hundred miles
away, came o tempting offer to teach-tve
months employment at salary of IL
Spanish dollars per month and board. de
accepted and spent the remainder Of his
stay at home in arranging for the COM
fort of his family. He also contracted with
the nearest neighbor, IL miles distant, to
keep the wood pile replenished and take
corn to the mill, 40 miles northward, as
occasion required. Then he rode off and
was lost to sight among the thick pines
and towering birches. The young wife
faced the dreary winter with the brave
heart and high courage so characteristic
of the pioneer women Of America By day
she busted herself with household tasks,
and at night, by the blaze Of logs In the
big fireplace, taught her children their let
tiers and told them stories Of the wonder
full things their father had seen In the fair
land of his youth and early manhood. The
snow and the cold came all too soon. Her
supply Of fuel gave out, and she could not
make her way through the drifts to the
forest that stood so near and yet so far
beyond her reach. The faithless neighbor,
who had been paid in advance for his serv-
ices, never appeared. The store Of meal
failed. The great blaze lessened to q
spark. A little parched corn and half
cooked meat hardly sufficed to keep body
and soul together. One evening the poor
mother, rendered half delirious by anxiety,
broke up some of the rude furniture
built rousing fire, cooked the last rem
nants Of their provisions, saw her chill
dren, no longer hungry and cold, tucked
safely into their bed and sat down to
brood before the expiring flame Unless
help arrived the morrow would behold
them starving and freezing. She uttered
q prayer, and then strange fancies t1oated
through her brain. She was at home, and
news had just come of the fight at Bunker
Hill. Her father and brothers were taking
up their hintlocks and preparing to join
in the mighty struggle for freedom. The
scene shifted. She was listening to the
roar of the cannon and watching the dis
tant clouds of smoke that told where Gates
and Burgoyne were struggling for the
mastery A troop Of cavalry approach.
They stop at the farmhouse gate. Her fa-
ther and two others dismount. One Of the
three wears the uniform Of hated red, but
he is young and handsome and wounded.
"Here, Lucy" says her father as they
enter, lis prisoner. TITS British Off
GER and he has passed his word not to es.
cape, though methinks there is small fear
of that now," glancing compassionately
at the captive's limp right arm Then the
days of nursing, the confession Of love, the
pride felt when, for her sake, her hero sac
rifced home, friends and prospects-for
her, a simple farmers daughter.
The fire grows dim, flares up, goes out.
What is thatS Before her eyes appear
her elder brother and his wife They
stretch forth welcoming hands They
greet her. They smile with joy. SavedI
No, the vision is gone. That soundl 1t
is like the neighing Of horse. 1t cannot
be. A rap at the doorl Impossible Is
the overburdened mind sinking into mad
nessi Another rap. Away with phan-
tasiesl She will be brave and solve the
mystery. She takes off the bar and
swings wide the portal.
Lucy, DEAR how are you"
'"Brotherl'
Brother and brothers. wife indeed, and
sleighload of provisions for the desolate
sister in the winter woods. No more
crazed dreamings now, but glad reality.
Next morning stalwart Major Rolfe
went to work. He forced passage to the
trees For hours his ak blows echoed on
the frosty air, and when the Sabbath came
noble pile of logs lay right at hand.
Monday he mounted one Of his horses and
rode away. He returned before nightfall,
but refused to tell whittier he had jour
neyed. At dawn Of Tuesday the visitors
departed. Farewells and handskalings
over, the big sled started homeward. AS
1t moved off the major turned his head,
and laughing said:
Lucy, do you want to know my bust
pess yesterday 1 licked the man the
captain hired. Bred g. Dayton In Ro-
nance
"A Gallant Little Newsboy.
A E,dy passing along the street saw that
both If her shoes had coma untied and