The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-24
FOX CLOTHES.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

| AAhNi NhiSAduh, thS old Ooldllio
was digging diligently in the gar
den at the Oaks, too much engrosse,
in his absorbing occupation #
notice the approach or to heed tn
exclamations Of his daughter, wh'
had hurried to him from tn
house.
She looked down at his stoopins
figure despairingly. "Mon pere.
she called again, this time bending
to his ear, SO that her curls fell owe
his neck. "Mon pere, the British
have taken Charlestown! Lore
CORVALLIS is in the city. They say
he is to send troops to harry the low
country"
The old man looked up at last
My flowers! my plants he easped
staggering 10 his feet. Do you think
they will touch themi
He spread out his arms as if tc
embrace the garden. The vision
of the detested redcoats trampline
down the prim box hedges destroy.
ing the rare exotics, and manning
the trees-perchance, his precious
Cupressus lusitanica and his accli.
mated camellia, japonicas planted
by his own hands for the first time
in the New World-flled him with
terror.
The garden was ablaze with a
regal splendor of color from the
blossoming avenues Of azaleas and
thickets of roses. The lovely
Nelumbium luteum, brought by
Michaux from Hindoostan, spread its
golden tinted, magnolia like chalices
upon the clear waters of the artificial
lake behind the manor house
The house itselfrose amid its pome
granates, its oranges and moss draped
oaks, white pillared, wide rooted,
with imposing wings and turrets; the
Winged sheaf its English owner in
relief above the spacious doorway
and upon the stone shields Of case,
ment and coping.
Noble by birth, the owners OF the
Oaks had ever been republican in
principle. They headed the revolu-
tion against the Lords and Proprie-
tors in I7I9. One Of them had been
a royal governor with letters patent
from William Earl OF Craven, Pala-
tine. One had been a member of
the Assembly in 1749. One was
speaker Of the same body in 1850,
aud atterward president OF the
Continental Congress. Later on
the son of this president signed a
fair name to the Declaration OF In
dependence, and thus cut off his
people and himself effectually from
hope OF Tory preterment.
His wifes sister married the last of
the royal governors, Lord William
Campbell, brother to the Duke OF
Argyle: but the Colonial patriot
dared to propose the Imprisonment
OF his brother in law when Carolina
drew her sword in defence OF her
rights, and for this high treason him
self languished for two years in
a Florida prison; his family detained
in Charlestown his beautiful home
left 10 the chances of war.
The old botanist, Michaux, had
planted the garden at the Oaks
and adorned the place with his own
hands, and had left his own dwelling
to care for his patrons desolate and
deserted home.
He had but one JOY in life-the
collection and cultivation of rare
plants, both exotic and indigenous.
The fields and swamps of the rice
country rewarded his search with
many curious semi tropic specimens
OF orchidaceous growth. Indeed, SO
absorbed was he in this delightful
pursuit that he was Indifferent to or
oblivious of the fact that his daughter
was growing up beside his flowers
as rare an exotic as any one oi
them.
His younger many sided days
had taken the botanist all over the
world, in quest not only of curious
plants, but OF strange adventures.
In one OF his travels he bought in
Ispahan Circassian, whom he
afterward married. She bore him but
one child, and died before his first
voyage to the New World.
He never married again, but be-
came completely absorbed in his
work and settled not far from Charles
town, content to let the French ano
English colonists, the Dissenters and
the Churchmen, fire their brains ovel
religion and politics, while he
pottered among his plants and pre-
sented his patrons wife with the
rare blossoms of the heshly or
chids.
Today, therefore, he looked abou
him quaking.
He scarcely knew who Lord Corr
wallis was. Names, save of plant:
stted through his brain as though i
were a sieve. But he knew wha
unrestrained soldiery could do, ane
he trembled for his flowers.
His daughter trembled-but 70
! herself and him, noting with pans