The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-05
JUST IN TIME.

A log cabin in the forest, miles from
any other habitation and with an acre
of cleared ground about it. That was
the only home of Captain Thomas
Mitchell, late in the service Of his most
gracious majesty, King George Ill,
could offer his family. But he was
content, though twice a captive He
had been taken prisoner first when Bur-
goyne was defeated at Saratoga The
second time he surrendered willingly.
for the battery trained upon his de-
lenses was pair Of bright eyes shining
forth from the comedy face of a patriot
maiden. He had crossed the seas 10
conquer the Yankees. His sword was
yielded on the field of battle with re-
greet TO be sure, and after a gallant
struggle. His commission followed, but
at this there was no renining for the
day he sent his resignation to New
York he won his freedom and the love
of a 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
generation can well imagine-and as
time went by Captain Mitchell beheld
his small store of wealth dwindle, while
his responsibilities were increased bv
the birth of two children. vigorous boys,
VIZ at N4AG AdlG VI our story were and
years of age. Therefore he resolved
TO go into the depths of the Vermont
woods and there make a home Land
was cheap and to be mad almost for the
asking, so the purchase of 400 acres
from the owner Of one Of the enormous
grants was not too great drain upon
MS slender resources The fall after
his removal found him fairly comfort
able. A rude house had been built. a
little corn raised, and a lucky encounter
with a 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
attachments. and from the nearest SET
tlement of size, a hundred miles away.
came tempting offer to teach-fve
months employment at a salary of u
Spanish dollars per month and hoard
de accepted and spent the remainder
of his stay at home in arranging fo,.
the comfort Of his family. He also con-
tracted with the nearest neighbor -
mlFes distant, to keep the wood pile re-
piemShed and take corn to the mill AZ
miles northward, as occasion reouirad
Then he rode off and was lost ia sighf
among une thick pines and towering
plIcnes. Inc young wife faced the
dreary winter with the brave heart and
high courage so characteristic of fhe
pioneer women of America. Rv dav She
busted herself with household tasks and
at night, by the blaze of logs in the hisr
fireplace, taught her children their LET
ters and told them stories Of the Won
derful 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, ano she could not make her way
through the drifts to the forest that
stood SO near and yet so far beyond her
Ieacn. The fa4thless neighbor, who had
n 8 ~
never appeared. The store of meal had
1alled- The great blaze lessened to a
spark. A little parched corn and half
cooked meat hardly suficed to keen
pooy and soul together. One evening
lHe poor mother, rendered half delirious
oy andety, broke up some of the rude |
furniture, built a rousing fire. cooked |
the last remnants of their provisions |
saw her children no longer hungry and |
cold, tucked safely into their he'd and |
sat down to brood before the exniring /
flame. Unless help arrived the rnornoIY
would oehold them starvir and freez-
ing. She uttered a prayer and then
S strange fancies floated through her
brain. She was at home, and news had |
just come Of the fight at Bunker Hill |
her tather and brothers were taking
up tnelr f1lntlocks and preparing to Join /
IN the mighty struggle for freedom The
scene snlIted. She was listening to the
NAAbOIl anu NdlCnlDR Jil6 |
distant clouds of smoke that told where |.
Gates and Burgoyne were struggling
for the mastery. A troop of cavalry APP
proaca. They stop at the farmhouse
gate Her father and two others dis
mount. One of the three wears the uni
form of the hated red, but he is youne
and handsome and wounded.
Here, Lucy" says her father as tghev
enter, lis a prisoner. IT'S a British Of
acer, and he has passed his word not to
escape, though methinks there is small
fear Of that now glancing compass
sionately 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 sacrificed home,