The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1895-03-29
The Brindle Cow Knew Her.

The following Renaissance, in con-
nection with the foregoing story was fur
nished THE CHRONICLE by a descendant
Of the principals
Timothy Bloomfield had two sons who
served faithfully with him in the Revo-
lutionary war. They were named Smith
and Timothy, and as they were in service
in the Continental Army, the farm and
the old homestead were open to the
ravages of the predatory parties of the
enemy. Mr.. Bloomfield died, aged 70
years, on January IS, 1918, and was
buried in the old graveyard at Metuchen.
Among the things stolen, besides the
family Bible, was brindle COW. AS to
the Bible, the book could not readily be
given up. 1t was the comfort of the
pious household during the long absence
of the men. To be deprived, therefore,
of its counsels and divine consolation in
their hours of anxious watchings and
bitter trials was prospect too melan-
choly. But what could be done? Bibles
were costly in those days, and the family,
made poor by the fortunes of war, had
not the means with which to purchase
another. Eunice, daughter of Timothy,
concluded at length to appeal to the
British commander on Staten Island for
the restoration of the priceless volume.
In company with another girl residing
with the family, Eunice started from
home, walking to the river. 1t was
brave deed, for these were troublous
times and lawless bands were abroad.
On the shore they were nonplused. How
should they reach the other side? Not
far away they espied an old scow. Push
ing it into the water they padded across,
objects of much curiosity to groups of
red coated soldiers on the Island.
With Difference, the guard on the bank
assisted them to land, and inquired their
business. They informed him that they
wished to see the officer in command.
Very courteously he conducted them to
headquarters. The commander received
the young women with affability and
listened to their story and to their earn
est pleading for the old Bible. They
saw that the officer was interested, and
felt sure their suit was won. So, indeed,
it was. He sent to the ship riding at
anchor some distance from the shore, to
which, it seems, the volume had been
carried. 1t was brought and placed in
Eunice Bloomfeld's hands
Gratefully the young women were
about to return homeward when the
officer kindly inquired if anything else
of value had been taken from them.
They replied affirmatively that brin-
die COW had been driven away by his
men. In adjoining fields large droves
were feeding. Leading his guests to-
these, he pointed toward the cattle and
asked if they recognized their own ami
NAL. A long scrutiny failed to discover
the domestic favorite. AS they were
about to give up the search in despair,
the brindle came bounding toward them
with every demonstration of pleasure,
and placed herself, in a satisfied way,
beside Eunice, as much as to say ssComei
1t is milking timei" The officer smiled
and averred that there was no doubt of
the original ownership of the cow.
A guard of soldiers escorted the girls
across the water with their regained
treasures, and accompanied them for
considerable distance toward home, at
which they arrived with hearts over
flowing with thankfulness. The feelings
with which they opened the old Bible
that night, who can describe?
On the family record, in this same old
Bible, some Tory hands had written re-
marks, against one of the boys in par
ticular, who was afterward killed near
Elizabethtown while in action.