The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30

Nj
~ fellow trudged about
the farm clad IN homespun and
home made clothing, feeding calves,
driving COWS, and doing whatever his
hands found to do with his might"
One Saturday night John was early
at the gate waiting for his fathers
home coming; for Saturday was the
day when John Holden went to the
village and returned laden with
packages and news from Boston
which to them was the center of the
world. A present was an unheard of
thing in little Johns life. What was
his surprise, then, as his father rode
up to the gate, to see him hand out a
long black case, saying:
"Here, my boy, see what I've
brought you for a birthday present"
And imagine his greater astonish-
ment on opening the case to see a
beautiful fife of dark wood with sill
yer trimmings!
The boy could hardly believe his
own eyes; and, as he was passionate
ly fond of music, he lost no time in
beginning to learn the use of his
newly acquired instrument
Just before the Revolutionary war
the whole country was in state of
ferment and dread. War seemed in
evitable, and the oppressive rule of
the English was the theme of con-
versation everywhere.
Little John heard much of it, and
longed to be man that he might
join the "rebellious colonists." And
one day he received compliment
which set him thinking of matters in
a way the older members of his fami-
ly never mistrusted.
A visitor from Boston was at the
farmhouse, and the talk as usual ran
on the prospect of war in the colo
MES. During a pause in the CONVEX
sation, Mr.. Holden asked John to
play something on the fife. When
he had played stirring march or
two, the stranger exclaimed: Upon
my word But the boy has the soul
of music in him! He will be ready
for the British bulls and lions when
it is necessary"
John sat quite still for some time.
But before he went to bed he went to
his father and said, Father, if the
British do come, shall l go to the war
with my fife9"
"To be sure" answered his father,
laughingly. "They could not get
along without you"
Long after his father had forgotten
this incident, John Holden took his
dog Zip and his darling fife and went
to favorite hill on the place to
practice. AT night the dog came
back alone, and going straight up to
the boys chamber began to moan
and cry, and would not leave Johns
bed.
The family were greatly alarmed,
and instantly OWNED that something
had happened to John.
Soon the whole town was in com
motion for the news that John Hol.
den was lost flew like wildfire. Bands
of men were organized, and went
searching in the woods in every di-
rection; but no clue was obtained
that threw the faintest glimmer of
light on the strange disappearance.
Everybody believed him to be dead
or with the cruel Indians. Everybody
but one. The boys mother never
lost faith in his being safe some
where.
my boy is in Gods hands," she
would say. "In his good time he will
come home"
And nothing could move her from
this belief while two anxious years
slipped by.
Ia the meantime war had broken
out, and Shirley had sent her full
quota of men to fight for the coun-
try's independence. 1t was through
one of these that a rumor reached
Mr. Holden that boy of twelve was
in Washington's army as fifer.
John Holden was impressed with
the certainty that the boy in Wash