, 1896-04-06
NOBLE MARY DRAPER
STORY or ONE OF THE WOMEN OF
REVOLUTIONARY DAYS.

nGvsIIO OAvo.
lev . Massachusetts, Eas0sr vile Res.
AsssA 1~neale.labls Aasissa.es 10 Hsf
Distressed Cesntry Eur.ish'ng Food
cd Cie<hi.s 70 Patriot Soldier.
have searched everywhere to ascer.
tain the maiaen name and parentage Of
the woman who ia. to my mind. the
greatest heroine Of the Revolutionary
days. though. II objection is made to
this- assertion. I could modify it BY
claiming that she was certainly the most
patriotic In the state Of Massachusetts,.
She was Mary Draper. wife Of Captain
Draper Of Dedhanl. Mass, married long
before the war, and with children we'll
grown mp when the trouble began at
Lexington : therefore the seeming i'm
possibility Of finding any history Of her
early life.
Captain Draper was . thriving farm
e, and bad always prospered, II n
could judge from his surroundings and
the manner Of living carried on in his
family. His house and his barns were
large. and the latter were always filled
to their utmost capacity with the store
for winter for his family and the dumb
animals which belonged to him.
The house was built with two large
ovens, either nj Of them large enough
to bake bread for the whole village.
When the news was heard Of the 81
pected attack Of the British upon our
p~tp{o<o - T oviuOto,, nouo~s1 Dntnuu,
In Connecticut. Was at work in his field
blowing. He left all aud seized his
musket, and. not waiting to change his
apparel. marched on to Cambridge. call
ing ON all he saw ON his way to join in,
bring any weapons they had, and fol-
low without delay. Their route happen
cd to he the road passing the home Of
the Diapers in Dedham.
Men thought of nothing but liberty
and the safety Of their homes and fami-
iML They put their trust in the Lord.
and left all In the hands Of Providence,
bat struck with their right arms their
first blow for freedom at this Lexington
Eight. It may be judged such an oppor-
tunity - this would develop almost any
character aud such q benevolent woman
~ Mary Draper would become . bright
and shining light
At the first call she exhorted her hus-
tand to lose no time in preparing and
Fastening to the scene Of action. With
her own hands she bound knapsack and
blanket to the shoulders of her only sou,
. boy Of l6 years. bidding him hasten to
do his duty and follow in the footsteps
u his sathee. The daughter entreated
the mother to allow him to remain and
protect them. but she answered, mo,
he must 60, bat you and /. Kate, will
have enough to do to feed the hungry
who will pass here ON their way before
tomorrow night"
Hundreds did come and were fed, and
paassd On. only to be followed by hun
dreds more, who were all treated in the
am generous manner. Refreshed aud
rested and encouraged to 60 on by Mary
Draper. they continued to pass along
this road that led by their home for sew
&al days. till order and discipline were
established.
Mary Draper, assisted by her daughter
and adomestic In her family. spent the
whols day and night and following day
IN baking brown bread. The two ovens
that ! have mentioned ~ being Of un-
Usually large capacity were set in full
blast. and they never bad been before 60
pushsd to their fullest extent. and !
doubt II ever since. in such 4 small
space Of time.
With the help Of . disabled French
man. . veteran Of the French war. who
had been given . home in the Draper
family fW many years, Mary Draper had
all the refreshments In readiness to offer
the weary patriots - they passed along.
4 long wooden form was erected by the
roadGje. largo pans Of bread and cheese
wsre placed upon It and replenished a.
often ~ necessary. The old veteran
brought tubs which were filed full Of
cider from their cellar. and It was served
out by two lads who volunteered their
services. MrA Drsper presided at this
sutertainment. and WHEN her stock Of
provisions gave out. called upon her
neiohboes for contributions
Her husband had purchased q bullet
mold TO supply himself and son with
this article Of warfare. and Nra. Draper,
not satisaed with giving tho pewter to
The general demand. some Of is the
greatest ornament Of her old home, be-
gan herself to melt her platters, pans
md dishes and transform them into the
required ammunition.
Winter was now ~sppEoaching and with
1t fears Of the want Of supplies for the
army. The country could scarcely yield
what was sure to be the demand made