The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-24
NOBLE MARY DRAPER
STORY OF o,ls or THE WOMEN OF
REVOLUTIONARY DAYS.


the woman who is. 90 my mind the
greatest heroine Of the Revolutionary
days, though. il objection is made e
this assertion. could modify IL by
claiming that she was certainly the mos
patriotic in the state of Massachusetts
She was Mary Draper. wife Of Captain
Draper OF Dedham, Mass, married long
before tine war. and with children vel
grown up when rhe trouble began a'
Lexington; therefore the seeming i'm
possibility of 1sling any history Of her
early life.
Captain Draper was thriving farm
er. and had always prospered, IL one
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 We're always filled
TO their utmost capacity with the stores
for winter for his family and the dumb
animals which belonged 20 him.
The house was bnilt with two large
ovens, either one Of them large enough
90 bake bread for the whole village,
When the news was heard of the ex-
pected attack Of the British upon our
patriots az Lexington, General Putnam.
in Connecticut, was at work in his field
blowing. He left all and seized his
musket. and. not waiting to change his
apparel, marched ON 10 Cambridge. call
ing on all he saw ON bis way TO join in.
bring any weapons they had. and fol-
low without delay. Their route happen
ed 10 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-
lies. They put their trust in the Lord,
and left all in the hands of Providence,
but struck with their right arms their
first blow for freedom at this Lexington
fight. 1t may be judged such an oppor-
tunity as this would develop almost any
character and such benevolent woman
as Mary Draper would become bright
and shining light
AT the frs: call she exhorted her hus-
band 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 son,
a boy of 16 years, bidding him hasten to
do his duty and follow in the footsteps
of his father The daughter entreated
the mother TO allow him 10 remain and
protect them, but she answered, "No,
he must go, but 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
passed ON, only TO be followed by hun
dreds more, who were all treated in the
same generous manner. Refreshed and
rested and encouraged to go on by Mary
Draper. they continued to pass along
this road that led by their home for sew.
eral days, till order and discipline were
Mary Draper, assisted by her daughter |
md domestic in her family. spent the |
whole day and night and following day
N baking brown bread. The two ovens
hat have mentioned as being of I'M.
usually large capacity were set in full
blast. and they never bad been before so
pushed TO their fullest extent, and I |
ioubt if ever since. in such small |
space of time
With the help Of disabled French. |
man. veteran Of the French war. who |
had been given home in the Draper |
amily for many years, Mary Draper had |
I'll the refreshments IN readiness to offer |
he weary patriots as they passed along.
A long wooden form was erected by the |
'oadsiie. large pans Of bread and cheese
were placed upon II and replenished a
'ften as Necessary The old veteran
brought tubs which were filed full If |
'ider from their cellar, and u was served
'ut by two lads who volunteered their
ervices. Mrs Draper presided AZ this
and ben her stock Of
gave cut. called upon her |
leighbors for contributions.
Her husband had purchased a bullet |
mold to supply himself and son with
his article Of warfare. and Mrs Draper.
lot satisfied with giving the pewter 20
he general demand. some Of IL the
Ireatest ornament Of her old home. be.
AN herself to melt her platters, pans
nd dishes and transform them into the
equirel ammunition.
Winter was now approaching and with
fears Of the want of supplies for the
rmy. The country could scarcely WELD
What was sure 10 be the demand made
pom IL should the war continue. The
alls upon private benevolence became
Imperative and the question of clothing
Or the patriots. who must spend the
'inter in camp, was very momentous
ne. Mrs Draper was one Of the first TO
Pc this approaching difficulty, and be.
anne deeply interested and the most
ctive IN efforts TO render all the aid I'm
err power. and inspired her neighbors
, do likewise. Her house had ALWAYS
cen an asylum for the destitute, and
ow her deepest sympathies were enlist.
d for the newly forming army to
hitch the hardships of war were almost
Dtirely unknown.
She considered their own possessions
My AS a means Of assisting her distress
4 country The supply of cloth. woven
n use in her own family. was convert
into coats for soldiers by her daugh
u and maid, under her direct super
Ision, and sheets and blankets were
into shirts for them also. and
zen garments already made ont of the
81 new weavings for herself we're con
'rted into such mems wear as was
ost needed These deeds of disinterest
generosity Nere scarcely known be
md their own neighborhood IT'S said
70 lived TO the age of 100 years. in this
me house, and continued to befriend
e destitute and needy wayfarer -wo
ans Progress
PREVENTED A QIIEI