The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-03

come down to South Carolina, Free
Unequal, and father and Will and
Ebenezer have gone to fight in his
army"
Free equal shook her head SOL
emnly at that, and her long low
''Moo-o" said plainly enough whats
to became of the rest of us, my poor
little mistress?"
"We'll take care of ourselves, that's
what we'll do. Mother and I'll hoe
the rice. And, Free-'n'-equal, you've
got to give more milk to keep us
strong"
"Trust me for that" said Free-'n'-
equals eyes. And she kept her
promise. Those were dangerous days
all along the Santee River, for Lord
Corvallis troops were roaming over
the land, and laying waste the coun-
try. But Cynthia was not afraid
no, not even when Lord CORVALLIS
came within three miles of the plan
| tation.
"Just let those soldiers touch any
thing of ours, and see what they'll
get" said she, with ponderous dig
nifty.
Free-'n' Unequal was perfectly sure
Cynthia could manage the whole
British army, if need were, and
munched her cud with blissful SER
entity.
Oh, no, Cynthia had no fear, even
when she heard of the depredations
of the soldiers at near neighbours.
So no wonder that she was taken
nightly aback when, one afternoon
as she came home with her bundle of
sticks, her mother met her with
pale face.
"Cynthy, they've been here and
carried off Free equal"
"Theyp gasped Cynthia. "Who?"
"The British soldiers. They tied
rope round her horns. She kicked
well, but they jerked her along. Gym
thy, what shall we do?"
Cynthia darted out of the door.
Along the dusty road she ran, on and
on. One mile, two miles, three miles
ON and on. At last she reached
Lord Corvallis headquarters. New
or moment did Cynthia pause.
The sentinels challenged her in vain.
She marched past them. Into the
house-into the parlor-walked she.
There sat Lord CORVALLIS and
six of his officers, eating and drink
ing at big table.
Cynthia stopped at the threshold
and dropped a courtesy. Lord Corn
wallis glanced up and saw her.
81 am Cynthia Smith," said she,
gravely, "and your men have taken
my COW, Free'n'equal Smith, and
I've come to fetch her home, if you
please"
"Your cow" questioned Lord
CORVALLIS.
"They carried her off by a rope"
said Cynthia.
"Where do you lives" asked the
British general.
Three miles away, along with my
mother"
"Have you no father9"
Zone, and four brothers"
"Where is your father?"
"In General Gates army, Mr.. Lord
Corvallis"
"Oh, he's rebel, is he?"
"Yes, sir" said Miss Cynthia,
proudly erect.
"And where are your brothersi'
Cynthia paused. "John he went
to heaven from the top of Bunker
HILL" said she, with a trembling lip.
One of the young officers smiled
but he stopped in hurry as Lord
Corvallis eyes flashed at him.
"And Jack went to heaven" pro-
ceeded Cynthia, softly, "out of Valley
Forge"
"Where are the other two?"
I'm the army, Mr.. Lord Corn
wallis"
Rank rebels
eyes, they are"
"Hum And you're bit of reb-
ell too, Pm thinking, if the truth were
told"
Miss Cynthia nodded with empha-
sis.
"And yet you come here for your
cow" said Lord CORVALLIS. "Ill
be bound she's rebel beef herself"
Cynthia meditated. 81 think she
would be if she had two less legs,
and not quite so much horn. That
is, she'd b. rebel, but may be they
wouldn't call her beef then"
Lord CORVALLIS threw back his
| haoA onA lan.haL N GOD