The Monitor-register., 1896-04-24

fighting, and some were killed on both
sides. The Concord men held the bridge,
and the regulars were retreating toward
Boston. He ate something hurriedly,
and looked for some ammu nition. There
was a look in his face when he went out
that made Jabez follow him.
"Where are you going now, Reuben =?
Tell me more. You know something
more" and then, with a sudden fear,
''you told Grandmother Father wasn't
hurtr'
"No, no, he ~ain't," answered Reuben;
''but he's got work on hand to-day, and
SO have the hull set On us. l tell ye,
Jabez," and a kind Of sullen fire seemed
to blaze across his rough features, ''the
farmers are popping away behind every
tree and bush and bit of stone wall, and
there's a hundred or SO along the road
that won't march back to Bostonp
"You mean they're Killed. hundred,
Reuben ?" asked Jabez, in slow astonish-
ment.
Reuben nodded, and. jumping over the
fence, went across the field and up the
road, keeping behind the wall and with
his gun ready.
A thought came into the mind of the
boy, stirred to the quick by the mans
looks and tones, more even than by his
words. There was Moll Pitcher, the old
rifle named in jest after a reputed witch,
because it was likely to play you unex-
pected tricks. 1t hung against the kitchen
wall, behind the furtherest door; and it
was loaded. Jabez had shot it off more
than once, and actually killed a mink
that was in the henhouse, and wounded
a hawk in the wing.
He called out to his grandmother,
whose wheel he could hear, busily hum.
ming, Grandmother, I'll bring you a
bucket of water from the spring."
Then taking a bucket on one arm, and
Mol Pitcher under the other, he went
into the field; and leaving the bucket al
"Grandmother's spring." which welled
up, clear al crystal, under some granite
powders that were Swallowed by a broad
| elm tree, he made for the stone wall. HI
knew just where a hole was, and, exam
lining his rifle, he laid down fiat on tn,
ground and watched the road.
Presently he saw the regulars coming
a miserable set now, cowed, and looking
with fear at every covert. Several ha'
their arms in hastily made bandages, ant
there were blood stains on their faces an,
clothes. They were painting with fatigue
and Jabez heard n say to another:
"Oh, if l could but drink from tina
water! I can hear it splashing on tn
pebbles"
"Better look OUT said his companion
II bet there is a musket now behind tina
WALL" and he looked toward the hole
Jabez crouched closer to the wall.
The soldier groaned. He seemed to b
hurt, and walked unsteadily. "Or
drink of cool WATER" he said again.
eyes and be shot down like a dog,
said the officer, hurrying them forwar'
Jabez sprang up from the wall. Z
forgot all JlI asoy yttd M a5n BBi sasgl;, ne ur.e
and raced breathless to the spring, dipp
the bucket and dashed across the roa
Every drop was eagerly drained. Hed
not come to himself until an officer, wi
was urging up the men behind, flung hi
a gold coin. He trampled it down
the dust in a rage, and then he hid h
face in shame or the top of the wall ar
cried. He had meant to fight for b
country, and he had been giving said ar
comfort" to the enemy.
, 1t was no use to go back for his riff
He could not shoot at these wretche
| frightened men. The simple, comma
need of thirst had reused all the sense
human brotherhood in him. He did n
know it was divine; and he still fe
ashamed when his father came and
could not look him in the face.
But his father did not ask question:
He vas exultant over the victory. Lol
Percy had met the troops with re.enforc
/ ments at Lexington, but the "minut
! men," u~ndismayed, had pursued them
the way to Charlestown. 1t was report
that 300 of the regulars had been kill
f or MORALLY wounded.
II Grandmother read a chapter as usu
t before they went to bed. Jabez thong
8 it was very queer it should by the chapt
about the cup of cold water in His mar
d she had told him that meant in E
spirit of pity or COMPASSIONATE
wondered if she knew. Then he decid
t she did not, for she was spinning in /
corner by the hearth when he came
y with the bucket.
He turned over 10 bed restlessly on
r or twice.
III "Anyhow 1 did what I thought W
9 right Men," he said to himself, recalli
d his fathers words. "But 'twon't Ike,
me from fighting them next Time"
added. and fell asleep.-Mdependent.