Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-06-28

and hurried 10 the light of the candles
He unfolded the paper. and read aloud
the following brief message, written in
a small and legible hand:
Come TO the Indian Queen at once.
Thee will find friends waiting thy trus-
ty services"
The lads eyes sparkled, and his
cheeks were flushed with excitement.
Another trip 10 Valley Forge" he said
eagerly. How glad my father will be
TO see me, And it's a night ride this
time, Master De Vries. I'll warrant
It's a matter of great importance-per-
hapS that the British have fixed on
time to leave.
Not TOO loud lad" cautioned the
merchant. But how comes it that the
word was trusted to paper? Did you
know the messenger"
1t was Pulling, the deaf and dumb
dOSJler from the tavern" Nathan re-
piled. Doubtless they have Just
heard the news. and could no. spare the
time TO seek the usual messe niger. Pull
ing IS Trustworthy enough. and of
course since he can't speak"
1t was imprudent to write" inter
rup,ed the merchant, but l dare say
they could DO no better. Certainly the
summons is urgect, since it calls thee
out at night"
Yes. l must go at once" said Nath-
IN. and without so much as a change
Of clothes. If the service is what l
thonk il to be. I will hardly be back by
morning" As he spoke he distracted
ly dropped the slip Of paper into the
side-pocke, of MS jacket and moved to-
ward the hall.
May the good Gcd bring you back
safely Cornelius De VrieS said earn
eS,ly Il love YOU dearly, lad. even as |
love your father, and l would rot see
YOU come TO harm. have long mis-
trusted these perilCuS dOings, and yet
for the sake Of the cause
To save my oppressed country
would risk life ten times over" declared
Nathan. Were there no work for me
10 DO here should be fighting with our
brave soldiers. But there is really lit
tie danger. Master De Vries. You know
how often 1 have been back and forth.
Blu, not at night lad
so much the better, with darkness
to shelter NE" replied Nathan. | must
be off now. Good by. and don't worry.
He put on his cap and briefly return
ed the pressure of the Old mans hand.
A moment later the door had closed be
mind him and he was walking rapidly
down the silent street
ii.
Richard Stanbury, the father Of Ma
than. he'd come from England TO Amer
lea in 1860. at the age of twenty-siX He
brought wife with him-a pretty and
rNin-d woman-and they settled in
PHILADELPHIA. The next year Nathan
was born, and five years later his moth
or died. The blow was a severe one TO
RGchlrd Stanbury. and the Quaker city
being now dGt8Steful to him he re-
moved with his son to New England.
He accompanied the Connecticut col
ony 10 the Wyoming valley in Penn
vvania-Which grant they had pur-
chased from the Delaware Indians-and
took part in the long struggle with the
PENNSYLVANIA settlers. who were found
in unjust possession. When the warfare
finally came 20 a peaceful end he set
tlc5 down 10 a life of peaceful farming
and hunting in that earthly paradise.
Richard StanbuFy was handsome
and refined man. and a highly educated
one. All with whom he came IN con-
tact were quick 10 recognize his supe-
riority. but in spite Of THAT and his re-
served nature he made friends readily.
He closely guarded the secret OF his
p9st. whatever it was. not even opening
the pages to his own son. But at times
he limited mySteriOusly of great
change that was likely 20 happen in the
future. and he took pains 10 teach Ma
than reading. writing, and history, as
well as the rules Of gentlemanly con-
duct. There was a deep affection be-
tween father and son, and that the lad
did not seek to know the history OF the
past was because be respected his par
enrs silence He grew up to be brave
aud strong. generous and fearless, and
few companions OF his age would shoot
with such skill or track game so uDtIr-
iugly through the forest.
Soon after the great struggle for lib
erty began and the colonies rose IN
arms to throw off the British yoke,
maay Of the settlers of Wyoming left
their families and the old men at home,
and marched away to join Washington.
Richard Stanbury Wen. with them; he
was Captain Stanburv now. and COM
.uauIed a company, Nathan, young as
he was. burned 10 enlist and fight. But
his father would not hear of this. He
had formed other plans for the lad, and
now the time for them was ripe. To
PHILADELPHIA went Nathan 10 attend
the admirable college that the Quaker
town boosted. and to find a happy home
with Cornelius De VrieS. The expense
was to come out OF the worthy mer-
rhant's pocket. He claimed this right,
because of the long friendship between
himself ard Richard Stanbury, which
dated from TIE latter's arrival in Amer
lea
So Nathan studied hard, favorite
with masters and pupils, while the first
lvo years Of the Revolution scored
thrfv tr.umpns and adverSes. But he
WAS not content to let others Go the
fighting. and when the British occu-
Yie6 Philadelphia in the fall Of 1777 the
lad found at last a chance to help the
corse o. freedom. Several loyal cit
izsns of the town had secret means of
re.rirg information about the plans OF
rbe British officers. These men were
f~i,nds OF Cornelius De Yries, and they
came 10 know that his young LOGGER
was a plucky and intelligent lad, and
one % be relied upon.
SO Nathan was frequently chosen 10
CARR. messages 70 the camp at Valley
Forge. where he sometimes saw dis
tatEer. and made the acquaintance or
General washington and other officers.
r. r-as . yerv simpic, plan, and enc that