The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-07-09
A REVOLUTIONARY SKETCH.
Refusing Washington . Drink-stcry Of
Aruoid's Treason Retoid.

AfnOtub AFetsou fsstoiUs
In the year 4 $50 there stood in the midst
OF a great farm, whose green banks sloped
down to the noble Hudson, a spacious
stone house. In front of the mansion ron
the high road which led to the town OF
New York. Between this and tho river
and back of the house, dotting the noun
tain side, were the slaves quarters, all
boxing the picture of neatness and com
fort for the owner Of the place was not
only man of great possessions, but kind
and considerate TO those under him.
The family was an old and honored one,
having lived in that spot for many years,
noted all through the region for the valor
of its men and tho beauty Of its wonen.
And the present Inhabitants Of the E:an-
sion were no unworthy members Of their
race, for the father had gone to serve his
country when first 1t called for defense,
while his oomely, trusting wife had not
murmured at what she considered call
from duty but ably addressed herself to
the task of directing affairs in his absence.
He had been ordered TO the south with
General Gates and TIE family had heard
nothing from or of him sihce.
But his lovely daughter, bright girl Of
the inevitable as cheerfully as did her
bustling mother, and she spent many un-
happy hours grieving over the suspense
about her father and the separation from
her lover, whom she had not seen for three
years.
Early in July word had been brought OF
the presence of detachment Of British at
Tarrytown, on the opposite shore Of the
river, and tho news caused great anxiety.
Reports of the ravages of the enemy had
come to the peaceful homes by the river
side, but as yet the real significance of the
horrors Of war bad not been brought home
to them. Now, however, they felt them
selves to be In real danger, for the enemy
were we'll provided with boats and twould
be an easy thing for them to cross the river,
while the people in the immediate vicinity
of the Won Warten homestead were almost
unprotected, only few men too old for
active service, some boys and the blacks
being available in case of need. So all
quickly busted themselves, preparing as
best they could for n probable contingency.
One intensely warm afternoon In Au-
gust Nine. Won Warten was nodding over
her knitting by the open window, the heat
and the stiffness, which was only broken
by the soft, even tapping of the water on
the shore, being very conducive to repose
when she was rudely awakened by the
hurried entrance of q little slave boy whom
fright and running had combined to de-
prive of the power of speech for a moment
"Speak, Toni What has happenedP" ex-
claimed the good lady, all her smoldering
fears alive in moment.
"Oh," gasped the boy, "three Britishers
stop mo in do road and ask for drink
from de well, and i toll 'em wait and run
to your
"Only threeP" asked Mime Won warten
anxiously.
"Dat's all, missus."
"Then let them obtain their drink else
where, not at my we'll" Listening, she
heard Tom deliver the defiant message In
trembling tones. A laugh followed, and
the men were apparently departing.
fastening to an upper window, she looked
after the retreating forms and saw three
American officers evidently of high rank,
one especially who sat his horse SO we'll
and had such an air of command, inducing
her admiration, until suddenly the enor-
nifty of what she had done burst upon her,
and in an agony Of remorse and Of anger
against both Tom and herself she ran
down to old Toms cabin with tears in her
eyes. Tho culprit came to meet her, won
dering at the agitated manner Of his usu-
ally stately mistress. "Tom, OH Tom
those were Americans, not Britishersl
How could you make such mistaken"
she exclaimed looking the picture of dis
tress. The frightened boy tried to explain
that being in daily expectation of a raid
from the enemy, he supposed, of course,
the three men represented the foe, being
| too badly frightened to notice the uniform.
Soon, her daughter, accompanied by two
blacks, returned from visit to the next
farm with such flushed checks and so OK.
cited an air that her mother knew some.
thing unusual must have occurred. "Oh,
mother!" she cried as she reached the win
dow where the good dame sat. II have
seen General Washington
"Whatl" cried her mother. "Whereg"
| cat Nine. Van Tassels s." Annette an
swered. "We were on the porch and threS
soldiers rode up and asked for water. VIZ
gave them some milk, which they seemed
to enjoy, and the tallest one gave me bach
the glass with a bow and said, with Gen
eral Washington's best thanks, my dear.
"Oh," interrupted her mother, "then Il
was to him / refused q drink"
And she told her story to the girls as
L
fort her mother, who, after time, re
gained her usual spirits.
On the afternoon of Oct. Q Jacob An
netje's lover, rode up to the Won WarteI
mansion, but despite the pleasure Of meet
ing Annette his face still wore q look o
sadness as he told her Of the scene he ha,
witnessed that day--how the young Andre
brought from Tarrytown to Washington
headquarters, had been tried by court mar
tial and sentenced to be hung as q spy
how throughout the trial his manly bear
ing and frank confession of the whole plai
had touched every one. He was only act
ing under orders, but he was spy, and tn
unavoidable penalty was-death. He knew
1t and went bravely to his end while tn
soldiers looked on with moist eyes, ant
Annette, when she heard the story, shed
few tears as she looked up at her noble sol
dier boy and prayed he might be spared :
her. And he was, for after the war wa
over there was happy wedding and the
settled down In the old stone house, wher
their descendants live to this day.
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aa.