The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-07-11

Looked Upon by the
English as Spy He Died the
Death of a Hero.

1 One of the Stirring Events of Re-
voIutionary Days Which Are
1 Still Thrilling.
The Fourth of July connmemorates not
the achievement, but only the declaration
Fourth of July the American soldiers
knew that they were fighting for liberty
and not merely against tion:sS It was
fight to the death, says a writer in the
| Catholic Standard and Times.
The Declaration Of Independence aston
E.shed Europe and alarmed England. In
Istead of lalf,boastins s, halt whining pro-
clanat:on Of a band AZ rebaliious and un-
disciplined colon;stss here. was document
Of Homeric beauty Of language, of Spartan
)resolution of temper; here was the voice of
a new nation!
Stepmother England upon reading the
/ Declaration tried to coax these formidable
American children into submission. She
said in effect: "Come back and be good
boys. will not whip you this time, but
will only deprive you of your tea.'
| But the rebellious boys refused to go
back and determined that they would be
neither whipped nor starved by. the cruel
mother country" Then did the enemy
show her anger. -.
Declaration of Independencer' she
cried, disdainfully. Declaration of 1mpu-
dence, I call it!'' 7,
And she mustered all the troops at her
command, and to them she added thous-
/ sands Of Hessians, who had no business
whatever in the quarrel, but whom Eng
land considered good enough for Furnishing
the miserable Americans
/ Miserable Americans indeed were our
poor heroes in the summer following the
4th of July, 1776. Most of them had come
| from their farms or their looms and knew
more about, ploWing and weaving than of
the art of warfare. But they were brave.
brave and true-vtt these simple heroes of '76.
i They, sW9rasd ht.ng for their: country, for
/ their homes The tyrant and the forces Of
the tyrant were strong and BkilIf,rI what
could the hastily . recruited co,onists ,do.
against the thousands of clever British
1 iveterans-the ten thousands of stout Ger
man soldiers? z: s. >ssfss :;
| What can we do?" mused one boyishs
American. And he lifted his eyes to the
sky that smiled kindly upon his native
land and his lips moved in prayer. Pres
emily he answered his own question,
What can we do? We must do what we
lean
He was a farmers boy one Of twelve,
| children. Yet he had a collegiate educa-
tion and was already a school teacher when
| the war broke out. When the echos of Lex
lington resounded through the land, the
young teacher put away his books and af-
i lfectionately embracing his. pupils one by
lone, left them forever. He made STIR
! ring address and gathered the townsmen
about him.
Let us march Immediately" he said,
''and never lay down our arms until we
l have achieved our independence"
Soon after Joining the army he was made
la lieutenant, and his bravery speedily earn
ed! new promotion for him. When England
had made ready to punish the colonies for
Itheirg. sublime Declaration Of independence,
1 TIE young school1naster Of New London
was the captain of *'Knowiton's Rangers"
The. battle of Long Island had been
fought and lost. The superb army OF Brit
4 ish soldiers with their. stout Pruss:an aux
sliar:es easily defeated the handful Of poor
] " trained Americans who had had the tenn
lerity. TO encounter them. .s. .5.t = n Y s4
This. was the darkest period OF the Revo-
luton. Even Washington almost gave up
lhope when he was Obliged. to retreat with
his brave little army across stAs East river.
Strong as were the enemy. sttAei strength
Il :41J Il 4,E
weaker American volunteers. These inn
parted their fears to Others. and hundreds
lfdeseIted lest they should be wiped off the
EfHce Of the earth by the minions of the
lsHngl:sh King. +,
For the first and only timein his militia.
" career the great Washington shed tears
Iofadespair. He was not sure OF the Brit
/ ish strength; he was not even sure OF his
own men but, as he said to General Heath,
l Everything now depends upon obtaining
| I;nteIligence OF the enemy's motions" A
/ ..spy, was needed. Plenty OF spies there
/ were to be had, but Washington wanted no
lord!nary spy FOR this hazardous undertak-
Eing. .ssHe must be a brave man, a skilled
isoldier' 4
Butsthe brave ones shrank from a service
generally consia aered d:;shonorab!e. Wash
Iington was more and more disheartened
las no one volunteered 1t was tlen tnat
4 the young captain said to himself, We
must do what we can. .s., d sLs
Presently he stood before the great
/ lAnleriean commander. Is. " 5.ss< s
Il IT have come to receive your .nstruc-
itions. I. n i he said. II accept the British mis-
ls:on. I, &c. sf*$ss 555 ls5
Washin gton rose and grasped the hand
Iof the young hero. -t.
.sapatln Hale, 4 ne began. but some ethtng
lins the young face moved the General to
Itendernesa and he murmlnllred u 70 Ny brave
Ibcy s8 s .s4.
Standing thus they were nearly of a
Eheight nor were they unlike in other re-
lspects.s At tbs time George Washington
WAS 44 and Nathan Hale barrel 20, but the
ItaN boy looked into the eyes of the tall
Imam with an expression no less he.oic than
| that glance which never altered. Is 81 At
EterWard he who was the Father only Of his
teountry IL said TO have remarked zto an In
lEt.iDate friend II
ls4Ts..It hath not leased God Ito bless me
lEith cas dren, e.se should ]: wish for q son
lIike Nashan Hale. 4 AN s55
I,antafns Hale WIS not trangely dis
ss1fised Hen he went 70 the plans
Eof resumed The
rggrY.
,|ss e & ls,| q g q.