The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-03
MERCY'S INDEPENDENCE DAY.

must go TO Gen. Ward ana ngnt as
bravely as I did when / marched with
Washington to Du Quesne some twenty
years agone."
And they did fight we'll" said the
girl, proudly. Thy son Nathan came
to home after the battle Of Bunker Hill
in which thy Edward fell, and as my
mother was dead and my brothers in
the army he offered me a home here
and brought me back with him"
Yes, lass, l have given one son to
my country, and while / pray that the
others could be spared, yet l would not
mourn deeply If they died for their free
dom. All are fighting but Rufus my
youngest. and he is in the fort at Black
Rock" replied the old man, but you
have been more than q daughter to me.
Mercy, since our sons have gone, and
we will be more than glad when the war
is ended and Nathan returns and you
and he are married; for I would like it
not to have my home, where we Wealth
erbee's have lived since my ancestor
from England settled here in 1887. pass
into the hands of strangers, and 1t is
but right that 1t should go to my Oldest
lad, my brave Nathan"
And he is a brave lad" replied the
girl, her cheek mantling with pleasure.
'and l fear not but that Nathan will
do his duty well. Did he not follow
Washington over New Jersey colony
in tracts of blood and never finch?
and was he not one of the 2,400 picked
men whom Washington chose when he
crossed the Delaware and captured
Trenton? Ay, it was a terrible night,
and Nathan was but thinly clad, but
his spirit kept him from freezing, me-
thinks"
He is a brave lad" said the old man
proudly. HE was with him at Valley
Forge too, and while many were turn
ing against Washington, my lad wrote
me that while he lived there would be
one person loyal to George Washing
ton, who of all men is the one to lead
us safely through the troublesome
times"
"All true patriots must love Washing
ton, methinks," said the girl musingly.
He was a brave lad in "a, when I
marched with him against the French,
and the soldiers loved him then as his
men do now. But think you not, Mercy,
that it is strange that no tidings have
come from Nathan these three months?
1t is more than that is it not?"
Nay, not more, Uncle Isaac; but not
since he left the army to be a spy in
Tryon's army" whispered the girl, and
then said aloud: There are some
things, you know, that we cannot say
aloud, for no one knows when there is
tory around"
"Ay, a tory spy" growled the old
man bitterly, but l fear not but that
Nathan will conduct himself seemly
wherever he be. Nay, start not, LASS
if he were dead we should have heard
it,"
II fear not that he is dead, Uncle
Isaac, but for some reason ] am
strangely disquieted today. l like not
the rumors of Tryon's being along the
coast. for it was only last February
that he was at Horse Neck and since
then he has been in the sound. 1 can
never look at the blue waters of the
harbor without fearing to see his mur-
derous sail"
He is bold and wicked man, and
l shudder much at the thought at what
was done in Danbury; but l trust that
if he does venture into our quiet har-
Dor that he will meet with a great re-
pulse. Our men are courageous but
few; and old as l am, yet would not
hesitate but would take my flintlock
and march with the militia against
him. But, lass, if Tryon was coming
here Nathan would have warned us Of
his approach"
Mercy's heart beat high at the
thoughts of her absent lover, and she
longed to talk more about him; but the
old man grew reminiscent of the early
days of the colony. He loved to relate
that his ancestor was a firm friend of
Theopolis Eaton, and that he had Sc
lected the site of their home under
the giant elm, which much to the old
mans grief had been struck by light
ming a few weeks before, and now
stood a wreck of it's former glory,
broken off about fifteen feet from the
ground. AS he spoke of the early days.
his eyes kindled and rising he extended
his arm toward the harbor where the
blue water sparkled in the July sun
shine, and bringing it around in a
semicircular curve, he said proudly:
"As long as this arm retains it's
strength it shall fight for this harbor,
and these broad lands my ancestor pur-
chased and shall defend the graves
yonder where lay the men who took
the bible for the corner stone of their
colony, come Tryon when he may"
The maiden stole away, leaving him
to his musings, for their was much to
do in their quiet home; for many were
the stockings knitted and the blankets
woven for the soldiers in Dame Wealth
erbee's household, as well as in other
patriot homes. AS the day wore on
her heart grew heavy. Unlike her us
ual quiet self she was uneasy and anx-
ious. Often she stood at the door.
shading her eyes in her hand while
her gaze wandered over the quiet wa
ters for sight of Tryon's sail; but no
unWonted sight met her eyes; only the
sails OF fishing boat broke it's monot-
ony.
Late in the afternoon, when the shad-
ows were lengthening, she went to the
pasture for the cows. She was return
ing slowly along, her thoughts full of
some impending evil when her atten-
tion was arrested by hearing a low
whistle from the top of an elm tree.
She Daused-the whistle was repeated.
and the next moment she heard her
name spoken in a low tone: "Mercy,
Mercy, art thou there, lass?"
Yes, II Is l." she answered-"but
who speaks? for in sooth / can see no
one"
1T Is thy lover, Nathan; but look
Ground, lass, art sure the coast is clear?
No one In sight or hearing? No tories
around?"
The girl glanced around carefully,