The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-02-25
WASHINGTON'S LIFE IN DANGER.
And How he Was Saved From Being
Poisoned by distress Betsey Ann
Blessing.
(DetrOit Free Press. -

(Detroit Free PressD
In the summer Of the year Of grace
I776, when the American army was
stationed in New York, the comman-
der n-chiel, General Washington, was
lndulging IN Urief resting spell after
dinner when he was approached by an
orderly, who saluted and said:
"A young woman who calls herself
Be,sey Ann Blessing would have speech
with Your Excellency."
"Betsey Ann Blessing repeated
Washington, with a momentary shrug
OF irritation; s'who is she, and why
may she not defer her business until
Tomorrow? | warrant me that her
lover is prisoner Of war, and she i.
ready to swear that she is loyal
Wing. What think you, Holdfas,?'
"lf you please, Your Excellency,
she is we'll favored, as far as | could
know from her crying, for she is in
| sore trouble y
"Aye! am true soothsayer!
| Crying, is she? Show her in, Hold
fast, and see that the guard trouble her
not. | misdoubt my own judgment
in giving audience to strangers in
these troublous times. 1t mayhap that
Mistress Blessing prove traitor in
disgulse.' -
The orderly soon returned, ushering
in girl SO young she appeared like a
child, and indeed, acted like one, for
no sooner did she stand in the pres
enCe Of the great man than she seized
his hand-that hand of stalwart pro-
portions-and dropping on her knees
kissed it with the ardor of devolee.
Meanwhile the tears streamed down
her face in piteous torrents and her
form shook with suppressed emo
tiOnS.
Washington had tender heart and
he was greatly distressed by this un-
usual scene.
"You have something to say?' he
asked gently. "Speak on, but beg,
my child that you cease weeping"
"Oh, Your Excellency you are too
kind" said the girl, and, rising to her
feet, size uncovered a beautiful down
cast face, which glowed pink and
dewy through her tears like rain
washed sun kissed rose.
CHOW, Mistress Blessing," said
Washington, in his kindest manner,
"telI me what brings you hither and
what your errand may be?'
81 came hther to save Your Ex-
Cellency's life" was the startling re-
spOnse.
Instead of laughing at the apparent
presumption of the weeping girl, he
bade her tell him everything, promis-
ing her immunity from punishment in
case her news was Tot as weighty as
size anticipated.
Thus encouraged, she began her
story.
"On the morrow Your Excellency is
to dine with several officers of your
command under guard?'
GLOW know you this, grip asked
Washington, much surprised.
"Your Excellency will lay certain
plans against the enemy before the
Compan,?"
"Procecdr' commanded Washing
ton, sternly.
"Among the dishes set before Your
Excellency will be new vegetable OF
which you are very fond"
"Ah,' laughed the General, "you
have lost or forgotten an order from
the kitchen. Here is, indeed, a new
version of the mountain and the
mouse
81 know not, gracious sir, wha,
meaning that hath of the mountain
and the mouse,' cried Betsey, "but il
a mess of green peas be served at
the table on the morrow | beg and
beseech you, sir, not to taste o'
them!'
"Wherefore, Mistress Blessing?"
asked Washington in his sternest man
ner
"The peas will be poisoned.'
"HOw know you ,his?' demanded
the general in the tone which made
his soldiers quail when they heard it.
"Speak, and see that you trlfle no
with me. Nay, child, do not fear!
what you say be true, not you, but the
traitor who planned the dastardly deed
shall suffer-
"No, mop retorted the trembling
girl, ..no one must suffer, Is it no.
enough that have dared to come intl
lions jaw to tell of the deed, to en-
sure safety for the designer thereof
Now that | have warned Your Excel
! lency permit me to retire from you
distinguished presence.
General Washington gave a sigma
and instantly an armed guard of sol
diers responded.
"Arrest this girl." he said sternl,
land keep her under guard until suct
J time as she send for me to confess he
fault"
That viii never, though l die il
prlSOn. was the dehant reply, as IN
girl, who had entered bowed and weep
ing walked out with the soldiers lik
a young queen.
t All was tumuIt in the kitchens a
: Richmond Hill, and cooks were run
ming about getting into one another
way, when air-haired youth in tn
garb of a serving man loltered in an
made MS way unobserved to the grca
fireplace, where he uncovered the ski
lets in which the vegetables wer
slmmering on the hearth. When h
came to that one containing the pea
{, he dropped in a handful of some con
e dment and Instantly took his depa'