Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-04-27


Francis Leland regarded his stately
spouse in open-mouthed establishment.
by heaven! You use words strangely,
wife!' he exclaimed, when he could speak.
Whatever has caused you to fancy that
his majesty will withdraw from Boston?
You must be dreaming or jesting to men
pass. It will be wise for you to set
guard on your glib tongue. Such senti-
ments sound not we'll from the lips of a
loyal subject"
Mistress shrugged her plump shoulders
impatiently.
Il marvel greatly that you and others
understand so little the nature of these
Yankees and the real spirit which ami
mates them. Will you never learn that
blood Of good old English strains runs in
their veins as we'll as in yours? How long,
think you, would you submit to what you
deemed injustice or oppression from even
our good king himself? How long was
old King John able to withstand the unit
ed, determined will of his stanch barons?
[ tell you plainly, husband, the shots fired
yOnder at Lexington Green, not yet two
weeks ago, will raise the echoes through
out the colonies, and many a long day
will come and go before the last of these
minutemen lays down his powder-horn.
Mark my words we'll and look to the con-
Germs of your own estate. We cannot
spend the rest of our days in comfortable
ease under the roof we built with so much
pride. And that know right well.'
A somewhat quizzical expression ap-
peared on Francis Leland's kindly visage.
He dearly loved to tease his wife, and
thought the opportunity a good one.
Il think twill be easy to believe that
anything astounding may transpire since
Mistress Saome Leland hath espoused
the cause Of the rebels"
A naughty Strengthening of her buxom
figure and an indignant flash of her keen
eyes was his first answer; then she de-
tected his true meaning, and sigh fol-
lowed.
"'Tis no time for merriment, Francis.
Heaven forbid that you delay too long to
realize the truth of what | say. These
rebels will never submit. From every
quarter of the thirteen colonies / doubt
not they are already focking to the succor
of these who have made the first stout
resistance. If Gen. Gage heed not sharp
ly, he will be cut off from retreat by
land"
How can the yeomen hem in thousands
of our skilled soldiery, Salome? You
usual sound judgment must surely have
gone wool-gathering to-day
"How could these same yeomen repulse
our skilled soldiery, driving them in utter
rout and strewing the fields and roads
for miles with the wounded and dying?
They sprang full armed from each tree
and bush, and twas the courageous, reso-
lutte hearts under the coats rather than
the bullets in their old muskets that lost
us the day."
"Nay, husband, am in no manner of
sympathy with their rebellious manners
| would aid or countenance none of their
strange notions. But l have two good
eyes in my head and fair share of wom-
ans wit, and / doubt nothing of their
persistent, prolonged defense of what
they mistakenly call their rights
Admiration, not unmiXed with respect,
had succeeded Francis Leland's astonish-
ed amusement Accustomed to follow the
counsel of his wife in business matters
frequently, or to regret not having done
so, it was not difficult for him now to see
more truth in her views than had at first
seemed possible He was willing to talk
with her in all earnestness. though still
far from adopting all her opinions.
''It will be no small loss to us, wife, to
leave Boston now and return to England.
Think of the large sums we have invest
ed in our ships, which are at this moment
on their way to this port heavily laden
with merchandise. Years will be needed
in which to build up again so fine leg
acy for our sons.
'"Those are true words and rue the day
when farewell must be said to our dear
home Think not because | speak so
easily that my heart is joyous. It is
wrenched to the roots by the thought of
what must surely come. For the sake of
the noble lads whom God has given us,
Francis, 1 would have you save the for
tune you have labored to bestow on them.
Unless we elect to cast in our lot with
these fanatic rebels, we must seek home
elsewhere, for England will never conquer
them"
"Well, we'll, wife" said her husband,
trife impatient of her persistent return
to this declaration; there's time enough
yet-time enough yet and with that he,
put an end to the conversation.
When he came home to his supper that
night he was in fine spirits, for he brought
great news.
'You may set your fears at rest, Sa-
lome,'' he began before he finished serv-
ing her with liberal portion of broiled
bluefsh; there's no danger of the pro-
vincials wasting any more of their pre-
cious powder. Ships came in port to-day
bringing Gen. Howe, Gen. Burgoyne and
Gen. Clinton, with large numbers of
troops"
He leaned hack in his high leather-coy-
cred chair to watch the effect of this an
nouncement. To his chagrin, Mistress
Salome showed none of the surprise he ex-
pected.
I'VE shall net need to go quite so soon,
perhaps was her rather unexpected
-~zxe%S,