davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

In Medford awakened the captain or
the minute men; and after that L
alarmed almost every house. till | got
to Lexington. l found Messrs. Han
cock and Adams at the Rev. Mr..
Clark's: | told them my errand, and
inquired for Mr. Dawes; they said he
had not been there; | related the story
of the two officers. and supposed that
he must have been stopped, as ne
ought to have been there before me.
After 1 had been there about half an
hour Mr.. Dawes came; we refreshed
ourselves, and set off for Concord, to
secure the stores, etc, there. We were
overtaken by a young DR.. Prescott,
whom we found to be high son OF
liberty. | told them Of the ten OIL
GERS that Mr.. Devens met, and that 1t
was possible we might be stopped be-
fore we reached Concord; for | sup
posed that after night they divided
themselves, and that two of them had
fixed themselves in such passages as
was most likely to stop any intelli-
gence going to Concord; l likewise
mentioned that We had better alarm all
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30
TOO CONSPICUOUS.
The Soldier Boy Wanted to Get Into
Civilians Clothes


Civilians Clothes.
Nice boys who are getting home for
the first time since they enlisted for
the war are having as hard a time
almost, as far as the attention they
attract, as the first soldiers who ar
rived, says the New York Times
There was one of them who had only
just come. who drifted into a down
town dairy restaurant the other even
ing with an elder sister. evidently,
who had come TO meet him. He was
not much more than a boy-a boy
who had been brought up as gentle
man-and he might have been self
conscious at other times, but in his
uniform he was very uncomfortable.
That was evidently the reason he had
drifted into the dairy for dinner-to
keep away from curious eyes; but he
made a mistake. for the place was
Nded and there was not a person
in the room who did not take in every
detail of his uniform. That he was
not used to dairy living was evident,
lady with him and ordered chicken
crOquettes for himself. No one eX-
poets an extra plate at a dairy res
taurant. and no one who knows how
to eat orders croquettes. Plain baked
beans are more apt to be satisfactory.
Still the soldier boy forgot to tip the
waiter, so he may have been more
accustomed TO a dairy than he ap-
peared. But anything might have been
expected Of him, for being a single
object of interest had affected his
nerves. 1t made him almost petulant.
At intervals, however, he gave remi-
niscences of his life in Cuba to the
interested listener beside him. told of
the sword given him by a Cuban gen
eral. and showed her his packages of
Cuban all-tobaceo cigarettes. 1t was
with an air of relief that he got up TO
leave. You will go up in the Broad
way carr" asked his companion. feel
ing that he would like to see as much
of New York as possible after being
away so long. No" he answered:
mo. | don't want to see Broadway
only want to get into civilians
clothes: this uniform is so confound-
eddy conspicuous. and / want to get
warm. for I feel this cold frightfully.
was wearing white ducks until the
29.h, when l left
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

so entirely different from what 1 had
expected
And then I went to Capt Dee. He
seemed restless and feverish, and I
gave myself time by wetting a cloth
and placing 1T on his head.
BY and by said:
eff Dollie should come today, could
you bear the joy OF it,"
I'D like to try the experiment" and
a ghost of a smile fitted over his
wan features. Joy is not as apt to
be fatal as either hope deferred or
rebel bullets, and 1 know something
of both of these"
Then l said:
"Well, she is here"
can no more describe the unutter-
able look of gladness that lighted his
face than l can describe the rapture OF
the blest
Thank God-and your'
A few moments later Dollie was
covering his face and hands with kisses
and he was hugging her with his one
arm and calling her sweetheart" over
and over again.
For the time the grandfather and l
stood apart and let them enjoy them
selves, the former telling me mean
while of the unusual affection exist
ing between them. of how the young
wife had died while Dollie was a babe
and Of the almost constant prayer OF
the child for her fathers safety since
he entered the army.
She was a lovely child, with her
fathers blonde curls and fine blue
eyes.
Donald Dee cid not die, and a few
days later he was taken home to the
mother love and care awaiting him
there.
l am now grandmother to Dollie's
children, for you must know Donald
and | celebrated our next Fourth in a
far more pleasing manner than the one
year before. and Dollie has long been
my sweetheart as we'll as his.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30
Told By Himself. Details Never Before Published
Narrated in Letter Just Discovered.

There has been discovered in old
archives in Boston musty letter writ
ten by Paul Revere himself, in
which he tells the story of his ia
nous exploit This letter never has
been published before Indeed. its ex-
istence was unknown until it was
found by the investigator
Many interesting things are shown
by this letter, and some cherished pic
lures destroyed. Longfellow has given
us in undying verse the picture of Paul
Revere waiting impatiently on the
Charlestown shore for the signal Ian
terms to show in the old North Church
steepie. telling him of the movements
OF the British. But it seems from this
letter that Revere knew before he left
Boston the intentions of the royal
troops, and himself ordered the
signals to be shown, so as TO inform,
as by previous agreement, Colonel CO.
nant and other patriots on the Charles
town shore. As soon as Revere got
across the river Colonel COnant in
formed him that his signals had been
seen, and then Revere told them what
was acting and went to borrow Dea-
con Larkins horse
1t seems. too, that a Warren Dawes
had been dispatched by DR.. Warren to
Lexington before Revere was sent out.
Revere got to Lexington half an hour
ahead of Dawes. thanks to the good
judgment of Deacon I.arkin in the mat
ter Of horse flesh; but suppose Dawes
had been frst-then it would have been
Dawes ride" 1t is a matter of con-
graduation that Revere arrived before
his fellow courier, for Warren Dawes is
not half as euphOnious a name Ito fill
the speaking trump OF future fame as
Paul Revere. Another thing which
strikes one is the number of patrols
and scouting parties which the Brit
ish had out over Middlesex. We gem
orally picture Paul Revere as dashing
through the night along the roads of a
peaceful farming country But in re-
ality he rode through country
swarming with British scouting par
ties.
1t appears from the letter also that
Dr. Warren did not think that the OBJ
ject of the British was to destroy the
stores at Concord, but to capture John
Hancock and John Adams, who were
at Lexington; and the last picture
glimpse We get Of Paul Revere he is
Juggling a trunk filled with Hancock S
papers across the fields, while behind
him the minutemen and the British
are fighting en- Lexington common.
This is Paul Revere's story of his
ride
In the fall of 1774 and the winter OF
1875 l was one of upward of thirty,
chiefly mechanics, who formed them
selves into a committee for the pur-
pose of watching the movements of the
British soldiers, and gaining every in
telligence Of the movements of the to-
ries. We held our meetings at the
Green Dragon tavern. We were sc
careful our meetings should be kept Sc
cret that every time we met every per-
son swore upon the Bible that they
would not discover any of our trans
actions but to Messrs. Hancock, Adams
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

AS soon as possible we had the
young captain removed to more COM
Portable quarters. His wounds were
doing fairly we'll, but the surgeon said
the shock had been too much for his
nervous system; he might or might not
live. Everything, l should say, de-
ponds upon the nursing" he added,
looking meaningly at me.
81 will do my best for him till Dol
lie comes" l made answer, but my
heart misgave me; l did not think she
would come, and if she did-well the
future was yelled, as futures are apt to
be-
Day by day he wasted away. AL
though | prepared him fairly decent
messes he scarcely ate at all; and
though a real bedstead had been loan
ed him, with a real though somewhat
dilapidated straw mattress on it, he
seldom slept. Without being moody,
he was not talkative. He seemed to
be silently consumed by some inward
| longing.
HE is dying to see his sweetheart
poor boy!" was what the surgeon said,
and what We all thought.
1t was the evening of the fourth day
| after l had sent my message to Sterling
| Corners. Sitting by his couch, tanning
hint was intensely hot-I was
startled to hear him say in hurried
whisper:
"You don't think she will get here in
timer"
To give myself time to frame an an
swer. / feigned not to understand.
81 am afraid will not hold out TIL
| Dollie gets here. I dreamed this after
noon that her mother was here by the
bed. and she said. You won't have tC
wait much longer, Donald Hel
mother Is dead, you know, and think
| it means that I am soon to co.
Assuming hopefulness that I wa!
far from feeling answered.: 81 do nc
so interpret your dream. I take 1
that you will not have long to lie here
and wait before Dollie comes"
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

the boats belonging to the transports
were all launched and carried uzSAr
the sterns of the men-Of-war. They
had previously been hauled up and re-
paired. We likewise found that all
the grenadiers and light infantry were
taken off duty
From these movements we expected
something serious was TO be transact
ed. On Tuesday evening, the 18th. it
was observed a number Of soldiers
were marching toward the bottom of
the common. About 10 o'clock Dr.
Warren sent in great haste for me and
begged that l would Immediately set
off for Lexington, where Messrs Han
cock and Adams were. and acquaint
them with the movement, and that it
was thought that they were the OBJ
ject.
When l got to DR.. Warren's house
found that he had sent an express by
land to Lexington-a Mr.. Warren
Dawes. The Sunday before, by the de-
sire OF Dr. Warren, had been to Lex
ington to Messrs. Hancock and Adams,
who were at the Rev. Mr.. Clark's.
l returned at night through Charles
town; there agreed with Colonel Co
nant and some other gentlemen that il
the British went out by water We would
show two lanterns in the North Church
steeple, and if by land one, as a sig
nal; for we were apprehensive it would
1, ~ wi -
get over Boston neck.
l left DR.. Warren, called upon a
friend and desired him to make the
signals. | then went home, took my
boots and surtout, and went to the
north part of the town, where | had
kept boat; two friends rowed me
across the Charles river, a little to
the eastward Of where the Somerset
lay. 1t was then young flood, the ship
was winding. the moon was rising
They landed me on the Charlestown
side.
When | got into town | met Colonel
Conant and several others, who said
they had seen our signals. | told them
what was acting, and went to get a
horse; l got horse of Deacon Larkin
While the horse was preparing Rich
ard Devens, Esq, who was one OF the
committee of safety. came to ME and
told me that he came down the road
from Lexington after shutdown that
night and that he met ten British OIL
GERS, all we'll mounted and armed, 60
ing up the road.
set off upon a very good horse; II
was then about II o'clock and very
pleasant After l had passed Charles
town neck and got nearly opposite
where Mark was hung in chains l saw
two men on horseback under a tree
When l got near them l discovered
that they were British officers. One
tried to get ahead of me, and the other
to take. | turned my horse away
quick and galloped toward Charles
town neck. and then pushed for the
Medford road. Then the one who chased
me. endeavOring to cut me off, got into
clay pond near where the new tavern
is now built. | got clear of him and
went through Medford, over the bridge
| and up to MetOnomy.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

Mr.. Hancock. When we got to the
house where they intended to stop, Mr.
Lowell and myself returned to Mr..
Clark's TO find out what was going on.
When we got there an elderly man
came in; he said he had just come from
the tavern. that a man had come from
Boston. who said there were no Brit
ish troops coming.
Mr. Lowell and myself went toward
the tavern. when We met a man on
full gallOp, who told us the troops were
coming up the rocks. We afterward
met another who said they were close
by. Mr. Lowell asked me to go to the
tavern with him, TO get trunk Of pa
pers belonging 10 Mr.. Hancock. We
went up chamber, and while we were
getting the trunk We saw the British
very near, upon a full march.
We hurried toward Mr.. Clark's house.
In our way We passed through the
militia. There were about fifty When
we had got about one hundred yards
from the Westinghouse the British
troops appeared upon both sides of
the Westinghouse. In their front was
an officer on horseback.
They made a short halt, when | saw
and heard a gun fired which appeared
to be a pistol. Then l could distin-
guish two guns. and then a continual
roar of muskctry, when we made off
with the trunk.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

rounded by four. They had placed
themselves in a straight road that in
clined each way; they had taken down
a pair Of bars on the north side Of the
road. and two of them were under
tree in the pasture. The doctor being
foremost, he came up, and we tried TO
get past them: but they being armed
with pistols and swords, forced us into
the pasture The doctor jumped his
horse over a low stone wall and got
to Concord l observed a wood at a
small distance, and made for that.
When l got there out started six Of
ficers on horseback and ordered me TO
dismount. One of them, who appeared
to have the command, examined me,
asked where l came from and what my
name was told him. He asked me II
was an express. l answered him in
the affirmative. He demanded what
time l left Boston. l told him, and
added that their troops had catched
aground in passing the river, and that
there would be 500 Americans there in
short time, for had alarmed the
country all the way up.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

absence and the troubled look in his
eyes was intensified
When | had put the pillow under his
head and bathed his face, he said,
gratefully:
How very kind you are, Your
touch minds me of mothers"
Then | knew he was watching ne,
but he did not speak for long time.
and when he did it was not to me:
Father in heaven. let me see Dollie
once more; please send her to me-
/ could not stand either the words
or the pathos in the voice. I must
help answer that prayer if possible.
By and by l said:
Gould you tell me where to send for
Dollie? Maybe she would come to you
If it is not too far, and I should tell
her how much you need her"
1t was hazardous thing to say. We
did not often dare make such sugges-
tions, for, of course, few comparative
ly, could come. and it did not do to
raise false hopes. However, 1 felt
confident that he could not live many
hours. and his pleadings touched me
inexpresSibly. even amid the scene
and sights surrounding.
At the question he flashed me such
a look.
will you?"
That was all, but oh. the intensity of
it. Write to S. B. Sterling, Sterling 5
Corners, Pennsylvania"
l was not in the least doubt of his
sanity at the moment, but before
could trace the words in my notebook,
his gaze was once more on the cell
ing, and he was babbling of mother
and Dollie
Reluctantly 1 brought myself to
search his pockets. finding, strange to
say, only a notebook with the name in
gilt letters ON the cover: Donald
Dee"
My letter was brief, only this:
Donald Dee is dangerously wounded
and calls ceaselessly for Dollie."
1t was a memorable Fourth of July,
one never to be forgotten by the poor
fellows suffering through the hot, in
terminable hours, or the busy surgeons
and nurses, who never paused in their
work of moistening hot lips, bathing
throbbing brOws, washing out gaping
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30
PAUL REVERE'S RIDE.

alarm them very much. The Major
inquired of me how far it was to Cam
bridge, and if there were any other
road.
After some consultation the Major
rode up TO the sergeant and asked him
If his horse was tired. He answered
him it was (He was a sergeant Of
grenadiers, and had a small hOrse.)
Then, he said, take that mans horse.
l dismOunted and the sergeant mounted
my horse, when they all rode toward
Lexington Westinghouse.
l went across the Durying ground
and some pasture, and came TO the
Rev. Mr. Clark house. where l found
Messrs. Hancock and Adams.
l told them of my treatment, and
they concluded TO go from that house
toward Woburn. l went with them,
and Mr.. Lowell. who was a clerk 10
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30
He caught hopefully at 80 suggss-

He caught hopefully at 80 sugges-
ton and seemed much better Gil night
Early the next morning went to SEQ
a poor boy whose end was unnfntak-
ably near and who called me mother"
1 was detained some time and az my
return to my headquarters necessi;ated
my passing where Capt. Dee was guar
tered, l thought to serve hiIo his
breakfast and then take an hour or
two of rest.
The surgeon met me, saying: "Itollie
has come and is waiting out there in
the kitchen. See her and then break
the news to him. He is very weak
this morning"
My heart beat fast; at last I would
see Dollie with her arms about her
lovers neck. l could imagine just
the way he would look at her; he said
so much with his eyes.
l paused on the threshold Of the
kitchen; she was not there-no one
but the cook, a strange man and a Mt
tie child were in the room. Dollie
must have grown impatient and sought
him out; the shock might kill him.
Hurriedly l turned away. but as
did so the child sprang forward and
caught my hand, exclaiming vehement
ly:
"DOllie wants her papai"
In my surprise | jerked my hand
away and fairly staggered backwards.
"You-Dollie?"
1t was all l could say.
''Of course I'm Dollie." she answered
in an injured tone, adding piteousiy;
Il want my papa, and he wants me"
The stranger. an elderly gentleman,
now interposed by handing me my
own letter and saying:
Il am S. b. Sterling. Donald Dee's
stepfather, and this is little Dolie, his
daughter"
"Certainly-yes I see," stammered,
and l did, though as yet dimly; it was
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

He Immediately rode toward those
who stopped us, when all five of them
came down upon full gallop. One
of them. whom | afterward found to
be a Major Mitchell of the Fifth regi-
ment, clapped his pistol to my head,
called me by name and told me he
was going to ask me some questions,
and if | did not give him true an
swers he would blow my brains out.
He then asked me similar questions
to those above. He then ordered me
to mount nay horse, after searching me
for arms.
He then ordered them to advance
and to lead me in front. When We got
to the road they turned down toward
Lexington. When We had got about
one mile the Major rode up to the
officer that was leading me and told
him to give me to the sergeant. AS
soon as he took me the Major ordered
him. IL l attempted to run, or anybody
insulted them, to blow my brains out.
We rode till we got near Lexington
meeting-hou when the militia fired
volley of guns. which appeared to
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

Drs. Warren, Church and one or two
more.
About November, when things began
to grow serious, a gentleman who had
connections with the tory party, but
was a whig at heart. acquainted me
that our meetings were discovered, and
mentioned the identical words that
were spoken among us the night be-
FORE We removed to another place,
which we thought was more secure;
but here we found that all our trans
actions were communicated to Gov
ernor Gage. This came to me through
the then secretary, Fucker; he told
1t to the gentleman mentioned above.
1t was then the common opinion that
there was a traitor In the provincial
congress, and that Gage was possessed
Of all their secrets.
In the winter toward spring, we
frequently took turns. by two and two,
to watch the soldiers patrolling the
streets all night
The Saturday night preceding the
10th Of April. about II o'clock at night.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30
Hirsute Statistics.

Blonde hair is finer than that of any
other color. BY actual count it has
been ascertained that 400 hairs to the
square inch grow upon the head of a
blonde beauty. The brown comes next
with $50, then comes the black with
1926, and the red with $50 or 260. After
counting the hairs growing on an inch
square 1t has been estimated that on
the head of blonde there will be
about 149,0 hairs, while a brown suit
of tresses will have 100000. a black
100000. and a red 10000.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

the inhabitants till we got to Con-
cord; the young doctor much approved
Of it, and said he would stop with
either of us, for the people between
that and Concord knew him, and would
give the more credit to what we said.
We had got nearly half way. Mr..
Dawes and the doctor stopped TO alarm
the people of house. l was about a
hundred rods ahead. when | saw two
men in nearly the same position as
those officers were near Charlestown
called for the doctor and Mr.. Dawes
to come up. In an instant l was sur
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30

Ny hands ard skirts were dabbed in
blood; my heart was faint WITHIN NE.
For lorg hours had tasted and work
ed; into my ears had been poured the
most tender Of last messages; the most
Misunderstanding tales.
You ought to rest little" said the
rough but kindly voice of an old sur
geon; only, if you can stand up a
minute longer-there is a case over
here | want you TO see. In silence |
followed him 10 a small church build
Ing that had been turned into an hos
pital. Every pew was a bed of pain;
blood dripped from between the altar
rails; even the aisles were partially
blocked with the wrecks of humanity.
Tt is in a scene like this that one ap-
preciates the other side" of war.
The surgeon led me straight to the
singers stand and pointed to a young
man in shoulder straps. whose blonde
Curls were matted and whose beautiful
blue eyes. beautiful even in their pain,
roved restlessly over the walls and
ceiling. He was lying fiat on his back
with only prayer book for pillow.
! saw at a glance that an arm was
gone. The fingers Of the ether hand
worked nervously.
u cant make out whether he is in
his right mind or not the surgeon
said in an undertone. Maybe you can
tell"
l kneeled and laid my hand on his
brow. He seemed not to have noticed
me before. Now he turned started,
wondering gaze on NE. His lips moved,
but a first 1 could not catcn the
words. BY and by | made out:
Il want Doilie Please bring Dollie
here" Again: Il will give all 1 have
to the ere who Will bring ne Dollie "
Who is Dollie?" 1 asked, gently.
still smoothing his forehead.
lie looked up with almost a smile in
his eyes, and asked naively:
Don't you know Dollie?"
Il am afraid I DON'T" l said, and !
smiled a little, too.
DOllie is my sweetheart" he an
swered a moment later. His face was
very grave now. And, oh, how she
cried when l came away. Poor Dol
lie"
A few moments l busted myself in
trying to make him more comfortable;
then he broke out again:
II only | could see her just few
minutes it would be heaven on earth
Maybe she would come if she knew
am sick. | am sick, amt To-
What ails me? | feel so queer an(
sore all over and
There he suddenly interrupted
himself-"if you look quick you will
see Dollie's head up there when the
light shines on that lamp. Look
Why, how natural her curls, and sht