Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-07-01


played the leading part, happened,
which, though seemingly trifling in
itself, may have had an important
bearing upon the destiny Of the whole
country.
Lieutenant. Colonel Craig, COM
handing detachment Of light horse,
was ordered to approach the enemys
lines and hover near them, in the
capacity of videt.es, to pick up any
Intelligence that might be of value to
The army. While engaged in this i'm
portant duty one cold, raw day in De-
,ember, an orderly called his atten-
lion to woman who was coming up
the road.
The officer watched her as she as
cended the hill, and when he per-
ceived, by her stopping and looking
frightened, that she had discovered
his command, he rode forward and
called out, in reassuring tone:
advance, madam-you have moth
ing to fear from true soldiers!"
The lady, who was we'll wrapped up
in plain, warm garments, with hood
that quito concealed her features at
short distance. now came forward,
without hesitation, to meet the
Colonel. as if satisfied from his Ian.
guage and appearance she had moth
ing to fear. When near enough for
him to distinguish the features that
were turned full upon him, lie ex-
claimed, in q tone of surprise:
"Mrs. Darrah, as livel Why, what
ON earth can have brought you, all
alone and unprotected, into this dan
gerous locality?"
"Thee knows. friend" she replied,
in the Quaker style. ~ have son
in the American army-who is, like
.hyself, IN officer under George WASH
ngton-and a mothers heart yearls
coward her offspring, even though be
has departed from the ways of his
fathers"
"You were going then to seek him ?"
81 was; but perhaps thee would
carry message for me, and let ME
turn back to tho city," said the lady,
but still with cautious, hesitating
air.
"It will afford me great pleasure to
oblige Lydia Darrah in any way!"
bowed the gallant Colonel.
"Thank thee, fricnd-thee is very
kind. If thee will dismount then and
walk with me little way I think will
tell thee what have to say, which is
secret would not like to have any
other persons hear"
Tho colonel assented, and, riding
back to his men, gave his horse in
charge OF Or: of them and ordered
them to keep in sight of him; but not
to approach near enough to overhear
an ordinary conversation. He then
returned to the lady and they began
their walk down the road, in an opro-
site direction to that which she had
come. For short time she main.
tanned deep silence, with her face
averted, and, as the officer fancied,
with her whole frame trembling with
secret emotion.
"Friend Craig" she at length be-
gan, with something like o sigh, and
speaking in the rapid, earnest manner
of one communicating some startling
fact, "thee must hasten at once to
George Washington and tell him thee
has certain information that, on to-
morrow night, large body OF British
soldiers will secretly march out Of the,
city for the purpose of surprising and
capturing him and nll his men. Not
to mystify thee, friend, and that thee
may attach all due Importance to this
information, I will now inform thee
that !, Lydia Darrah, overheard an
order read between two high officers
to the effect of what I have stated.
Thee must also know that the man
called General Howe has come to abide
in the house opposite my husbands,
and that for some reason, to us un-
known, two men, one Of whom is sup
posed to be called the adjutant. gen.
eral, have come over to William OAR
rah's several times, and held private
conferences in one of the back rooms
OF our dwelling. Last night these two
men came again and one of them told
me he wanted all Of my family to 60
to bed early, and that when they
should get ready to leave, which might
be late, they would call me to let them
ont.
"Well, Friend Craig, I sent the
whole family early to bed, as request
ed to do, but myself felt very anxious
to know what was going on Of SO much
Importance, and so 1 did what 1 never
did before-took of my shoes, walked