Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-08-17
BRAVE BETTY

ulInBE uLII
A girl of fourteen years was sitting
on the steps of a humble cottage one
/ beautiful August morning in 1881.
/ The sun was Just rising over the hills
/ of northern Maryland and was send
! ing its rays into the peaceful little
village of Westbrook.
BETTY, Betty!" called a shrill voice
/ from within the house.
What is it mother?" she asked, as
4 she arose, and with reluctant steps
entered the house.
what were you doing out there on
/ the steps? The house'll be in fine
/ condition, warrant, when get back.
/ You must do the work and keep the
house tidy" exclaimed a tall, severe
woman, as she tied on a large black
/ sunbonnet and packed a few trifes in
q somewhat worn travelling bag.
when will you be back mother?"
/ inquired Betty, as she pulled a few
/ dead leaves from the bright flowers
In the window
II don't know, Betty" replied Mrs.
Brown. 'If I'm not back by to-mor-
row mornin' there's no tellin' when
/ Ill get back Now be a good girl,
| Betty, and I'll bring you a new frock
for the fair. Goodbye" and hastily
| imprinting a kiss on her fair daugh-
ter's velvety cheek, the mother hur-
ried off.
'T wish she wasn't going" muir
INJURED Betty, as her mothers figure
disappeared, It'll be lonesome here
all by myself, but l suppose they need
her at the hospital. If she comes
back tomorrow father will be all
right, and If she doesn't"-and the
| girl shuddered.
Her father and two brothers were
| enlisted under General Washington.
/ The night before they had received
a message informing them that the
father was wounded. Mrs. Brown
was hurrying to her husband.
Betty gazed thoughtfully out Of the
window for some time; then she turn
ed to her household duties, saying
half aloud, "I'll give this old house
| good cleaning Dear mother has so
much to do. Then If finish in time
I'll run over to Anne's and get her
to stay over night with me-"
With this thought in mind Betty
went to work in earnest. She work
ed hard all morning, and stopped to
get a light lunch.
"Oh, dear!" she thought, as she
swallowed the last bite, will never,
never get this old house cleaned?"
Not till half past five did she finish.
It was too late to go for Anne then,
even II she wasn't so very tired. She
lay down on the grass to rest, and
wearily closed her eyes.
She was just about to fall asleep
when she heard the long grass that
surrounded the house rustling as II
something was moving through it.
She sat up and was very much fright
ened as she saw a human form slowly
crawling through the deep grass to-
ward her. She tried to scream but
couldn't, so she Just sat there and
with wildly beating heart awaited to
see what would happen.
Presently the form arose and she
saw a soldier with a very ragged
worn buff and blue uniform on. His
head was bound with a bloody rag
and his uniform was stained with
blood and Betty could see that one
foot was terribly wounded.
Her heart sickened as she gazed at
MIN, but she pitied him with her
whole soul. All her fears vanished
She hastily jumped to her feet and
went toward the stranger.
His lips twitched and he sunk to
the ground. In vain he tried to
speak but his honest blue eyes plead
ed so well for him that Betty knelt
down on the grass beside him.
What is it?" she asked, eagerly.
He shook his head. Betty ran into
the house and soon returned with a
bottle of blackberry wine and a loaf
of bread.
The stranger eagerly swallowed the
wine, and before he spoke a word
finished the loaf Then he spoke for
the first time.
Thank you" he said; then speak
ing in a low, earnest tone, "are you a
Tory?"
mo. indeed" replied Betty, I'm
not"
Very well, then" he responded
with a slight smile, Il can trust you.
am George Thorne, and am one Of
Marion's men. I am taking a mes
sage to General Washington, but
met with some red-coats, and they
were having some fun, target prac-
tice, you see. They're pretty good
shots, too" he added, with a glance
at his mutilated foot, "and they shot
my horse, and can't go any farther
The message is very important; can
you help me out?"
Betty thought a moment. Could
she trust this young fellow? Plain
ly he could not go himself Should
she leave him at the house and go
herself? What would her mother
think If she should come back?
Can I trust your" she asked.
"To the uttermost" he responded.
'Well, continued the brave girl, "if
you'll stay here and keep the house
for me, and If my mother comes
back tomorrow (she's at the hospital
now), explain to her, I'll take your
message to General Washington"
He looked at her with eyes filed
Millions will be spent in polite
this year. We can't keep the cam
paign going without money any NOR
than we can keep the body vigorou
) without food. Dyspeptics used t