Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-01

DOR is tight shet It's goin' to be sting
n cold night and may the Lord hev mercy
them poor soldiers al Valley Forge:
i've bin sort o prayin' for EN- all day,
aid the wife, she put on her hood and
)oked about for her mittens. IF our Ia
ok got that last bundle of things he'll be
Ill right, but such weather is awful on all
en-.
Taking up the milk pail, she passed out
nto the wintry gloom and cutting blasts
nd was soon busy at the barn. The farm
louse was within twenty miles of ,ne win
Ter quarters of the patriot army. It had
contributed cattle and sheep and wheat and
-orn and hay to Washngtons quartermas-
-er. and Dame Scott had spun her yarn and
Knit it into socks and mittens and comfort
RS to benefit a score of men. And one of
he first men in the neighborhood to voltln-
-eer was ZadOk. then hardly eighteen years
I'd The tall and strong-voiced Zachariah
.vith his white hair, rarely was such a thing
= beard in those days, and the weigh
f seventy-three years upon his shoulders.
you'd have gone wi h the rlfiemen, but they
declared his years too many. He had done
b PATRIOTS full duty, however, and on the
aantel shelf, where all who came in must
&c it, was a letter in which Washington
.ad expressed his thanks Two weeks be-
5re our story opens old Zachariah had in
Gred his knee and rheumatism had set in
I'd left him able only TO hobble about.
The Chores at the barn had been fin
she'd. and the good wife had picked up her
When she heard the hoofbeats of horses and
ne jangie of arms on the highway. Pa
riot patrols often passed the house, and
vice that winter she had looked out upon
l. small detachment of redcoats. AS they
made no stop she reasoned that they must
-IaNe been scouting instead of raiding. Now
however. the woman bent her head to
peer through the darkness and listen the
troopers came to a halt. AS she hurried
10 the house she them riding in at the
gate. 1t was party of ten redcoats.
What is it. Ablgail?" asked Zachariah
n anxious tones. as she came rushing into
the kitchen.
&c British, They are right at the
Ioor."
Hand me down the musket. They will
sill me and drive you out and rob and burn
he house. but Jehovah reigns and at least
of them shall die
The door was flung open and the troopers
trowded in. They found a gray-haired old
nan making use Of his chair to help him
-tand erect. while he held his old fiintlock
t a ready" and his eyes flashed danger
nd defiance. Beside him, unarmed but
uli of courage and dignity, stood his gray
ialred helpmeet.
We come in peace" said the British can
ain, as he threw UP his hand. I've ask
ut to thaw our frozen bodies by your gen.
-rouS fire, and whatever man or beast NAV
at VIII be paid for In gold"
Zachariah and Abigail We're patriots to
he core, and such the idea of succoring
ne enemy to the extent of a glass of cider
|
'eailzed and accepted the situation how
yer. 1t were wiser to feed and warm the
british than to have the farm devastated
Ihe old musket was put away and the man
at himself down in his chair and encour-
ged by nod from him Abigail hustled
about TO prepare supper. Some of the
-rooperS took the horses to the barn and
AIRED Tor them, and not a word was spoken
. give Ohense to patriotism. On the con-
-rary, officers and men were very civil and
-hough the mistrusttul old man refused to
meet them half way, he mentally gave them
more credit than ever before Three miles
way was the house of Col. Talbot He had
ONE nome a day or two before bringing
'laJ0r Hope and Capt. Davis with him. and
.Aelr orders were to beat up the country
or miles around and forward further con.
."IbutiOnS. The soldiers at Valley Forge
@'ere on half rations, clothed in rags and
-eNehty-eighths of them frostbitten There
"ere COMPANIES which could not have
urhtu out i've men If the drums had beat
n the long roll; there We're none which
ouIu nave made hve-mile march if the
ate OF noerty depended on it. In some way
ne BrltlSh had got word of the presence of
ne three officers, and they had planned a
sudden dash to capture them They were
mead OF their time when they reached the
scott farmhouse. and the idea was to 1aH
,.p for an hour. When they had haaa
Warmed and fed they went their wav and
goid piece was left on the table 10 nav
he horses hoofs died away Zacbar;ah
cached down his Bible and opened il and
.ead: - anu
They shall be smitten hip and thigh
yea, verify: they shall be smitten without
mercy" Then, looking up at his wife re
said: 80
They did not show us mercy for mercvs
sake. but for other reasons. / wonder wha,
they do in this nelghborhood, and why they
stayed their hand?''
The wife had begun clearing away the
dishes. She stopped to look at Zachariah
and OF a sudden her face grew white and
he taII 10 ~ II
"They-they are here to capture Col Ia.
bot!' she grasped.
God God! 1t is so! 1t is sou replies
Zachariah as he rose to his feet and fell
back with a moan.
For long minute the two looked at each
other fn a dazed and helpless way 1t was
all plain to them. but they could not lift q