Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-07-11

on Broadway. AS Dorothy, with her
iather ana mother, walked down town TO
the quaint old edificc, whose pastor was a
great friend of Captain Stirling, they met
great crowds of women and children hur-
rying by, their arms full OF household
goods.
The kings warships are coming IN the
harbor TO lombard New York; they
cried. and the poor, frightened creatures
were fleeing to the open country. where
they hoped to be safe from the deadly
cannon, taking such food and clothing
with them ms they could carry.
but the Strings kept on their way to
church, and they found quite few loyal
people there when they arrived. All was
quiet and peaceful within its walls. till
suddenly In the midst of singing n hymn
there came dull boom In the distance,
ahd then something crashed on n neigh
boring roof. demolishing n tall chimney
anu sending shower of bricks Gathering
on the pavement below. Then came an
other crash, even closer, that shivered
one OF the stained glass windows Of the
church The organ stopped short, and
the singing ended in hysterical screams.
Even Captain Stirling jumped 70 his
feet. Then the calm voice of the white
haired old minister was heard as he
closed his hymnbook with a snap.
Brethren" he said, "let us pray"
And. ohedient to their pastors COM
mand, they knelt down In silence. And
there was nothing heard save the low,
even voice of the clergyman and the dis
tant shouts and noises from Bowling
Green.
After church was over the people
learned that the shooting was from
British ship which had been anchored up
the Hudson and that her commander had
amused himself with little cannonading
as he sailed past the city on his way to
join the kings fleet off Staten Island.
That same night Dorothy was awakened
and found her father and mother bend
ing over her little bed, and she was told
to get up at once aud dress; that n mes
sengcr had come from Long Island. tell
in. her father thnt his regiment was pre-
paring for II conflict with King Georges
licssians, who were about To land on the
tsiand. and that he must return with all
speed and join his own company Be
fore poor. sleepy little Dorothy quite
know what had happened she was hasti-
~ bundled up and put in covered car
rage. and Immediately they were tearing
down the road as fast as the two horses
and the darkness OF the night woud al
low.
Dorothy fell asleep after awhile. and
when she next awoke they were all in
fiat bottomed boat. being rowcd across
the East river to the opposite shore
Then came another long ride over a
roush country road till finally. just as
day WIS dawning. they drove up to their
own littlc home. and their two faithful
negro servants were nj the door To re-
ceiHc them. The captain had wanted TO
send his wife and daughter somcw here
where they might be out of danger but
his loyal wife would not hear Of go
ing away. Besides. il seemed rs though
they would be about as safe nj home AS
anywhere else. Up north were the
dreaded Indians. and. in fact, danger
seemed to lark in every spot.
Then came days of anxious waiting for
Mrs. Stirling aud Dorothy while the cap
tain was away with his regiment II
seemed to his little daughter that she
had grown years older since that first
day II .IHly when she had started for
New York with her parents. She bad
seen So much and learned so many
things too. Among others she had learn
AAl AtIRl II aug SlA dAi-fI SlbNi'i dSh w ItIt
her father was she was simply to say
that he was away on business. but that
she did not know where, which was no
lie. for she really did not know just
where he was.
One fri2htfHlly hot afternoon toward
the end Of August there came the sounds
Of heavy shooting. Nollcy after voley
ratified out and echoed through the
woods. First the firing seemed far OF,
but by and by the sound grew nearer.
and just rs the sun was settinga huge
blood red ball--thc shouts of the fighting
men came plainly to little Dorothy as she
sat on the front porch knitting pair Of
hose for her father. Mrs. Stirling was
| away spending u few hours with a friend
| in Jamaica. and the two colorrd servants
! had gone to the pasture land To drive
| home the unruly cows. suddenly puro-
! thy was astonished to see a broken line
" men come down the road toward the
| house on IA dead run. and her own father
| brought up the rear.
| She hardly knew him at first. His coat
| was gone, and his left arm was in Il
| sling His men We're in an equally dam
| aged condition. Make for the marsh
| back Of the house, boys" he shouted
| ''and wade through to the other side. |
will join you in few minutes at the top
| Of Pine knoll"
Then he caught Dorothy up in his arms
and kissed her "Where's mammal he
| asked.
Mamma is over at Jamaica" she told
/ him
"Oh. the evil luck" he groaned. 81
must see her"
Look here. child" he went on. 1.-The
| Uessians are after us. There are too
/ many for US TO stand battle with them.
| will hide in the swamp till your mann
| ma comes back. and when it is quite
! dark tell her to come and meet me by the
old willow tree. If they hunt me down,
I shall have to make across the marsh,
and when | have rcjoined my men and
we are safely hid from pursuit | will fire
| three musket shots as signal That
will let you know l am all right Now
run into the house. dear, and tell no one
hnt mamma that you have seen me.