The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-07-12

AZ uinuer tndt night DOrOtny nOuceu
that her papa and mamma did not talk
much about the Declaration of Independ-
ence to the friends whom they were Wis
iting, and she soon discovered that this |
was because they were loyal to the king.
Such people were called Tories, while |
those who, like her parents, were against |
the king were called Wings. Still, |
though the Strings differed with their
host, they were too old friends to quarrel |
openly Dorothy and her parents contin-
ued to stay in New York for several
weeks, and on Sunday, Aug. IS, they at
tended service in the old Lutheran church
on Broadway. AS Dorothy with her
father and mother, walked down town to
the quaint old edifice, whose pastor was
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 up 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 as 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 it's walls, till
suddenly in the midst of singing a hymn
there came a dull boom In the distance,
and then something crashed on n neigh
boring roof, demolshing a tall chimney
md 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 to his
feet. Then the calm voice of the white
haired old minister was heard as he
closed his hymnbook with snap.
Brethren" he said, "let us pray"
And, obedient 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 a 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 and dress; that a mes
senger had come from Long Island, tell
ing her father that his regiment was pre-
pairing for conflict with King Georges
| Hessians, who were about to land on the
island, and that he must return with all
speed and join his own company. Be
fore poor, sleepy little Dorothy quite
knew what had happened she was hasti-
ly bundled up and put in covered car
riage, and Immediately they were tearing
down the road as fast as the two horses
and the darkness of the night would al
low.
Dorothy fell asleep after awhile, and
when she next awoke they were all in
fiat bottomed boat, being rowed across
the East river to the opposite shore
Then came another long ride over q
rough country road till finally, just as
day was dawning, they drove up to theiI
own little home, and their two faithful
negro servants were at the door to re
ceive them. The captain had wanted tc
send his wife and daughter somewhere
where they might be out of danger, but
his loyal wife would not hear of go
ing away. Besides, it seemed as though
they would be about as safe at home as
anywhere else. Up north were the
dreaded Indians, and, in fact, danger
seemed to Turk in every spot.
Then came days of anxious waiting fol
Mrs. Stirling and Dorothy while the cap
tain was away with his regiment.
seemed to his little daughter that sh
had grown years older since that frs
day of July when she had started 70
New York with her parents. She hal
seen so much and learned so man,
things too. Among others she had learn
ed that IL any stranger should ask wher
her father was she was simply to sa
that he was away on business, but tha
she did not know where, which was n
lie, for she really did not know jus
, where he was.
One frightfully hot afternoon towar
, the end of August there came the SOUND
, of heavy shooting. Volley after wolfe
ratified out and echoed through til
woods. First the firing seemed far OF
but by and by the sound grew neare
and just as the sun was setting-a hug
blood red ball-the shouts of the fghtir
men came plainly to little Dorothy as ST
sat on the front porch knitting a pair {
hose for her father. Mrs. Stirling wa
away spending a few hours with frier
in Jamaica, and the two colored servan
had gone. to the pasture land to. dri'
home the unruly cows. Suddenly Dor
thy was astonished to see broken lii
of men come down the road toward II
house on q dead run. and her own faith
brought up the rear.
She hardly knew him at first. His col
was gone, and his left arm was in
sling. His men were in an equally dar
aged condition. make for the mars
back of the house, boys" he shout'
"and wade through to the other side.
will join you in a few minutes at the t.
Of Pine knoll"
Then he caught Dorothy up in his arm
and kissed her. "Where's mammaT
asked.
mamma is over at jamaica" she to
him.
ooh, the evil luck" he groaned.
must see her,"
Look here, child" he went on. 1T
2 Hessians are after us. There are t
e many for us to stand battle with the
y 1 will hide in the swamp till your mai