The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-07-12
DOROTHY AND
THE HESS|ANS


In the year 1776 little Dorothy Stirling,
who was then just 10 years old, lived
with her parents in pretty vine covered
house on the outskirts of Flatbush,
which, as you know, is on Long Island.
On July her father, having important
matters to attend to in New York, took
his wife and daughter over there with
him, and they staid at the house of
friend. This house stood at what is now
the corner of Broadway and Leonard
street, but in those days it was all open
country, lovely green fields and pasture
land
The hot, sultry month of July, 1776,
was destined to be the most eventful in
the history of our country. Wonderful
events were taking place, and the old
city Of New York was filled with hustle
and suppressed excitement. Dorothy did
not understand what 1t all meant, but she
knew something unusual was happening.
Her father, instead of laughing and romp-
ing with her as he was wont to do when
he came home at night, was very grave
and quiet, and sometimes he would hold
his little daughter in his arms for whole
hour without saying word, gazing out
through the open window over the green
fields and with look on his face that
made tender hearted Dorothy murmur
softly, "Poor papa" and with her little
hands she would try to brush away the
deep wrinkles that had gathered on his
brow. Her pretty, bright little mother
had grown quiet and sad, too, and once
Dorothy found her sewing on a gay blue
coat with brass buttons and weeping.
Mamma" said Dorothy, kneeling at
her mothers SIDE what makes you cry,
and what makes everybody SO grave?"
Dorothy" said Mrs. Stirling, stroking
the child's fair hair, ''the time has nearly
come when all brave and loyal men like
papa must fight for their country and
when all true women like you and me, my
darling, must stand by them, for they
will need our help and comfort sorely be-
fore it's all over"
| Then she told her daughter that the
English king had not dealt fairly by his
people in America, and that they had de
termined to rebel from his authority and
rule themselves, and this little girl learn
ed that her father was going to be a sol
der and carry fine sword and fgh
against the English when the right tim'
| came.
The next day her father took her dowI
to Bowling Green to see some soldiers
drill. They were gay looking fellows il
knickerbockers, with funny powdered
wigs and long cues under their three cor
nered hats. And then Captain Stirling
took her down to the waters edge ant
pointed out lot of the kings ships, will
flags flying, that lay off Staten Island
And as she looked roll of drums and thu
sharp squeak of the flies came floating
over the bay.
Dorothy clapped her hands in delight
ooh, papa" she cried, "do you thinl
they will come to New York? l love t.
hear the drums!'
AZ fear so, DEAR" said the father, pick
ing up his little daughter and kissing her
But it will be another tune they'll play.
AS they were starting on their way hom
there was a sharp clatter of hoofs ant
the mad hurrahing of mighty crow
that surged about a solitary horseman a
he drew up at tavern in Bowling Greer
The rider was covered with dust, and hi
hat was gone, while the poor jaded hors
was covered with foam from his ride.
"Harkv cried Captain Stirling. "Har
to what the man is saying!
1--WE are declared free and independer
states by the Continental congress Q
Philadelphia. 1t was ratified on tn
Fourth of July. We are free!"
These were the words that rang in tt
ears of Dorothy and her father. dow