Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-03-07
CHAPTER L
\ COLONIAL RESIDENCE THAT FIGURES IN
THIS STORY.

\ COLONIAL RESIDENCE THAT FIGURES IN
THIS STORY.
On the bank of the Cape Fear river,
and some 30 miles from where it
empties its waters into the broad At
lantic, stands the old. old city of VIII
mington; so old, in fact, that the build
ing that was the headquarters of Lord
CORVALLIS when the town (for Will
mington was then town of no small
importance) was occupied by the Brit
ish soldiery during the revolution of
1776, though still standing lat least as
to its frame), has of necessity, us age
and inclement weather caused its roof
and sides to wear and rot away, been
recovered and the frame reclothed with
Cardinals pine many times; but be-
Meath the covering of to-day stands the
same old frame and in the same location
as it stood in the troublous days of the
American revolution.
True, the time-worn floors that were
pressed in turn by the feet of Corn
wallis and Washington have been re-
placed by others, but underneath the
sills and girders that supported 1t rest
to-day as stanch and true as they did
when placed there century and a quar-
ter ago, and testify to the endurance
of Cardinals pine.
The rooms that in the days of long
gone by have echoed alike with the
laughter and revelry of British sons and
daughters, and the music of Sambo and
Cuffy, as they called "all hands round,
promenade ALL" while the sons and
daughters of the Tar Heel state kept
time with flying feet, retain their same
dimensions.
The misguided Andre and the traitor
Arnold have stood within these very
rooms.
Here the Father of his Country" and
that patriot from across the sea whose
memory is dear to all Americans have
conferred together. and as small Incl
dents in the lives of great men live be-
bind them, so many live in Wilmington
that are said to have transpired In the
lives of Washington and La Fayette.
One small one Is, that on certain oc-
casion 1.-THE Father of his Country" one
night ordered his goodman to have his
carriage and his two bright buys in
front of the mansion at dawn of day, as
he and La Fayette intended visiting q
fort on the riv r. below.
1t is said that in the morning when
they approached the carriage that
"Honest George" who never told lie
stroked the back Of the bay next him
with his hand, and that his glove was
soiled. "Pompeyl what do you mean
sir, by bringing out my team in a con.
,dition like this?
''There, sirl and therel take thatl
and that! move quick, take back my
team, and use your elbows well, Their
bring them out. I'd not be captured
with team like that"
what matters, General" said Ii
Fayette, they'll be moro soiled whe1
they return"
but by fresh dirt, sir. by fresh dirt
and discipline, Gen. La Fayette, disci
pline. Sir, If I'd take them now in tina,
condition, I would never get then
cleaner. When we are In the field, ant
with hot work before US, then we will
drive dirty horses, but not before"
It was said that one of the peg.
dropped out of the toe of one of George'l
boots on this occasion, and the Language
that he used was said to have been very
impressive; those to whom the trndi
ton has been handed down can hardl,
reconcile the big, strong words tina
George used on that occasion with hi
meek remark when boy, to hi
fathers question, "Who cut down tina
tree?"
81 did, papa. cannot tell lie."
But enough of old traditions. In 1888
this mansion, from which Washingto,
and La Fayette that morning, IS year
before, had ridden, was the propert,
md home of John Lloyd, 0AEelinAf
1n $3.50 ---a.-.-.s---...-..a