The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-08-10

o's>'-
merous barns and buildings. and which,
strange to say. had not been deserted
by its inmates. OF these, howevcr-at
least of the lcmalcs,-we saw nothing.
the father. an old. wcathcr-bcatcn
rou9h-spoken parsonage, alone making
his appearance. lie was keen D. AZ
crat, thorough Yankee, and abilorrcd
the English with all his heart; feel
ing which he took no care to conceal
and which we, of course, reseuted only
by turning it into ridicule. He spoke
much of the iniquity of our invasion,
but comforted himself by anticipating
the utter destruction of those engaged
in it,, who would, as he asserted, be op-
posed by the bravcst men. and the most
expert shots, which the whole world
could produce. His two sons he in
formed us, had gone of only this morn
ing to join the army, and his principal
source of regret appeared to be, that
his own age and inlirmities hindered
him from joining in it also. The read
cr will easily believe, that we enjoyed
the old man S conversation q great deal
more, than if he had pretended to SEN
timcnts which he could hardly expert
ence, or put on manner which was
not natural to him. Nor, to say the
trnth, was he more hostile in his Ian
guagc, than he proved himself friendly
in his behaviour rs a landlord. He
produced his bread and cheese and
peach whisky, libcrally and freely; and
though he drank to our speedy defeat,
we willingly joined him, ii not in his
sentiment, at all events in his pota-
tions.
The greater part of our time was,
however, spent out of doors. Though
there was no enemy in sight, nor, as
far: as we could learn, any force collcc-
ed within 4 days march of us, we were
not on that account the less careful to
see that the sentrics occupied proper
posts, and were attentive to their duty.
On the contrary, the circumstance that
we knew not where to look for danger.
induced us the more cautiously to
guard against it; and as it might come
upou us from either flank, or from the
rear, just as readily as from the front,
the whole encampmcnt was girdled in
by circle of watchmen. These took
their ground at the distance of perhaps
half musket shot from the different
pickets which furnished them. They
stood not more than forty or fifty yards
apart from one another, and except
upon the great road, they stood singiy.
On the road, again. tcre where q cou-
pie planted together, in order THAI one
might from time to time patrol on
.
whilst the other remained stationary
1t was our business to see that these
respectfully fulfilled the trusts reposcd
in them; and the business was one
which could not otherwise be accom-.
plished except by constantly travers-
ing from one extremity Of the chain to
tiIr either.
For several hours, no other incon-
vcnience attended these perambuIa
tions, besides 4 feeling OF considerable
fatigue. for which the toilsome marc /
of the day had amply prepared us: but
towards midnight the case was differ
ent. \ mass of black clouds suddenly
collected together, and the stars, which
but moment ago shone out brightly
in 4 clear blue sky, were completely
obscured \ tremendous storm OF
thunder, lightning, and rain ensuei.
There was not breath of wind, it is
true, but the thunder was terrific, and
the rain rushed down like cataract in
perpendicular streams. The effect o
such storm, echoed back as it was
from the thick woods around, was aw
full in no ordinary degree; whilst every
fash of lightning gave to the eye &
momentary glimpse Of scenery, sncl
rs no powers of language are adequate
to describe. The pathless forests
which on every side form the back
ground, the few cultivated fields which
intervened between them and the house
the very palings and hedges which in
tcrsected them, with the curved line
of sentinels standing motonlcss at theil
posts-all these, as well as the SWEEP
of the road, were seen for an instant
as distinctly as at noon-day; and then
Il darkness. thicker and more impene
trable than before, enshrouded them
No doubt there was much to admire in
all this, perhaps sufficient, or more than
sufficient, to compensate for the incon-
venience of a sound ducking where 4
change of habiliments was to be pro
cured; but, on the present occasion. it
must be confessed. that we would have
willingly dispensed with all that was
sublime in the occurrence. in exchange
for little dry weather, no matter low
tame or mOnotonOus.
1t was not. however, for us to choose
The storm took its course, and having
continued with undated violence dur
ing two hours, gradually died away
The rain ceased to fall, the clouds dis
perscd themselves. and the little stars
shone forth again, like the eyes of a
beauty whose tears have ceased to flow
and the rest Of the night, accordingly
was spent in as much OF quiet and com
fort as it usually falls to the lot of sol
dicrs npon an outpost duty to enjoy
(TO BE C0NTINUED)