News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-06-05
VERMONT INVADED.
PATRIOTS Rouse and RepeI the Invaders

Our miniature state has from the
first been kind of storm center in
more than one respect. From the
time when the redskins used to raid
us from Canada and on their return
trips amuse themselves by such by
plays as the burning of Royalton,
and the shooting and kidnapping
of young settlers on the Randolph
slopes, on down to the rebel raid on
St. Adams in 1864 and the Fenian
raids of '66, we have been exposed to
raiders on all sides. The staid colo
nists of Plymouth had to be with
stood or they would have gobbled
us; after long and bloody conflict we
bought off New York invaders by
paying the magnificent sum OF $780,
900. We got clear of New Hamp-
shire's greed by skipping the ranch
under the Alias Vermont carrying
the "Grants" in our old slouched
hats. But in all these romantic and
successful episodes we have by no
means freed ourselves from all invad-
ers. They still Turk on all our Dor
ders, east, west, north, and south.
Their stockades and forts consist of
toerably well defined Gordon of dis
reputable estate Line "houses on all
sides and their raiding parties are
armed with sacheIs and pocket TASKS
rather than with tomahawks and
rude muskets of the old times.
Nor are these armed bands our
most insidious or dangerous invad-
ers. We have still little spare
room in the work-hOuse or in the old
fortress at Windsor where we can de-
tain some of these and render them
comparatively inoccuous; but the
quill brigade, the TRIPOD" cavalry,
the ink horn tiend, how can we pro
tect our borders from their incur
sions? Already they have captured
some stronghOlds on our soil. Colo
MES from "Old Troy" possibly from
Albany have secured footing in sew,
eral townships near old HOOsic battle
ground, and at least one in a station
a little out from historic III" Some
invasion is planned, indeed advanced
lines have been on accommodating tx
Deditions, near the primal" Fort
Dummers. These come largely from
the Local Option state at our south
but they are in constant, quick com
municatiOn with the west and their al
lies on the east, who invade our state
at Woodsville and other bridge towns
Some have been moved to cry H v
down the bridge, Sir Consul. with al
the speed ye may" but the transit il
all right, the transgressers are the
ones that need the cutting down. w
should have trained defenders for al
these bridges and ports of entry. A
reform in the uncivil service on Oul
borders is one OF the reforms demand
ed at the opening of the new century
We must be training our forces in tn,
homes.
One reason of our weakness in re
polling our invaders is the fact tina
lessons of real patriotism have no
been duly emphasized in the home
We have left the drill too much tt
the Sunday school and Lodge. Thu
Spartan mothers we're the drill mas
tiers that made Sparta invincible
Nor should the "boys brigade" a
school be neglected. Here is a drill
camp which should never be idle.
few new maneuvers ought also to b'
Taught in the prayer netting. Some
thing after the fashion of meeting
held in Jerusalem years ago. JameI
was lie aiding, think, and Peter anC
John were reporting another meet
ing where Annas led. At this forme
meeting the officials began to mis-
trust that these poor Galieans hat
some strong backing-that they haC
been at headquarters and received
orders and assurances. When the re
port was received, after a shor
haIlelujah volley, they all went tt
prayer, and soon the place wa
strongly shaken and the next da!
everybody noticed that the disciple
spake out with unusual boldness
Heaven send us more weekday ser
vices, that we may bestrong to driv
our foes from all our borders.
j. O. SHERBURN,
st. Johnsbury, Vt, May %.