The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-07
Little Fellow.

Copyright. 1902, by Sohrt Story Pub. Col BY LADY APRIL.
 Sing it. Little Fellow! Sing The Worlds Turned Upside Down" The reD- els afeared.'
 Nay. there's but one who should sins that and he's at Valley Forge I laughed Keep civil tongue up there.
 Tis that of a mocking-blrd wnlch takes tone from those who perch beneath tt." said l, breaking into that bird no.e until the air was stirring Wlth souiu as with the echo of the flies and flutes 0, Sir William Howes water rebels. Heo coats and ramblers came running ,or the outskirts of Philadelphia were anvf with roisterers, ready to listen to wnist- ling prisoner or to make merry othef- wise.
 Now, l can with modesty aver three things concerning myself, Sergeant Blliy Kew, rebel to the hearts core; that can sing better than the poets nighthgsie. which sounds mainly like water giirging from jugs mouth. that l could fight iike mad when manners failed. and, deemihs 1t overture that man is born to troupie' l took the longest road to reach It. But, after all, there I was caught ike a fox In trap and thrown into the room of sometime country inn on the out skirts which served as a prison TOT ie1t- overs until things were shaken down lnto | something of discipline and order. but; meanwhile, by comparison with all of this. my heart was well night breaking for the misery I had left behind me al the Forge. for the general was hanked | by starvation and faced death ana de- l feat. Twas for this l gained permission | to spy upon the outposts and gain some | what of the British intention.
 But faith 'twould seem they had no m | tention saving to be amused. and witf | this grief and impatience gnawing at my heart I leaned out the window on tha | sunny afternoon, and smiling upon tn red coats below sang:
 Take, o take those lips away! Wayfarers stopped to listen and ex
 running called: This the little rebe spy. He has pipe like girfs!' ant | another cooked his musket upward cry
 ing: Sing. you blue-livered whelp. bI l before I could hul1 hot retort they Tel | apart. as 'twere by streak of lightning | saluting simultaneously. It was not thei | commander-in-chief. as might be sup
 posed. Twas Mistress Mary Brook | whose gracious mien had charmed al hearts alike. Mary Brook, dressed in blu | homespun and kerchief, with the sun | set upon her bright hair and whit
 of the men. and. be 1t known. in thos | which looked down upon her from th' l window. She flashed her shoe-buckles II | the sun and 1t seemed. raised her voice | over-clearly on the still air: ,.; l "Gentlemen. you have my house. II: | true, but I must have my clothes out O
 the attic. that I may make fine to gc | horseback this very evening to the Ston' | Tavern this side Matson's Ford'' Nay, now, ye cant expect us to hell | blot out the sun. Mistress Brook!' spak
 a big Irishman. whom l remembered wei
 as too big to kill at Ticonderoga.
 "Ah, Captain Bourke. but there'n b
 little employment for you here if Clin
 ton indeed surveys the prisoners tomor
 row." Tomorrow! My heart, leaped up
 ward. There had indeed been little tim for singing "Td stay, however. to SC
 but one of your prisoners-Ethan Allel
 himself, returned from England wlthou
 his chains to be exchanged for Colone Campbell'-Allen liberated God bles
 her! The news was as cold water to tn
 thirsty. AS 'tis the fashion to exchang
 prisoners. spske she, twouid be wei
 to offer General Washington a bird wh
 can't sing and keep the one who cam and her eyes darting upward said plainly
 Sing, Little Fellow. sing.'
 She entered. followed by guard. and a
 her light steps passed up to the loft over head. 1 leaned out, and with my hear
 upon my lips I sang.
 A bit of plaster was off the high cell
 ing over me, and her voice came betwee the lathes in cautious whisper.
 ..Ay, Mistress Brook! 'Twere a pit
 that while a man is being made sma
 he were not a fly to climb bare wals!
 Thank God who made you small. Lit
 tie Fellow, else had you been shot befor
 now like common spy! Tis because yo
 amuse the men. The posts are agog wit
 your songs and uuips. They've serve you so far, but tomorrow"-she stopped
 ''No other would be alive, but they d
 not fear you, you are only Little Eel low"
 'Ay." said l. with sinking heart, "tha Is all truly Mistress Brook
 | "Hark my guard Is in the kitchen I I've but a second. I go this afternoo
 on a good horse with permit as far