The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-11-07

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begins to play.
While fancy takes me back to one September
afternoon
When Hannah come to town with me to see the
/ The world was bubblin' over with it's sunshine
everywhere.
We two was mighty happy as we wandered hand
in hand,
A-takin' in the sideshows an a-listenin' to each
An here I'm all alone agiD, an dreamin' of that
AS sousa waves his time-stick an his band be-
--IndiGnapOlis journal.
A DAUGHTER OF 4fHE REVOLUTION.
If red-coat were to come to my
door l should, if possible, capture him
and give him into the keeping of our
men," declared Miss Prudence Sta
Piles, carefully examining a newly
completed homspun coat.
eff an enemy comes hungry"
"I shall not give him bread I am
no Tory" replied the young woman,
looking searchingly into Neighbor
Hard's kindly blue eyes.
Mrs. Hard was suspected of having
given aid to wounded British soldier
in his sore need. In this patriotic,
loyal woman's breast beat heart so
warm and tender that it overhowed
with love and pity for every unfor-
tunate who asked of her cup of cold
water.
The little woman rolled together
scraps of homespun jeans. The sun
was low and there were no men at
the Hard farm to shelter the stock or
milk the cows. Reuben Hard and his
son, Benjamin, were following Gen
eral Washington's leading in the pa
triot army.
This war is righteous war. If
my country's enemy, wounded and
hungry, asks me to aid him in regain
ing strength that he may again rejoin
his commander, am I not traitor
when 1 yield to PHYS pleadings?
Away with softheartedness The
women of Massachusetts, must steel
their hearts,
Softly, softly, my dear p said
Mrs. Hard, holding open the heavy
wooden door.
'You are brave maid. I hope no
wounded straggleF will come this way
asking bread. These red-coats are
but brother men. II am no Tory
but it is cruelty hard to say nay
when starving man begs a crust.
The women of Massachusetts, in this
year of our Lord, I777, are not lack
ing in courage. God forbid that they
should ever lack heart ! 1t grows
late. My patient COW should have
been MIXED an hour ago. Farewell,
Prudence"
Daughter" said Mrs. Staples, a
comely New England dame of fifty,
stirring the fire in the wide and deep
fireplace. "I'll bake the short-cake
upon the hearth. The milk pals are
out in the back stoop. While you're
doin' the chores I'll jest do up these
socks an mems wear, as Hiel Sloane's
goin' to camp airly in the mornin'.
Neighbor Hard is master hand at
the needle. HE'LL carry good cheer
in this bundle to more'n one needy
soldier. 1 wish father and Jason
could hev pair of these stout socks"
In the barn yard flock of sheep
needed sheltering. The COWS lowed
impatiently. In their stalls Dobbin
and Prince neighed for supper. This
gray-gowned, dark-eyed Massachu-
sets maiden did not spare her pretty
hands when duty demanded that she
must perform many heavy tasks.
1T is supper you want, bonnie
Prince Charlie | The hungry should
be fed, said the young woman grasp
ing a pitchfork.
Say you so, dear lady? If a
starving man-if starving enemy
asks bread
''I will not"
The cruel sentence was never fin
ished. An emaciated, pale young
man, wearing soiled scarlet Uniform,
crept out from his hiding place in
the old sleigh.
II am in your power, young lady;
do with me as you will but give me
a little food p he pleaded, falling
weakly at her feet.
Prudence blew keen blast on
silver whistle, a signal which Mrs.
Staples speedily answered in person.
"A wounded straggler, Prue-hun-
CRY an wounded"
eyes, mother. But we cannot take
him into our house-he is an enemy"
eff General Washington was here,
don't think he'd counsel refusin'
bite to starvin' man. He's likely
lookin' young fellow, too. He's go
ing to the house an we'll nurse him
a spell. I can't be harsh with him.
We can keep him prisoner, daugh-
ter" returned sturdy Mrs. Staples,
assisting Prudence in her effort to re-
vive the unfortunate stranger.
Edwin Chervil was indeed in need
of food and nursing. Two weeks
wore on, anxious weeks to Mrs. Sta
pies and Prue. Their prisoner lay
weak and exhausted in the spare
room; his presence unsuspected by
friends and neighbors.
Prudence worked early and late,
carding, weaving, spinning and knit
ting; or preparing delicacies for the
soldiers, which messenger carried to
the nearest camp.
Three more weeks brought return
ing strength to the invalid who was
evidently not pining for freedom.
The October rain beat against the
window panes one evening, when
Prudence packed a bundle of home
spun clothing and box of home pre-
pared sweets. The rosy light from
the blazing logs in the deep fireplace
played upon the bed valance, window
curtains and bright striped rag car
pet.
Pack them coats tight in the lit
| tie bundle, Hiel Sloane'll be along