The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-20

for at that moment General Leslie. hither-
to detained without, entered. Quickly he
inquired the cause of Mistress Ashes agi-
tation; quickly on learning the cause he
rebuked the colonel: 'Say what you
please, Mistress Ashe Colonel Tarleton
knows better than to insult lady in
my presence
The colonel greatly chagrined at this
rebukc in the face of his subalterns. laid
a plan for speedy revenge. He well knew
that Mistress Ashe would be daring
enough to refuse from himself a demand
for draught from the famous brew, to
be tasted only at Ashe house, but he
fancied that she could not now refuse
request from his general, since that court
ly gentleman had so readily taken her
part against himself.
With no hint of his OATH Tarleton led
the talk to the noted Ashe punch bowl.
He related for his generals hearing many
stories OF that bowl, antique IN England
ere the Mayflowers keel had cut the
ocean plying westward. He told now in
America it had grown thrice precious to
its owners, for that almost every Ameri
can leader of the Revolution had slipped
cAlllldIdbl1S duSutS lIOul us SSuClOuS
crystal depths. He told how about this
very board there gathered around that
bowl, when chance and change of war
perrutted, five officers of the Revolution
airy army. all of one name and blood:
General John Ashe, his son, Captain
Samuel Ashe, Colonel John Baptlsta Ashe,
Samuel Ashe, later to be first Governor OF
North Carolina chosen by the people, and
Cincinnatus Ashe, captain of marines,
and besides these five officers there was
another, a private, being too young to
hold q commission, but not too young to
give his life to his country
Mistress Ashe,' cried Leslie, "the sol
der of any nation may feel honored to
taste draught from brew that so many
brave men have quaffed. Now since you
have so amply entertained your foemen,
can you not add to your hospitality, 1
pray you, a draught from the Ashe punch
bowl?"
Triumph at the success OF his ruse shone
on the rudy countenance of Tarleton
Mistress Ashe ordered the brew to be
brought After the delay necessary to
the concoting of so rich a beverage the
bowl was borne into the dining hall. The
crimson sides of the bowl caught the
Summer sunshine and glowed with deep
er rudescence. Fragrance of roses, Spices
wines, filled the hall. On top the softly
surglng, wine-rich waves ffoated million
rose petals-wild rose petals-shredded
from golden centers. Mistress Jones, in
trepid woman that she was, trembed
where she stood. She felt that if Tarle-
ton must row quaff a luck drink to his
declared designs from that bowl, destruc
ton indeed awaited her country and its
leaders. Mistress Ashe rose from her seat
at the head of the table. General Leslie
and his officers rose with her.
General Leslie" spoke Mistress Ashe,
this bowl is the most precious possession
of lay husbands people. Generation af-
ter generation have slipped the nectar of
this brew therefrom. The men who have
tasted of this fragrancy have ever been
of the brave and bravest, yet were they
gentle as women to the weak and the de
fenseless. To such a one, General Leslie.
be he friend or foe I will offer a draughf
from this bowl
Whereupon she poured a glass for Gens