Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-06

Il feed no kings men," old Nancy re-
turned sturdily You villains have put
1t out of my power to feed my own
family and friends, by stealing and
killing all my poultry and pigs-eXcept
that old gobbler you see in the yard
rs 1T sou inquired the sergeant
coolly, bringing his musket to his shout
der. Well, then, Madam Wing, you
shall cook the turkey for u.s. and with
Il clean shot he laid the old gobbler low,
directed one of his men to carry it into
the cabin, and ordered Mistress Hart
to clean and cook it without delay.
Old Nancy stormed and swore. There
was more method than rage in the
demonstration: she had a wary eye
Upon the path toward the swamp, and
desired that there should be sufficient
disturbance about the house to warn
Temperance of the condition of things
before she should approach. She final
ly permitted herself to appear some
what Modified by an offer of liquor from
one of the men. took the cup. raised 1T
high, and drank. before she could be in
terrupted, ITO George Washington
God bless him!-and the speedy deliv-
erance of this land from its enemies"
Nancy's vigilance was finally re-
warded by sight of Temperance signal
ling from the garden edge that she had
seen the British and would notify her
father and brothers. Later, the sound
of the conch shell assured her mother
that this had been done. No turkey ever
took Nancy Hart so long to prepare and
roast but the gobbler was noble bird.
seemed to think. They sprawled upon
the grass outside, and on the rude porch
floor, chatting and testing with Nancy,
who had always a witty reply ready,
drinking as much as she could induce
them to, and regaling themselves with
supply of honey cakes which she had
brought out for them.
The women of Nancy Harris day did
not have nerves. We of this time are
prone to think when we read the tale of
their achievements. that they had steel
springs instead. Yet Nancy felt what
would have been in a modern woman
CULVER of the nerves. as she drew out
her preparations for the feast to their
longest limit. and waited in an agony of
impatience. for a sound of the conch
She went to her most cherished stores
and brought out preserves. cured figs,
and dainties strictly reserved for great
occasions. And when she finally babe
her would-be guests to the board, there
was a feast spread before the hungry
Britishers which swept away all
thought of caution. Muskets were
stacked, shakoes doffed, and the men
sat down in high humor.
The cottage was of logs, chinked, af-
ter the fashion OF the time, with mud.
but neatly whitewashed within. This
climbing had been removed near Nan
cy's kitchen table, and. as luck would
have 1t, the muskets were piled beside
1t. Nancy herself was forced to wait
upon the men: and as she heard first
one signal call from the swamp and
then another her spirits mounted and
mounted. She was always famed for
her wit, but upon this occasion she
fairly outdid herself, and when she
finally saw Tempy's brown eyes looking
thru the chink beyond the British mus
kets, her gaiety dubbed over in song.
1t was, however, not the song which her
guests would have selected. but the
original and rustic version Of Yankee
Doodle"
Much testing ensued, over a project
to make the old woman change her tune
to God Save the King" During the
merriest OF the wordy war, Nancy
slipped a musket out to Tempy. Pres
emily the sergeant rose and came to-
ward her with a glass of her own home
made muscadine wine in his hand,
swearing that he would make her drink
the kings health in it. She put her
hands behind her back, closed her lips
in detinance, and. even while he was
making the attempt-during the laugh
ing disorder consequent upon it
slipped another musket out to the girls
waiting hands This left three, but one
Of them Mistress Nancy desired to have
for her own use.
The sergeant had gone back to his
seat. The company, full fed, was be-
ginning to look about, when Nancy
picked up the third musket to pass 1t
out after the other two.
Hold" yelled the sergeant, leaping
to his feet. "'Ware the woman! She's
tampering with the guns!'
He made as tho he would have sprung
upon her, then stood rooted to the spot,
in the very act of preparing to spring;
for Nancy, whose abilities with the
weapon were well known. had levelled
one of their own muskets. set her feet
upon the other two, and dared them all
to come on.
Temperance, of less stern mold than
her mother. brought her captured guns
to the door and attempted to assist in
covering the British. There We're five
of the soldiers, and three civilians. In
spite of Nancy Harris tremendous repu-
tation, in spite of her control Of the sit