The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-09-22
MISTRESS ASHES PUNCH BOWL
A Historic Incident in North Carolina During Ameri-
can Revolution.

iancieG that she could not now refuse a
request from his general. since that court
" gentleman had 50 readily taken her
part against himself.
With no hint Of his oath, Tarleton led
the talk to the noted Ashe punch bowl.
He related Tor his generals hearing MANY
stories OF that bowl, antique in England
ere the Mayflower's keel had cut the
ocean plying westward. He told now III
America 1T had grown thrice precious to
its owners, for that almost every Ameri-
can leader OF the Revolution had slipped
celebrating draughts from it's generous
crystal depths. He told how about this
very board there gathered around that
bowl, when chance and change of war
permitted, five officers of the Revolutions
airy army, all of one name and blood:
General John Ashe, his son, Captain
Samuel Ashe, Colonel John Baptista Astr.
Samuel Ashe, later to be first Governor Of
North Carolina chosen by the people, and
C~lEclnnatus Ashe, a captain of marines.
and besides these five officers there was
another, a private being too young to
hold 4 commission, but not too young to
give MS lite TO his country.
Mistress Ashe," cried Leslie, 1.-The sol
der OF any nation may feel honored to
taste a draught from a 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
howl?''
Triumph at the success of his ruse shone
ON tho r1IIr oOIn+anoyoo 90 rro,lo+o,
Mistress Ashe ordered the brew to be
brought. After the delay necessary to
the connecting 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
urging wine-rich waves loated a million
rose petals-Wild rose petals-shredded
from golden centers. Mistress Jones, in
treDid woman that she was, trembled
where she stood. She felt that if Tarle-
ton must Tow 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 11y 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 ne friend or foe I will offer a draught
from This bowl
WEereupon size poured a glass for Gen
cral Leslie. While the General held his
glass uplifted. waiting the filling of all
The glasses. Mistress Ashe turned to adj
dress Tarleton.
Colonel Tarleton.' she said, 81 have
heard OF your triply strung oath. I have
heard hat you have sworn to plant the
flag Of England on the roof of every
American home. or failing that, on its
ashes. / have heard that you have sworn
to carry our leaders IN chains to the foot
of the throne"
The Colonels face glowed with fierce
anger.
"And have heard pursued Mistress
Ashe, THAT you have vowed to take your
s~tirrup cup, ere You ride forth on the
, accomplishments OF these intents, from
the Ashe punch bowl
There was a moments tense silence when
Mistress Ashe spake again:
Heaven grant that our leaders in war
may become our rulers in peace" Mis-
tress Ashe put her slender hand about
the bowl and lifted it high above her
head.
"COlOnel TarletOn!" she cried dauntless-
", "as now snaps one cord of your triply
strung oath, so may all arrows shiver
from the Stacked bow of the braggart, For
never, Colonel Tarleton, from the Ashe
punch bowl shall cup be offered to the
cruel foeman of our people,"
So saying she let slip the precious bur
den from her uplifted hands. Drenched
with the ruddy dew, her hair crowned
with the rose wreath that had fallen from
the bowl rs she cast it from her, with red
rose petals futtering from erect shoulders
to high arched feet she made a picture
beautiful dauntless. General Leslie
dropped his glass untouched on the Grim
con wreck that had spalshed its brillancy
over the waxened floor of the hall. Out
side in the brilliant sun Of July a mil
lion rosebuds grew for fresh blooming,
but never more would any of their kind
crown rich libations in the once price
less, now shattered punch bowl of the
| Ashes of North Carolina.-Martha Young
in the Springfield Republican.