The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-18
GENERAL LESLIE DRINKS
FROM THE ASHES BOWL

onn!: Say what you please, Mistress
Ashe. Colonel Tarleton knows better
than to insult a lady in my presence
The colonel. greatly chargrined at
this rebuke in the face Of his subal-
terms, laid a plan for speedy revenge.
l He we'll knew that Mistress Ashe
would be daring enough to refuse from
himself q demand for a draught from
the famous brew. to be tasted only at
Ashe house, but he fancied that she
could not refuse a re1uest from his
General, since that courtly 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 hat bowl,
antique in England ere the MayfOw-
er's keel had cut the ocean plying
westward. He told how in America it
had grown thrice precious to its own
ers, fo~ that almost every American
leader of the Revolution had slipped
exhilarating draughts from its gener-
Gus crystal depths. He told how about
this very board there gathered around
hat bowl. when chance and change
of war permitted, five officers of the
Revolutionary army, all of n name
n blood: General John Ashe, his son.
Captain Samuel Ashe. Colonel John
Baptista Ashe, Samuel Ashe, later to
be first governor of North Carolina
chosen by the people, and Cincinnatus
Ashe. a captain of Marines, and be-
sides these five s~C.liers there vas an
other, a private, Icing too young to
hold a commission. but not too young
to give his life to his country.
Mistress Ashe.' cried Leslie. " the
soldier of any nation may feel hon
ored to taste a draught from q brew
that so many brave men AVE Cuaffed.
Now since you nave SO amply enter
tanned your foemen. can you not add
70 your hospitality L pray you. a
draught from the Ashe punch bowl?''
Triumph at the success of his ruse
shone on h rudy cOuntenance of
Tarleton.
Mistress Ashe ordered the brew to be
brought After the delay necessary to
the connecting of so rich Il beverage
the bowl was borne into the dining
hall.
The crimson sides of the bowl caught
the summer sunshine and glowed with
deeper adolescence. Fragrance Of roses,
spices. wines, filled the hall. On top
the softly surging, wine-rich wave
foated a million rose petals-wild
rose petals-shredded from golden
centers.
Mistress Jones, intrepid woman that
she was. trembled where she stood.
She felt that if Tarleton must now
ffuag a luck drink to his declared de-
signs from that bowl, destruction in
deed awaited her country and its lead
erS.
Mistress Ashe rose from her seat at
the head of the table, General Leslie
and his officer rose with her.
General Leslie" spoke Mistress
Ashe, this bowl is the most precious
possession of my husbands people.
CpnaT tinIo nftnr - Io,-. ~
ped the nectar of this brew there
from. The men who have tasted of
this fragrancy have ever been of the
brave and bravest, yet were they gen.
tie as woman to the weak and the
defenseless. To such a one, General
Leslie. be he friend or foe, I will offer
a draught from this bowl"
Whereupon she poured a glass for
General Leslie. While the General
held his glass uplifted, waiting the
filling of the glasses, Mistress Ashe
turned to address Tarleton.
Colonel Tarleton." she said. Il have
heard of your triply strung oath, I
have heard that you have sworn to
plant the flag of England on the roof
of every American home, or, failing
that. on its ashes. l have heard that
you have sworn to carry our leaders
in chains to the foot of the throne"
The c%olonel's face glowed with fierce
anger.
And I AVE heard" pursued Mis-
tress Ashe, that you have vowed to
take your stirrup cup. ere you ride
forth on the accomplishments of these
i%ntents, from the Ash punch bowl!"-
There was a moments tense silence
when Mistress AShe spake again:
grant that our leaders IN
war may become our rulers in peace!'
Mistress Ashe put her slender hands
about the bow and lifted it high
above her head.
Colonel Tarleton!" she cried daunt-
lessly, as now snaps one cord of your
triply strung oath, so may all arrows
SILVER from the Stacked bow of the
braggart! For never, Colonel Tarle-
ton. from the Ashe pnuch bow shall
cup be offered to the cruel foesman
Of u people!"
So saying she let fall the precious
burden fro miner uplifted lands
Drenched with the ruddy dew, her
hair crOwned with the rose wreath that
had fallen from the bowl as she cast it
from her. with red rose petals futter-
ing from erect shoulders to high arch
ed feet she made a picture beautiful.
dauntless.
General Leslie dropped his glass un-
touched on the crimson wreck that
had splashed its brilliancy over the
WaXened floor of the hall.
Outside in the brilliant sun of July
a million rosebuds grew for fresh
blooming. but never more would any
of their kind crow rich libations in
the once priceless, now shattered.
punch bowl of the Ashes of North Car
olina.-Martha Young in the Spring
field Republican.
A Remarkable Record.