Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-01-17

err served with such thick-witted
troops when I fought under General
Arnold at Saratoga, those with shoes
to their feet have the advantage over
those that are bond up in bits of cloth
and clumsy patches of hide. Draw
lots, l say, before the picket is down
upon us -
The good-natured crowd cheered
the boy orator, and hauled him from
his perch with such hearty tbumps
that he feared they would break him
in two.
Suddenly the noise was hushed as
if the wranglers had been stricken
dumb. Fur-capped heads turned to
face down the winding valley, and
without need of an order, the company
spread itself along the roadside in a
rude, uneven line. Every man stood
at attention, his head up, his should
ers thrown back, hands at his sides.
Thus they stood while they watched a
little group of hOrsemen trOt toward
tn I'm.
In front rode commanding figure
in buff and blue. The tall, 1.-the
frame sat the saddle with the CRATE
full ease of the hard-riding Virginia
fox-hunter. The stern, smooth-shav-
en- face, Redeemed and roughened by
exposure to all weathers, lighted with
an amiable curiosity at sight Of this
motley and expectant party, the CEN
tral figure of which was the butcher,
Master Ritter, who had dropped to
his knees, as if praying for his life.
General Washington turned to a
sprightly looking, red-haired youth
who rode at his side, as if calling his
attention to this singular tableau.
The Marquis de Lafayette shrugged
his shoulders after the French man
ner, and said, laughingly
at ees vat you t'ink ? Will they
make ready to kill i'm Vat they
do ?"
Just behind them pounded General
Muhlenberg, the clergyman who had
dotted his gown for the uniform of q
brigadier, stalwart, swarthy, laughter
in his piercing eyes as he commented ::
ITO the rescue The victim is
worthy member Of my old Pennsyl-
vania flock. This doth SAVIOR OF a
soldiers court martial for honest
Jacob Ritter.
The cavalcade halted, and the sol.
diers saluted, tongue-tied and embar-
raised, scufling, and prodding one
another's ribs in an attempt to urge a
spokesman forward, while General
Washington azed down at them as Il
demanding an explanation.
The butcher was about to make a
stammering attempt when the string
of his apron parted, and the ten cow
horns were scattered in the snow.
He Owed in pursuit of them, and his
speech was never made.
Because Jabez Rockwell was too
light and slender to make much re-
sistance, he was first to be pushed into
the foreground, and found himself
nearest the commander-in.chief. He
made the best of bad matter, and his
frank young face flushed holly as he
dotted his battered cap and bowed low
MAY 1t please the general,we were
in good-natured dispute touching
the matter of those ten cow-horns
which the butcher brought amo ngst
us to his peril. There are more musk
cts than pouches in our street, and
we are debating fair way to divide
them. 1t is-it is exceeding bold, sir,
but dare we ask you to suggest a way
out of the trouble which preys sorely
on the butchers mind and body ?"
A Aeeting frown troubled the noble
face Of the chief,and his mouth twitch-
ed, not with anger bat in pain, for the
incident brought home to him anew
that his soldiers, these brave, cheer
fll, half-clothed, freezing followers,
were without even the simplest tools
of warfare.
The cloud cleared and he smiled
such proud, aHectionate smile as a
father shows to sons of his who have
deemed no sacrifice too great for
duty's SALE. His eyes softened as he
looked down at the straight STRIPPING
at his bridle-rein. aud replied
"You have asked my advice as a
third party and it ls meet that l share
in the distribution. Follow me to the
nearest hut"
His officers wheeled and rode after
him, while the bswild-rel' sol.lisfs
traile1 behind, two Az tEo, 5oEnt G
narrow road, greatly wondering Ehsth-
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