The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-13
FREEMEauAL.
story Of Cow that Belonged 20 a
Llals Girl Long Ago.

Debble lived ling, long ago, when
the colonists were taking a firm stand
for freedom. Ever since the child
was born the war of independence
had been raging and when only q wee
maiden. her stout little heart beat
furiously when she heard the story
Of the famous Boston Tea Party"
The following year, when England
shut up the harbor Of Boston, her eyes
flashed FIRE, and She then resolved
to stand close to her country and her
people Her brother John had been
shot dead at the battle Of Bunker Hill,
and Debbie wept hot tears In her
coarse homespun apron; but she dried
them in sort Of strange delight when
brother Tom buckled on his sword
and followed George Washington to
the war.
Tom wrote home glowing account
Of the fight they were making: "It's
our shirts, and it's liberty or death
we have engraved in our hearts"
After reading the letter, Debbie's ia
ther grimly smiled, and turning to
his two younger boys, he said: Just
wait and hold yourselves in readiness.
Wen have the war at our own doors
before 1t Is all over"
Debhie l'eaged to be a boy, so that
she might fight the Britishers oD
her own account, but was only 12
years Of age, and she had much to do
il the household, SO had little time for
patriotic dreaming.
When Debbie had been eight years
old. two very important events hap
pened. One was the signing Of the
Declaration Of Independence, and the
other was the birth of a calf in her
fathers barn.
The calf she named ''Free'n-Equal,"
and the animal grew up to deserve
its name Free-'n Equal was Debbie'
only playmate, as there were no other
children within six miles of her
home. Debbie confded all her secrets
to this favorite, and even consulted
It about many important undertake
ings.
Soon after Tom died, during that
awful winter at Valley Forge, and
hen Debbie sobbed her grief in Free
'n-Equals sympathetic ear. Her ia
ther and her remaining brothers went
TO join the army. The cows low
"mco-o' plainly said to the girl: I'm
very sad over your misfortunes," ant
then the girl shook her head proudly
brushed away her tears and ex
claimed: "Tn take care of motherl'
The Britishers soon surrounded tn
Smith home, and Debbie and he
mother lived a poor, lonely and des
perate life in their midst. One day
when the child returned home with
bundle Of sticks on her back for tn
days cooking, her mother met her a
the door and said: 'Debbie, the
have driven off Free sn-Equal."
"Theyw gasped the girl 4WhoT
THE British soldiers. They tied
rope around her horns and drove he
into camp"
Debbie uttered a cry and darte
from the house. and ran-the yeIIo'
sunbonnet back on her shoulders an
her brown curls covered with dust
: ran miles, until she reached Lor
Corvallis headquarters. Withor
waiting for permission, she passe
sentinels and all and walked into th
J room where CORVALLIS and some {
! his men sat eating and drinking.
: I'm Debbie Smith. and I came
get Free ln-EQuall"
Who may that person be?" Il
quired the general
MY cow They carried her of"
who are you, and where d. yc
Ive?"
I'm Debbie Smith. I live thrC
miles from here, and"
your father?"
Hes in Gen. Gates army, NJ
Cornwallis,"
'Oh, he is rebel, is he2'
Eyes. sir" answered Debbie. prou
ly. And so are my brothers.
Rank rebels, and yet you con
| here for your COW. Is she a reb,
| too?
| "If she had less horn and two le
| legs. I have no doubt she'd be a re
l hot one
Lord CORVALLIS laughed loud al
O long. Then he said. Come here, u
!. little maid. I myself win see tn
you get your COW back safe. An
perhaps" he added, unfastening
pair cf silver knee buckles which
a wore, "yerhaps you will accept the
y from one who wishes no harm to the
q rebels" Then he arose. and heidi
n high his glass, he said: Here's
ii the health Of as fair a little rebel
"A we shall meet, and God bless herr'
o. She dropped courtesy, clasped h
Is gift to her heart and ran home. q
r to Lave her Free'n-EQual all her o1