The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-08-16
FREE.'N.EoUAL.
Story Of Cow that Belonged to 4
Little Girl Long Ago.

Debbte lived ling, long ago, when
the colonists were taking firm stand
for freedom. Ever since the child
was born the war of independence
had been raging, and when only 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 a glowing account
of the fight they were making: tits
our shirts, and it's liberty or death
we have engraved in our hearts, :"
After reading the letter, Debbie's IA
Their 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 it is al! over
Debhie longed to be boy, so that
she might fight the 'Britishers' on
her own account, but was only IL
years of age, and she had much to do
i'll 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 calf in her
fathers barn.
The calf she named Free n-Equal,"
and the animal grew up to deserve
It's name. Free-n Equal was Debbie's
only playmate, as there were no other
children within six miles of her
home. Debbie contided all her secrets
to this favorite, and even consulted
1t about many important undertak.
ings.
Soon after Tom died, during that
awful winter at Valley Forge, and
then Debbie sobbed her grief in Free
'n-Equars sympathetic ear. Her ia
Their 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," and
then the girl shook her head proudly
brushed away her tears and ex
| claimed: I'll take care of mother!'
The Britishers soon surrounded the
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 q
bundle of sticks on her back for the
| days cooking, her mother met her al
| the door and said: "Debbie, thew
have driven off Free-'n-Equal."
They" gasped the girl "Who?'
"The British soldiers They tied q
| rope around her horns and drove he,
into camp"
Debbie uttered cry and darted
from the house, and ran-the yellow
her brown curls covered with dust
ran miles, until she reached Lore
Corvallis headquarters. Without
7 --~:+s-e,-.- -1----A:--l--y---L---. p-----
sentinels and all and walked into the
room where CORVALLIS and some OF
his men sat eating and drinking.
I'm Debbie Smith, and came t.
get Free n-Equal!"
who may that person be-" in
quired the general.
my cow. They carried her off,"
who are you, and where do you
live?"
I'm Debbie Smith. I live three
miles from here, and"
your father?"
Hes in Gen. Gates army, Mr.
Corvallis
'Oh, he is rebel, is hep
Eyes, SIR answered Debbie, proud
ly. And so are my brothers,
Rank rebels, and yet you come
here for your COW. Is she a rebel
too?"
IF she had less horn and two less
legs, have no dos,.. she'd be a red
hot one"
Lord CORVALLIS laughed loud and
long. Then he said: Come here, my
little maid. I myself will see tina!
you get your COW back safe. And
perhaps he added, christening a
| pair of silver knee buckles which he
wore, perhaps you will accept these
from one who wishes no harm to these
rebels" Then he arose, and holding
high his glass, he said: Here's tc
| the health of as fair a little rebel as
! we shall meet, and God bless herr"
She dr0nned = cOnrtesv c1asnod no,