The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-08-09
FREEIN-E EQUAL.
Story of a Cow that Belonged to a
Little Girl Long Ago.

NNC Si'I GOhS ago,
3 DebDle lived ling, long ago, wheI
!, the Colonists were taking firm stant
1or freedom. Ever since the chilli
was born the war of independence,
~ mad been raging, and when only wee
maiden, her stout little heart bea
Iurlously when she heard the story
a OF the famous Boston Tea Party.
Inc following year, when England
smut up the harbor of Boston, her eyes
r Mashed fire, and she then resolved
10 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 hes
coarse homespun apron; but she drieE
them IN a sort of strange delight wher
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: It's
our shirts, and its liberty or death
we have engraved in our hearts"
Alter reading the letter. Debbie's ia
ther grlmly smiled, and turning to
MS two younger boys, he said Just
walt 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' Cd
her own account, but was only II
years OF age, and she had much to do
Ill the household, so had little time for
patriotic dreaming.
When Debbie had been eight wears
old, two very important events han
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-Eoual
and the animal grew up to deserve
rs name Free-n Equal was Debbie's
only playmate, as there were no other
within six miles of her
home. Debbie confded all her secrets
10 this favorite, and even consulted
1t about many important undertake
ings.
Soon after Tom died, during that
AWFUL winter at Valley Forge, ana
men DeDble Sobbed her grief in Free
n-EquaIS sympathetic ear. Her fa.
.ner and her remaining brothers went
o JOIN the army. The cows low
moo-o plainly said to the girl: I'm
cry sad over your misfortunes" and !
hen The girl shook her head proudly
away her tears and OK
famed: I'll take care of mother,"
The Britishers soon surrounded the
mlth home, and Debbie and her {
lo'Rer ived a poor, lonely and des.
crate life in their midst. One dav
men the child returned home with q
undle OF sticks on her back for the
Rv S cooking, her mother met her at c
le door and said: "Debbie, they 2
VII Ilct- u-Euudl. q
lhey! gasped the girl. "Who?" v
Inc British soldiers. They tied a il
'pe around her horns and drove her "
to camp" a
Debbie uttered cry and darted Il
ON the house, and ran-the yellow a
lnoonnet back on her shoulders and s
er brown curls covered with dust W
N miles, until she reached Lord b
headquarters. Without W
altlng for permission, she passed pi
n'lnels and all and walked into the az
ON where CORVALLIS and some of tc
5 men sat eating and drinking.
I'm Debbie Smith, and | came tn
It Free-'n-Equal!"
VINO may that person be-" IN. NJ
tired the general. 10
MY COW. They carried her off" III
e?" 'ou sa
I'm Debbie Smith. l live three w
les from. here, and" DO
Your father?" We
He's in Gen. Gates armv Mr. LEI
gu
on he is a rebel, is he?" en-
Yes, sir" answered Debbie nroud. do
And so are my brothers" "a
rank rebels, and yet you come arr
e Tor your COW. Is she a rebel Id
?" tooei' las
II she had less horn and two less Il
S, | have no doubt she'd be a red. W.
one I'LL
ord CORVALLIS laughed loud and s
g. Then he said: Come here NV 3
lie maid. I myself will see that 8
get your COW back safe. And 4
haps," he added, unfastening q
OF silver knee buckles which he 8
e. perhaps you will accept these 3
n one who wishes no harm to these q
els Then he arose, and holding 3
his glass, he said: Here's to I
health of as fair a little rebel az 4
shall meet and God h1ooo -, =