The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-05-31
The Reward
She Received For Bringing Wash
ington Information
.3y MAY c. ETEiEREDGE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation 1871.

could, il not to force them out. He
sent spy into the city TO learn OF
their strength and condition.
The young man selected for this
work was Joel Armstrong, twenty
two years old, who few days before
had left Boston to join the army al
Cambridge on the eve of his betrothal
to Sally Perkins.
Washington instructed him tc dis.
cover Just what supplies and ammuni-
ton the British possessed. The gen
eral knew the numbers and armament.
1t is not far from Cambridge TO Bos
ton; indeed, they are now one city.
Joel had no need to fear being taken in
citizens dress, for he had no uniform.
He had always lived in Boston and
knew all routes between it and its en-
virons. He went through in the night,
and in the morning when Sally had
lust lighted the fire in the kitchen and
was swinging the crane bearing the
not to boil the water he walked l.,
and they were locked in each others
arms.
There was no great danger to Joel
In going about the city SO long as he
was not liable to be caught with in
formation on his person. The Ameri-
can army was considered by the Brit
ish rather as rabble than an organ
ICED force, and transitory at that.
Joel collected all the information he
wanted from patriot citizens who knew
very we'll how. General Howe was situ-
| ated. But he did not dare trust to
his memory. Besides, certain citizens
were DESTROYS of sending communica'
| tons to Washington informing him of
| various matters important for him to
| know. Joel took all these letters and
papers to Sally and, asked her to sew
/ them in the lining of his coat.
Now, it so happened that British
soldier whom Joel had known and had
| told that he was going TO Cambridge to
| fight against the tyrant king saw
Joel walking past Faneuil hall, Thi;
soldier saw the young patriot go into
| the house where Sally Perkins lived
and told his captain OF the circum
stances. The captain told his colonel
and a guard was sent to the house 4
prevent Joel's going back to. the Ameri
can army, lest he carry information.
1t SO happened that's Sally was sew
ing the papers In Joefs coat when
looking out through window from
N dfGf1nH
down the street, she spied a squad o
soldiers coming, the officer making IL
entries as he came. She also saw
citizen point to her home. Quick a
fash she inferred that Joel was i
danger. Pulling huge chest OF
from under O bed. she put her hove
j into II and showed it back as the so
) diers stopped before the house an
surrounded it. An officer walked i
without knocking and found Sally
her spinning wheel. ~,
Joel was not discovered, but tn
j guard remained outside on watch
: that if he were still there he coul
! not leave. Sally told Joel Of the situ'
, ton. and he was much chagrined the
: he could not deliver the informatio
he possessed to General Washington.
= 81 suppose / shall have to burn
ALL" he said.
+ How would 1t do for me to take 1t
Z Sally asked.
:. do you think you couldF
/. "Of course"
So Joel transferred the papers
: Sally, who concealed them about n
person and walked out OF the hou
/ in face of the guard. The offic
> looked dubious about letting her {
J. since he had received orders to perm
r. no one to leave the house. But Sal
D. paid no attention to him, though b
" heart was beating like a trip hamm'
, Sally, fearing she might be foilowe
went among the shops making pt
. chases. She saw redcoat fonoWl
= her, but managed to elude him. WIN
H. it was quite dark she started for Ca
nd bridge. keeping to the fields. Findi
Il. n boat on the Charles river, she
M propriated 1t and, rowing across, W
:, taken in by an American sentry. )
asked to be conducted to the co
mander In chief.
-- Washington was comforting w
people who called to see him, on
Vulnerable subjects when sentry
~ nounced Sally Perkins.
- what can / do for you, Mistr'
M Perkinsf' asked the general.
20 Nothing. general. | am doing soI
10 thing for you. You sent Joel Al
10 strong, soldier in your army, to B
n. ton for information. He Is shut
Nv there and cannot leave for the r
la coats who are watching the hou
In Here is what he collected for YOU
b. The generals face lighted at see
the papers. He took them and, hay
glanced at them. said:
ne 1--WE are under obligations to y
,n- Mistress Perkins. for these pap
ret which are of great value to us. w
he can do In recognition of our app
It's. citation of your heroic act? Is til
anything / can give you?"
7 7 "Yes, general, kiss, ! would
| to be able to say that | have ks
the commander in chief"
Washington, though he was
enough to be the girls father, cole
me, slightly. He was so dignified as +
as modest that this reward given
} to fore q dozen persons was great