The Washington times., 1913-09-19
q beautiful old teopot

blooms and so thickly did the plants
grow that there was not room for an
other to creep in.
Put this teapot far back under the
buttercups." she said. The child knelt.
pushed the silver pot in under the
flowers and turned to go into the house
clatter of prancing hoofs. mostly shout
and the company Of British rode into
the yard. They tied their horses to the
trees and sat about under the trees,
some going to the barn to look for eggs
and others rambling through the cup
boards to search for food.
Grandma sat still sewing. but Pris-
ella wandered about too angry to
speak at the dirt she saw the soldiers
making in the neat New England home
But when the men began to take the
few ornaments in the sitting-room and
throw them into the yard. the childs
wrath tlazed up fiercely
Il wish my grandfather were here"
she creid. You would not dare do
that-you are towards. every one %
YOU
The soldier laughed Where IL your
grandfather" he asked.
I'm the Revolutionary army" sh. an.
swered. IF our soldiers were around
you would not be stealing from an old
woman and a child"
You are A pert little rebel" said the
soldier sharply. And II you got a good
spanking 1t would be just what you de-
serve"
In few moments most of the SOL
diers mounted their horses and stood
ready to leave at command. The line
was formed just in front Of the flower
bed. Priscilla knew that the horses, IL
the soldiers rode over the bed. would
not only ruin the plants, but most
likely the hoofs would crush the dear
old teapot and that would break grand
mas heart.
The child saw that this soldier with
whom she had quarreled was about to
ride directly into the flower bed. SO she
ran and planted herself right in front
of 1t. Folding her arms, with her gel
low curis blowing In the breeze and her
angry face upturned in the sun. she
faced the soldier bravely.
You shall not ride over grandma's
flowers" she cried, shaking her tiny
fist at the big. burly man on the tall
horse. Il will stand here and you
would not dare ride over me-
Get out of the way or l will ride you
down." sneered the soldier sticking the
spurs into the horse. The animal Ieaped
forward. but veered to one side. SO as
to avoid crushing Priscilla With whip
and spur he tried to urge the maddened
animal over the girl. But the child
never faltered. With white. set face she
stood still as a statue. The angry SOL
dier backed his horse to get 1t into a
run. but just as he was about to beat
it again to make it leap on the girl. an
officer came running out of the house
and grabbed at the animals rein.
Far over the water in his own Eng
Iish home he had little girl Of his
own-a girl with sunny girls and
brave spirit just like this American
child. And his heart went out to the
brave little New England maid.
Get down. YOU scoundrel." he roared
And consider yourself under arrest for
cowardice We Englishmen don't make
war on little girls
Then, taking from his breast a tiny
gold medal. he pinned II on the blue
frock which the child wore
When YOU are woman" said the
officer. pattinG Priscilla on the head, do
not forget me and remember that you
will always find a friend in General
Adams
Then out OF the yard the company
OF British clattered. down the road till
lost In the dust.
Priscilla flew to her grandmother with
the teapot and medal in her hands.
Safely both were wrapped IN soft paper
and put away, and now in a certain
home you may see in the dining room
a beautiful old teapot, and above 1t on
the wall the gold medal which a British
general gave more than a hundred years
ago to a little American girl for her
bravery.
Tomorrow story, Why Chipmunks