American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-04-22

Aoh iStoAh ac utI ldtltl
and elder brther had enlisted and hel
services were needed at home.
Aunt Amantha, a widow, aunt O.
Mrs. Thayer. who was a tailoress
came to help with the knitting ant
sewing.
A sock a day was considered a good
days work but they had often knit
far into the night to accomplish this
Finally the spinning wheel rested
during the day and the old loom was
brought out from the store house and
set to work, yard after yard of home
spun was woven and made into mems
apparel, the neighbor women came in
with their knitting and often took
turns at the loom or pressed a pair
OF trousers. Any woman who could
be hired to help a few days was called
In, every old lady who could knit a
pair of socks was on hand to contri-
butte her mite.
Mary would watch the great bag
gradually fill with socks and cloth
ing; then Uncle Roland would take IL
away in the night and an empty one
would be in its place. She thought all
the things were being made for her
father, but it would puzzle her that
he could wear such a number. Fin
ally she asked her mother. "Your
father wears very few of them. There
are many poor men fighting who have
no wives to make them clothes. and If
we could make a hundred times as
many as we do we could not supply
them all; but l believe we have saved
many a poor man from suffering so
much during the cold winter, and we
VIII keep on doing all we can. This
blue scarf l dyed the yarn for is for
General Washington. The red one is
for your father. They will distribute
the rest as they see fit. You have
learned to knit garters so we'll O
may now learn to knit socks. When
you have finisteed a pair Twill put
your name and age upon them and
send them with the rest, so whoever
gets them will know there is a little
girl working for the cause OF free
DOM"
she commenced that very day, and
although the task was hard and ted
lous, and five needles were used in
stead of two, and she often droped
stitches which took her mothers time
to pick up and put back on the needle,
before the close of the war she sue
ceeded in knitting four pairs of socks.
which were sent to those in need.
The peace which they had enjoyed
at home did not last. The winter of
1880 and 1881 was a hard one. The
British still held New York and sent
troops into the surrounding country
Later in the fall of 1880 a company
camped near Albany. News was
brought of their approach and those
to be in favor of the rebellion
hastily fled to the woods. taking a few
provisions and wraps.
For three days the Thayer family
with other women and children hid
in the underbrush expecting hourly to
be found and murdered. but il was not
the desire of the British to punish
women end children with death, al
though they pillaged their homes and
took possession Of anything they de-
sired.
Roland Brown had carried cloth
ing and provisions, and spied on the
enemies camp. Although he was I'M
aware of it being known that the Brit
ish were on his track; and when they
camped at Albany they had a warrant
his arrest. Not knowing this he
met them boldly at his door when the
came for him. There was not
much ceremony about his trial. He
had been convicted before he was
caught and arrangements had been
for his disposal.
His wife, thinking he would be set
'ree, awaited his return. When the
came back without him, she
vas filled with terror and fell on her
Snees begging for her husband.
You are too late, madam, you should
begged your husband to be a 10y
Il citizen. He vas arrested for trea-
"If you wish to save your own life
nd that of your children leave these
PREMISES Immediately, and go tell
our neighbors and friends who are
raitors to the King that like fate Will
ollow them"
Then before her eyes he set fire to
.er dwelling. She fled with her chill
ren from the terrible sight, only to
meet n ore terrible. AS she ran
oward the forest she came face toi
ace with the dead body of her hus-
and, hanging from the limb of a large
tree. This was too much. She
ell unconscious. The Red-coats re-
urning from burning her home felt
hey had gone too far. They carried
er to the Thayer dwelling which they
ad intended to burn on their depart- !
re but now spared as their hearts
pricked. Orders were given to
ury her husband, and little william
TODD by vowing to their faces he
Tould kill every one of them when he
OF to be a man.
They laughed at him and told him