The Coolidge examiner., 1933-05-12


girl like Pat burning to see her low
er. He let her go through on condi-
ton that she would not ask again
for that favor. She came and you
were gone! 1t was maddening, but
we made the best of it. She sat
down and wrote long letter to you
and gave 1t to me. Here it is. am
going to bed. You sit down here
and read the letter and then go TO
your room. You look tired"
She left him. He sat down by
the fire and read the letter. He
discovered a new, unexpected and
Illuminating note in the missive.
This much of it the historian is
able to quote:
"My brother returned with a good
opinion of the American army. re
reported twenty thousand men un-
der Washington. He got his infor
nation from private talks with Gen
eral Greene's orderly. | began to
find a deep. hidden meaning in this
education he received at General
Greene's house. SO | fell in with it.
| shall give them more good news
when l 60 home. Gage will be eager
TO talk with me. Our General
Washington is a skillful man. |
think that my brothers information
has delayed an advance and prob
ably some bloody days. l thank God
selfshness in thinking mostly of
you"
This part of the letter showed
degree of penetration which sur
prised the young man. As to its sen
timental content, the diary gives
only a slender clue. We learn that
it was a cheerful letter full of Pats
merry quaintness with n note of
sadness between the lines. 1T re-
minds me-" he wrote, "of woman
who once told of the funny sayings
of her dead child and who laughed
with tears in her eyes"
"War is cruel" he said to himself
as he went to his quarters. 81 wish
1t were over. agree with the wom-
en- that love is the only big thing
Still we must have liberty or the
kings may decide even TO abolish
love, save the dirty sort which they
indulge in."
Next morning he and Amos with
a troop of ten were ordered TO
escort a distinguished engineer who
was making a careful survey Of the
southern front. Colin was glad TO
see his old friend Amos and asked
how he was.
Ruined :" Amos answered. 81
had Satan on the run an was feelin'
peart. | was tryin' to nail a board
over the door o. my lodge an hit my
thumb with the hammer when the
board fell an cut my face. ! sot
down on my center an wrastled
with Satan. He floored me. / done
my best fer TO hold in but ye can't
bile water without maxim steam.
One o. the boys hissed like a goose
at ME. ] turned round an thar
stood Mis- Washington. She had
come TO my lodge every day with a
basket on her arm to see one O. my
boys who was took poorly.
"1'm 'shamed O. you says she.
"Tm 'shamed o. myself says l.
AN may the Lord fergive me-
"'WeT. If He can't l cam says
she. Let me see yer thumb
Il showed it TO her. The nail was
broke an bloody.
"'Oh DEAR says she. You come
to my house.
"Her shay was right nigh. I got
on with the driver an Lord o.
Mercy If she didn't take me to
headquarters an treat that OF
thumb o. mine like it was a sick
baby. Washed II with hot water
an put on balsam gum an a ban
dage. Then she mended my face
tell We, boy, she's got a hand as
soft as a kittens ear. Uh huh! She
has. 1t drawed the flint out o. me-"
Colin had been ordered TO escort
an engineer with squad Of his reg
iment to the neighborhood of Dor
chester Heights. Amos FarnswOrth
was a member of the squad. They
reached the lines of General Ward
on Dorchester neck.
In the foreground three British
marines were driving a small herd
of cattle toward Nook's hill. Colin
was quick to understand the situa-
ton. The cattle were from the
stranded ship. They would be
driven around Nook's hill and fer
ried over to Boston neck. They
were not a half mile away and there
was a good cover of scrub oaks for
a part of the journey.
amos, we can get those cattle in
a quick dash," he said. "Come on"
They ran down the hill and
mounting their horses galloped to
Wards headquarters where in these
words Colin announced his plan:
General, few marines are driv-
ing a herd of cattle across the PENN
sula not FIVE minutes from here.
I'll capture them with my squad If