Year: 1867




1t was beautiful day in June The sun was
shining with mild heat upon the level plains of New
jersey, yet with sufficient fervor to make locomo-
ton not very agreeable especially when one had to
bear burden.


At any rate, such was the conclusion arrived at
by Jehoachim Stebbins, as he travelled YEARLY over
the sandy road.


Let us pause moment to describe parsonage,
who is destined to figure prominently in our story.
No one, to have looked at Jehoachim, would have
had moments doubt as to his nationality. Tall,
angular, oosejointed, with dropping shoulders and
shambling walk, above all with pair Of shrewd
twinklng eyes looking out from above prominent
aauiline nose, his Yankee birth stood out in large
capitals all over his face and figure.


If these signs had failed to discover his lineage
his suit of blue cloth studded with brass buttons
high collar, and the deficiency in the length of his
neither integuments, would have led to very strong
suspicion upon this point His feet and hands
were of immense sze and the latter bore the marks
of being accustomed to hard labor and intimate
ouaintance with the soil. The former were encased
in pair of huge cowhide boots, now considerably
the worse for wear, and which, to judge from their
appearance, had probably never been made ac-
ouainted with the article which has immortalized
the names of Day and Martin. Perhaps, however,
Jehoachim could hardly be blamed deficiency
since at the period of which am speaking in the
midst of the war of the American Revolution
these celebrated contributors to the worlds civza-
ton were not in existence.


Such was the appearance of Jehoachim Stebbins,
as he toiled along the road with his pack on his
back.


At length espying large stone by the roadside,
he let down his pack, and took seat saying, as he
wiped the perspiration from his brow with coarse
red handkerchief -"This is about the meanest
country to travel in, on hot day, that know Of
There amt blasted tree in sight, and nothing to
prevent the heat from frying feller's marrow; I'd
rather be in old Connecticut by great sight
There amt any pootier gals anywhere, than are to
be found there. I'd like to know how Nancy Part
ridge is lookin at this present moment. There sa
gal for my money We two would have been hitch
ed long ago, if it hadn't been for this plaguy war;
wish it would come to an end, that is if the
British varmints could be sent packing. However,
it amt so bad thing for me after all. don't do
much by pedding to be sure, but get jobs that
pay pretty well by means of it. Now here's this
letter from young Captain Peterson to his sweet
heart I'm to get five dollars for carrying it. -


Here he took from an inner pocket square epis-
tie, directed to MISS ELINoR WEsTvELT-P Pl-
rdte."


should like to know what's in that ere letter.
The young Captain is scholar, and knows how to
write. Now its plaguy hard work for me to write
to Nancy Before l set down I've got enough to
say, but somehow it all mets away by the time
get 'Dear Nancy written. Now | never used to
find no trouble when she and was sitting together
by the re-place looking at the hickory sticks siz
zling away Jerewsalem, wasn't that prime.


Evidently, Jehoachim was considerably excitedby
the pleasant retrospect in which he had indulged
for it seemed to inspire him with new strength anc
with fresh alacrity he threw the pack on his back
and began to jog along


While he is moving towards his destination, We
will 60 back along the road, perhaps mile, where
we shall encounter character of quite different
appearance.


This parsonage was youngish man of perhap:
thirty years of age, styshly dressed in the fashion
of British officer Suchindeed he was. He, too
was not unaffected by the oppressive heat, though
he had less reason to complain than our friend tht
peddler, since he had under him horse which
was travelling at fair speed. Nevertheless, hi
journey had begun to seem oppressive, for he hae
left New York early in the morning, and had al
ready travelled twenty miles.


''Theres no great enjoyment in riding such day
as this, he muttered, "and never would have
ventured if l hadn't hoped to be rewarded by
sight ofthat betwitching little maiden, Elinor. She
the loveliest girl I've seen, by all odds, since have
been in these rebeious colonies in fact, l remem
Der none more beautiful in England Her father
too, is wealthy, and it won't be Philip Amory
fault if she does not go back with him as Mrs
Amory."


Major Philip Amory, who had thus spoken, was
we have already said, British officer. He nigh
have been considered good looking by some. Hi
features were regular and his complexion fair, bu
there was a scornful and defiant expression in hi
eyes. and proud curl of his lips which betokene
naughty spirit that was not likely to make it
owner generally popular. Such, indeed, was tn
character of Major Amory He had come OF wha
was considered high family, being allied to som