Year: 1876

X
whitening of the lips chat bresthed the
prayer for strength. They had mourned
MIN as lost. and now when he was again
given to them, the old homestead rung
with such words OF thanksgiving and
praise as its old rsfters had never re-
echoed. Mr.. Wilbur was prevented by
dis ease from active service in the cause
he loved aud honored next his God, and
though he taltered not when Ethan left
his side, his rugged, strong face was all
aglow with light and joy when be clasped
him again, and his greeting was hardly
less warm to the shy, timid girl who had
come to them from her desolated home.
Ere many days had passed, Faith had won
her way IsiTly into the hearts of the old
people who were trying to lessen the grief
that seemed to prey so heavily upon her,
aud soon her merry laugh rang out as she
shook the old pear trees until the fruit tell
in a golden shower, or gathered the fresh
currants from the bushes at the far edge OF
the long garden. Her sweet voice chlmed
in as the father read the Bible lesson,
morning and night, and in the pew at
church she nestled down close be-
side Mrs. Wilbur, who was i'm
mensely proud OF her. But Ethan
could not rest quietly while his comrades


were dying and suffering and the weak


force was needing him every hour, and
impatiently he waited the moment to go.
The feeling of bitterness was growing
more intense, ard fl ON bereaved hearts
were the prayers ascending for the success
Of the little army that was so brave and
vet so powerless to resist the tyranny OF


the oppressors. The Tories were hated
and despised, and estrsngement and aver
sion were taking the place of the friend
ships and hospitality of other days. Little
| Faith knew not for whom or what to
pray. OF her father she had not heard,
and she only knew that her mother had


watched and waited for news from the
royal army, and had palod when she


heard OF defeat, and had wept silent, bitter
/ tears when the wounded and dead were
multiplied. Put away carefully among


her treasures Was the picture OF hand
some man, wearing the uniform of an


officer, and upon whose face had fallen the


kisses of wife and child. 1t seemed as ii


her heart would break when Ethan told


her goodbye and left her to go to the
/ army. She clung to him and besought
him TO take her with him or else 10 stay


with her there, and was only quieted when
/ he promised her that if she would stay
with her mother and wait for him, be


would surely come back for her. He


kissed her goodbye, down by the gnarled


old pear tree, and comtorted her with the
thought that he should ever remember
her as waiting for him at the old trystinR
place. With a "God bless you"
| from father and mother he was
| off brave and happy and
hopsful, and yet with sadder thoughts, as
/ ne looked back to see the slender form
that leaned against the heavy gate, until


he disappeared far down the dusty road.
He had no time for sadness, though for
many weary miles did the army march


and cNuntermarch, leading the enemy


hard chase, losing men in every skirmish,


or leaving them wounded and suffering at
/ 81 e., hot har dafd R1ff


every engagement the news came home
| that Ethan Wilbur was doing good service
/ for his country and wss gradually win
ming honor and fame for himself. The


tide seemed surging toward the old home,


and he dreaded, for the loved ones there,


the horror aud shock of battle, though


he trusted his company would be sent in


advance. He knew full well the desperate
character of the enemies they would meet
| for they were renowned as being equally
the strongest and the most blood hirsty OF
any in the state. They were veterans and
well drilled, while to oppose them was but
handful of volunteers, neither used to
long marches nor the msneuvers OF the
/ field, and despite his most fervent hopes,
he knew that many a one would fall before
the steady fire they must face. In an open
/ fight not so much was to be dreaded, but
/ he feared ambushes and strategy. Nearer
and nearer they came, marching rapidly to
prevent the capture of an important point,
until at last one night, too weary and worn
| for farther progress, they sank exhausted,
their condition forcing rest they scarcely
dared to lose the time to take.


Mr.. and Mrs. Wilbur had heard the ru-


mors of the near approach of each army
| but could hardly credit it, and did not
dread the impending danger with so much


anxiety as if they had realized how close
about them the lines were forming. Their


home had never been disturbed, and they


went on about their work with composure


Not so with Faith, to her every idle tale was
solemn truth and she listened breathlessly
to every word she could catch from the
chance gossip. II Ethan was coming home
she was happy, but If to gain home he
must run any risk, she would not call him


to her, though to longer wait was agony.
One day she wandered from the shade of
the old pear tree, where she would bring
her sewing and sit and think of her father
and brother las she called Ethan), over
/ the pasture down to the spring, where
among the huge rocks she could always
| dnd the flowers aHd moss. Hidden among
them she heard the sound of horses hoofs,
and listening she caught the voices that


were SOON near her. The round cheeks
10 t the color, the lips grew pallid, and the
young girl seemed changed to stone so n o.
tionless did she crouch until the woId


were fainter and fainter, and were aJ last
/ lost in the distance. Then over bill aud


pasture, through the woods and by the
lane, she ran until she reached home an


burst into the kitchen where Ms. Wiiour


sat reading aloud, 'Ob, the Tories are COM
ingl" she fairly shrieked "they are going


to lie in ambush up the road at the 'big


stones,' and they will kill Ethsn.


Captain Stsndish Is camped not


tar from there and they are
are to come on at daybresk, and they will
all ba murdared unless I warn tnam -


"You, chiIdi o II my limbs were not so
crippled, could take your place. There's


none we can send, every man is gone, and


they would mistrust every body who would


pass; If. as you say they have guarded the
road, can you go, Fsith7" eyes, to save
Ethan could die. 1 will ride as far as /
can, and will slip spsst them. / know
| the wsY. But must start SOON or I,lI be