OLLTIIIN 19,
OETRY AND MISCELLANY,
n s 31IP Or NATURE.
no J. 0. nn i iltlTlCß.
Theocrat; looketh up to . heavett,
As 'twere a living thing;
The homage of its nave Is given
In ceaseless worshiping.
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They kneel upo ) n the sloping sand
As bends the human knee;
• A beautiful and tirelevs band—
The priesthood of the sea.
'They pour the gl hieing treasure rout
Which in the deep have birth;
.And chaunt thei ri awful hymns about
The watchin things of earth. .
The green earth sends its incense up
Froni every ni l initaln shrine—
From every ilonfer and dewy cup
That greeleth the sun thine.
'I lie rnists.nre l Ilted front the rills.
Like the whitt n ingot prayer;
They lean ahoy the mime lent hills.
An doing homage there.
'flue forest tops are lowly cast
eyer breezy hill and glen,
As m a prayerfu' spirit passed
on nature as on men.
la wee o'er the fallen world,
Vereas repen ant lone;
ilre to the blessed breele unfurled
They fade in light above.
'The sky it iv a temple's arch—
The blue and nnavy air
I. Rlollolls thi the spirit march
Uf inciiengei4 at prayer.
gentle main, the kindling %utt
The many stars are given.
A. blame! to bUrn earth's Incense on
-1 1 altar-cas of Ilea, en.
Regulars and Continenta!si
T. alc of the tlctio'nticil.,
FT ROBE ItT j F. IMF:I.I.LT
[coNt.MAit th]
wa• - oli the 19th day ' of April.•l7ls, that the first
• .ve blow wai struck in fever of _American bide-
Thu British commandant. General , G .ge,
;rag learned that the Aniericans had collected milita
wires at Concord, sent a detachment ~1 iegulers to
theta, but Pray tie tee interposed a sign il obstacle
the aevompq , ltnicitt of hit intentions. The llrimh
ircht. tl a, far upon their intended route r.s the town of
:Ileginn, 0 hen the first signs of opposition manifested
:melees. 1" cl they maintained an unbroken front,
! marched vteadil onward, until ut last, from the ad
from the principal streets, as well as from
..- smallest lanes rind by -wars, from lioustL and hovel,
sitatlll of Maud ineui'trith determination strongly
'e'f,tl upon their, countiances, came lorth to meet
:r .pet them. Ties, tallied CanlC the "tug iit tear."
aitrilcrous 11,e wets poured down upon the advancing
'elms I root the indoWs, the house-tops, the fences
-a,n every place, iu fact, sv here shelter could be found.
•ti old men, women, mail children assisted in the work
..!ostruction; while the younger and more athletic, dis
•l
migconcealinent, rushed upon 11113 dijo:d-rid lank,
!with clubbed muskcti, iu the face of rt deadl3
,e them back until all order was destroyed and Brttisit
olurs, for the firat time in their lives, wore bent like
'son roedi beforetho pros ess,of Yankee Contineltak.
0 the infuriated offiners endeavored with front c
. ...res to encourage their 'men in tho face of this unev
-,ed imposition; the) w ivered, tinned and broke, and
yih fled in all quarters,' leavi ig an immense portion
iarir numbers dead upon the ensanguined field. It
a %id day for the AiiiericanS; fur, notwahstanding
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,;,moue victory which they had obtained, many of
-.r number had bitten tl,u dust, and iu every direction
~es were weeping 'for l their hush - rinds, childien Jur
'a parents, mothers for their young, and lovers for the
liar it was a great blow in favor of
iseil tt must have convinced our British oppressors
.• in antis ip,ting an etisy conquest of the country,
• v.er but buthling'castles in the, air. That found
i.t':•) had to deal with l augher material than the) tin
„l.td, and adapted their inaterials and strengthened
e• rr.eiireas accordingly. The results of this action
•ic:h!.tll; chronicled by the lltsto;ian:—'•Thu torch
• sd war being thus lighted lip, the colonists llew4o
as it tic conceit, and assumed the title ofV,a,'
cr...! Star, .1 trt:ric(i, whosio affairs were to be rit ,
Congraxs called from the people. This licitly,
• reim ,, elit.itives instantly pas , od resolutions for raising
arm), for atom;; a paper currency for a,: payment
1 fur all importations to those places still
ainsming t ithitil a their allegiance to the CION nof
(Mat Hi q,a111."
c' A few t;;eelts after Ns engagement, the British arctic
Amettra was r•trengtli'pned by a large reinforcement,
sell arrived from England, under the command of
Golorals Howe, Burgo3 i ne, and Clinton. Martial law
cis now proclaimed, butl i the Congress was nut easily in•
:swish* and, voting that the compact between the
"+Act and the inhabitants - of Massachusetts Bar was
yo:reil, they reentnrnolaleti that province to resume iLs
c ,,, rtered Sovenil mouths passed . by without any
yorisiit muvernents, in s this direction, on either side.—
roe interval was occupid by that branch of tho British
mt in forming an elabOrato plan for the ensuing cam
hilt. the .Imericims quietly prepard themselves
r the coining strugalo. As further hostilities word now
espeeted, the Americans, that they might se
"t', , Charleston, sent a ( ( detachment of men nt night to
erect rote considerable ,Works at Bunker's 11111. When .
t.r . ,rec operations IA ere di l scovered in the morning. a lien
,: lire 13a commenced irom the enemy's ships,.und the
‘llerican., having exp l ended their ammunition; were
v.ren itdb great difficulty from their intrenchments by
rincrabt Howe and Pigot; but it was not until the Brit
"n had 10‘t half their number, and the Americans, having
cnh the butts of their muskets, or their bayonets to rely
upon, had be-cane totally exhausted, that they yielded
the hard lough ground. On their own side, the Amo
rYans lost many, among whom was General Warren,
wh o died fighting bravely in the thickest of the action.
After the lintle they coded to Americans this victory.
History ha, con-throw up works on another hill opposite,
and the Britißlitroops wont closely invested in the ponie
s lit.
The General Congress published a very animated dec
ination, in a inch their I mogene: for taking arms were as
.,gned. and the objects for whi4h they contended pointed
tut. They also appointed Geirge 'Washington general
and rot rnandor-in-olrief of trio American forces (July
The intlitary skill evinced by this distin- ,
to,thed sphfier in the lait war t , When he commanded dif
ret`at"d" of Prfirincials, as well as conduct towards
.b 1 fellow•m en in all his relations towards them, fully
O rilirtiality of his countrymen. Another pe
"11011 In the King was also reed by Congress, in which
they penettly besought his Majesty to adopt some meth
0d of polling a stop to the contest; hut this petition, tho'
rr " ^ "led by Mr. Penn, late governor, and one of the
Proprietor s of l'ennsylvMtia, obtained no answer.
In the meantime the Americans prepared for every
event, and animated with the enthusiasm of a People
r endendin g for Id ett, no longer conned themselves to
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defenrive 'operations: Ticonderoga and Crown Point
had already been taken by a party of Americans, with
Ethan Allen for a guide, and it was determined to fit out
en expedition against Canada, under Generals Mont
doinery and Arnold; but in au attempt 'against Quebec
Major GeneraNtichard Montgomery fell, and Arno'd,
after being dangerously wounded, was compelled to
make a precipitate retreat. •
It was upon one of these occasions, when Washington
Was holding a consultation with his officers relative to
the plan elan expected engagement, that the term Bio
titer Jortathan'obtained its origin. Jonathan Trumbull
the alder, Governor of the State of Connecticut, being
present- 7 a person in whom the General placed the great
est reliance—Washington, being in some perplexity,
exclaimed, "We must consult Brother Jonathan on the
subject." He did so, and the result having justified the
npplic: tiers, The term became a bLeword throughout the
country.
But we are all this while foottinz our hero and hero
ine. In orderto keep pace, therefore, 14111.06 r pro
ceedings, the reader pardon us for going back a
little in our narrative.
Although three months bad fled since tho'dnte of his
first introduction to the reader, over Walter Maynard had
Come a change as,marked as it was unaccountable. The
transition film] good to bad had been' exemplified iu his
case in a roost rapid and extraordinary manner. Natu
rally of an idle and inert disposition, he hod hailed with
secret pleasnie the approach of the British army as a
meant of retrieving his fallen fortunes; for his idle dis
pos;tion had become so well known to the people- of the
neighborhood in which he formerly lived, that none of
t hem would consent to give him employment. Mr.
Ashl4, Lucy's father, had been tho last to cast off the
profligate, and Walter Maynard. With his innate love of
display, and his passion for money, found an opppertunity
for the gratification of isstlt in the tenyting induce meats
held 'put by the British commander to.all who' would de
sert the ranks of the rebels fur those of the. king. With
his usual shortsightedness, Maynard looked upon the final
overthrow and . conquest of Vie colonists as very certain,
and did nut hesitate, therefore, to attach himself to that
side which promised the most glorious results: Ile ap
plied for, and obtained the rank of sergeant in one of the
infantry regiinents of the lino, and immediately entered
with his comrades into all the dissipated habits and
unbridled indulgences which, too frequently mark the
course of the soldier in an enemy's country. In a short
time he lost what tittle self-respect ire had retained, and
was quite hurtleted to all sense of shame arid duty.
This mist-Ike' young man had, early in life, conceived
a passion for Lu .y Ashley. This passion, he had kept
close locked within his own breast—not even daring to
[disclose it to the object which had inspired it, knowing
too well the bent of her inclinations in favor of his former
playmate. Edgar Wallis. But now that ho bed rank
and money; now that hOINI9 0-king's officer of 'infant
ry. itisteati of a home-spats, hard-working continental,
he began to entertain some hopes of changing the di
rection of the girl's seutinients. Having Mintiest, ou
one occasion, more than his usual allowance of the ar
dent. Nlzi :hard sought tho dwelling of his former friend
and lit niactor. , .
The captivity of her lover caused in Lucy, as may be
well cenceivvd, the Most poignant regrets; but the'vcc
tories obtaioad by her countrymen' bad animated her
with confidentc, and As did not doubt that his liberation
would shortly be ell' , ..cted. 1•. Was ivhile pondering upon
having strolled by herself unconsciously to some distance
from the cottage. was surprised and shocked by the ap
pearanle of an otlicer in scarlet uniform, who was rapid
ly coming up the lune. She would have fled, hut 'he
beckoned her to stay, and a latent hope of hearing sonic
news of her lover caused her to conquer her repuganuce
and remain. She was surprised still more, when in the
features of the intruder, she recognized those of Walter
Maynard. She hesitated, and would have turned hack,
but he detained her by placing himself in her way.
"Miss Ashley, to leak to avoid mo is useless; I have
taken gmat troah:a AI run inony rises to proenro this
interview, and you mist hear me."
"Must hoar you, 1 1 / 4 her Maynard?—most!" she re
joined, with a look of contempt: "I am the daughter of
an Arneiican patriot, and scorn to be dictated to by one
Who, fur paltry lucre, has betrayed his country. Out of
my path, sir, or I shall call 010/3 WhO will put it out of
your power to insult ins further."
"Lucy Ashley," replied Maynard, artfully, "you aro n
high-minded-Iml honorable girl, and I prepared myself
forsallt a receinie3 a 3 this aro I. 811111 m )nod the resolu
tion to present myself to you. - Whether, I feel any re
grets for.the steps which I have taken, it matters not now
to ma); I hay(' marked out a coarse, and must pursue it
wherever it. may It al tne."
••What! ef it lead to Aline and an ignomenious death?
Walter Maynaid, it is not yet too late: you have taken,
but the initiatory step, and can easily retract, if so dis
posed. In spite of your error, by joining the ranks of
your countr3 men, you may yet become an honor to the
cause of justice and humanity; for believe me, _Walter,
it is-hatter to die furhting for the holy boon of Freedom
than to have time finger of scorn pointed nt the page on
which your treachery will ho inscribed."
"Lucy, I have thought a great deal over thb;; in tak
i'fig up arms to resist our King, are we not planing the
part of traitors to the allegiance wo owe hint?"
"Man owes uo nllegitince to t3ranny," she replied,
warnil; "to One, alone, should his allegiance be ten
dered, and I think, Walter, if you had been convinced,
of this great troth you nould not have octed as you have•
But why nro yen beret _ Is, it," eho (me-Wined, her
voice trembling with ans.iety as she spoke, `•is it for the
purpose of betraying those who have covered you with
benefits?"
"Your opinion of me must ho poor, indeed,'! he an
sx•ered, •' if you think that I could stoop to such base-
ness?"
" What, then, can be 'your object here?"
"What? Luc}•, do you not guess it?"
"It relates to Edgar!" she exclaimed eagarly, while
her brow became suddenly suffused.
"No—no," ho replio4 hastily,. and with a frown
"No? W'hat•thon. can it be!"
" Ivey." ho said, "my time is brief, and you must
school yourself to listed to me, even though my com
munication be an unpleasant ono. I ask but your pa
tience for a few seconds, 'and I Warn you beware how
you refuse me: for I have means and influence, and
with sufficient provocation might do harm."
"What means this strange language? I do not COM
priihond you," she raid; with a bewildered air.
"I can easily make myself understood, then. In brief,
Lncy Ashley, from childhood up to this hour you have
been the`chorishod object of my secret thoughts. Never
for a moment, through all nir frivolities and, chance,
has the hope of winningyou deserted me. Nay,' hear me,
further," he continued, seeing she Was about to speak;
"when I was a poor orphan boy, and hardly dared to lift
my eyes to- ours, for I was dependant for my daily bread
upon your father, I trembled
,at the sound of your light
footstep, and the lowest neto of your musical voice found
an echo is every chamber of my palpitating heart. .You
could not see this agitation, for your love had been given
early to another. But I—l witnessed every change of your
angelic countenance, and with a toyer's instinct gueirsed
the esuse.Thnarked how your cheek, when you thought
no one was obierving you, woAld flush at the more men-
SATURDAY MORNING,; MAY 5, 1849,
lion of the name of Edgar Wallis; I observed how it
thrilled your frame when he took your hand in his owns
but I was silent, for what was I but a sort?" Foi a
moment he paused, in reality overcome by this burst of
genuine feeling, but soon conquering his emotion, he
resumed inn changed tone—" All this I saw, and yet
spoke not the secret thoughts that glowed like stilled
embers deeßwithin Rio, But now the case is different.
I have rank, money and powerful friends, through whom
I hope to . „ gain a station worthy the ambition of a man.
Edgar Wallis has given himself, body and soul, to his
conntry's welfare, and can never be yours: f instead; then
of dooming 3 mired/to perpetual slavery as a farmer's
wife, be mine, and adorn a station for which your man
ners so etnittontly qualify you."
He ceased; and for a second's space there was deep
and unbroken silence. Aitounded at the turn his reve
lations had taken, Lucy at first scarce knew how to ec-
press herself. At length she spoke, and all the fire and
enorgy'of her American nature became manifest as she
replied:
"Walter Maynard, it is said that there are feelings in
human nature too deep for utterance; and such is my
scorn for you! Ask mo to become your bride? Ask me,
rather to forget all ties of consanguinity and friendAiP,
to betray those who aro nearest and dearest to me! Sir,
I am the'daug,liter of a patriot, and as such Can give yon
only my unqualified contempt!" •
"Beware, beware, Lucy Ashley=, how you provoke me
I em a close friend but an implacable enemy."
.•
"Lo! how a moment changes you! Is this the voice
hat a moment since pleaded sa eloquently in a lover's
n:cont? But why waste I the minutes thus? Walter
Maynard, you have my answer; he who can betray his
friend and devise the destructkin of a benefactor's hap
piness, is no fit match for Lucy Ashley."
"Go, then, proud girl'! he exclaimed, In a sudden fit
of passion; "and remember my words. It was no idle
boast I made to you, and soon'you'll learn to regret the
course you have taken! Walter Maynard, as a farmer's:
boy, was poor and defenceless; as a Brittsh officer, he is
not to be insulted with impunity!"
And while L cy, without further words, retraced her
steps towards her father's cottage, Maynard, with rage
and jealousy tugging at his heartstrings, made his way
rapidly in the direction. of the British camp.
Lucy's first imptilse, on regaining her home, was' to
,communicate to her father all that had occurred during
her brief absence: but ho ouiy laughed at her fears, and
bade her think no - more of them. Notwithstanding all
thia,,Lney's misg:vings did not abando i her, and when
she retired to seek her pillow, it was with a heavy and
drooping heart. About tninnight she -was awakened
from hell sleep by the report of fire-arms: only to find her
worst Opp ( 0110119i0119 realized. The appartment was
filed with le glire of II tme's each ham the burning cot
tages, and the night was rendered Itiedous by ,the
screams of violated women and the groans of dying men.
Rapid discharges of musketry, lidded to the infernal ha
voc which prevailed. Hastily thr l briing a rube about her
person, Lucy forgetful of her own safety, was proceeding
in an agony of mind to arouse her parents, when the
1 door of her apartment flew open - with a stunning crash,
and Walter Maynard, with a long knife dripping with'
blood, brandished in his hand, and his face begrimmed
with powder, dashed into the room .
"My parents—where are they?" she almost screamed,
flying towards him, and clutching' desperately at his
clothes. regardless of his knife. "I lave you slain them.
- 11 P. ore now the sappliant:" no lutetium
savngely; "look, girl! this steel has drank the blood of
tither and mother; had you been wise. a gingko word
would have saved the hamlet; but you laughodio scorn
my Warning, and 1 havo kept my promise! Como—the
house is burning about our head.; come, if you would
not add yourself to the number of the victims!"
•• A fierce crackling wis heard :Linen tie rafters ns
he spoke, but Lacy Ashley heard not hie last words. At
the announcement of her parents' murder, sho had ut
tered a piercing shriek, and fallen prostrate at ike feet of
the assassin. Lifting her easily from the floor, Maynard
rushed down the stairs, followed by a volume "of flame
and smoke, and plating his insensible charge upon a
horse, and leaping up behind her, ho sounded the call
for - a retreat. The scone lately so pleasant, was now hor
rible to look upon. The glare of flickering embers, min
gled with the moon beams, and a black cloud hung like
a spirit of evil omen upon the spot. Ensanguined Corp.
SV.9 of men. women and children, butchered ore they had
fairly awakened from their sleep, strewed the ground in
all directions, intermingled with fragments of clothes
pieces of broken furniture,_ Heedless of this horrible
scene, Maynard spurred away front the place of Slaugh
ter, and in a few hours reached the security of the Ba
lkh camp. Here he spent the remainder of the night hr
drinking and debauchery, and when the reveille was
sounded, it find him still at his revel. The trudi 'is,
ho was afraid his conscience might reproach him, and
Inns sought to drown it.
The news of this awful calamity spread far and wide
throughout the province, and a thousand sturdy souls
were speedily in arms to avenge this indiscriminaie mas
sacre of their countryman and countrywomen. Tho
British officers of the small detachment to which May
nard belonged were 'in high carousal and song, on the
night succeeding this affair, when the first signs of attack
were heard. The Confinehats burst upon them from all
sides with en impetuosity which nothing could with
stead. They disshnrged their pieces, and, without wait- I
ing to reload them, rushed into the mitlee with clubbed I
muskets, bayonets, and even pruning kniveio and sickles. I
Luckily for Maynard, ho had been dispatched to Boston,
with letters for the commandant, by his Colonel, and ta- I
ken Lucy, for safe keeping, along with bun—intending
to leave her at the house of an abandoned relative until a
more favorable opportunity should occur for the renewal
of his odious offers. Thl result of the affray can hard
ly be doubted, Surprised at the ferocious hearing of
their foes, the British officers were the first to fly, and the
inen soon scattered on every side, leaving their arms and
ammunition to the victors. Many were slain, and after
a brief though savage conflict of only fifteen minutes
duration, the Continentals remained masters of the
bloody seine. Among the American prisoners liberated
by this vigorous effort was Edgar Wallis; thanks to the
inhumanity of Walter Maynard, he had already been in
formed of the fate of the Ashley family, and his first
movement on quitting the place of his captivity, was to
seek the place where he had spout so many happy hours.
It was moonlight whoa the young continental arrived at
the familiar spot; but oh! how changed and desolate it
was. A heap of stnouldeing embers marked th e site of
the once peaceful cottage, and Edgar, going down upon
his knees over the funeral pyre of his friends, s wore a
fearful oath not to abandon the cause until he had aven
ged their wrongs, or lain himself beside them. In the
midst of his audible reflections another person stepped
upon the scene, and slapped him upon the back address.:
od him in a tone which evinced, that he was no stranger
to the kneeling:youth.
"That's bravely said, my lad!" exclaimed the new
comer, who wore the continental uniform. and appeared
to hold the mak of sergeant; "many's the time I have
prophesied that the hand which could raise itself to pro
beet a bird's nest from destruction, as thine once did,
would not be loth to draw the blade in' defence of Ile
country. Yon shall go with mo to the camp; there is
Dot a soul that will not be glad to welcroe you as a
brother!"
rirONWARD.AEI
"Is !you, friend Rolfe? At such a time no voice
could l 0 more welcome; tho tenor of your words And/
1 an echo in my thoughts; with whom do you 'onto?"
"Wilt the gallant Warren. to•be-sure; he's the lad for
all etnorgencies like this, and under him, we are certain
of a Tbtory. Come—what do you soy? Will you go
with no?" - ,2
"Ms instant, Rolfe; you will not find me an unarall . -
ing tithistant. although I do lack somewhat in age and
-3 `experiince. If 1 could harbor ono thought of cowar
dice. tlis scene would make me marble"
"I'kkow .your spirit well, boy, and it was therefore
that I mtno hither to seek you."
"lbw know you I should bodiere?"
"Tla captive• bird. when released, always flies to the.
nest that reared it Besides. I know your affection fur e
certaindatnsal, who once dwelt hereabouts. and having
missed yen during the scriurige. I felt certain of finding
von lure."
*'Fo• God's sake, namo her not again!" ho replied.
distractedly; "one thought of her who is now i s heaven
would tuunun me!"
"Cone, thou, Edgar Wallis;, fame, 1 sae, has marked
you for her owu, and though it shisuld be your fato to fall
in the next affray, posterity will not fail to give jou credit
for the g l ood intent."
Edgar bestowed one farewell glance upon the scene
whereon his fondest hopes lay buried. and then. taking
tho aro t kindly - proferred him by Rolfe, the two contil
tu;ntalt hurried together from the spot.
Sholly after the events above detailed, occurred the
memirablo battle of Bunker Hill, already described.—
Edgar Wallis was foremost in tbe ranks of his country
men, Ind by his hardihood and daring won the admira- ,
tion of all who observed his efforts. He sought no rank I
—he cesired no emoluments; but, armed with a deadly
rifle, it the use of which he was well skilled, and loosely
clad ii shirt and trouser. his dark hair streaming care
lessly .n the wind, he travesed the scene of wide-spread
carnne like a revenging 'demon, and dealt death and
desolation wherever an opport4nity presented itself for
the display of his prowess. Ha became a mark for the
balls of the enemy, and bullets flew about him thick as
hail; )it ho heeded them not. but \ passed on amid the
~;
storm as though protected by some I igher power. Even
Warren noticed him and prgise hi courage . A me- 1
mulct After, the brave generaf fel , rtally wounded; but
the rid .E
e of .11gar Wallis reven ed his full. A week after
this pung Wallis received a I ieutenant's commission,
and immediately betook him. elf to the task of raising I
reeruls for the-patriot service.
On a lowering night, not long after this bloody trans
action, a group of British officers were congregated in a
- canteen, or drinking chop, situated in the suburbs of the
city of Boston; they were engaged in various ways—
some irohibbig, sonic playing tat lords or dice, and al-'
most all of them smoking. ; The greatest confusion pre
vailed. as a matter of course, and among the noisest of
the party was Walter Maynard, since elevated to the dig
iiity of a lietunant. He was ono of the players at dice;
and after playing for some time, with seemingly indif
ferent luck, tin epithet applied to him by an F.nglisikof
fieer stung him to the quick. In allusion to something
he had said, the Englishman remarked to the effect that
a traitor to his country should consider himself honored
in being admitted to such company. All the evil pas
sions of Maynard were roused •in him by this taunt.—
Withont reflection he raised train the table tile heavy
pewter mug front \\ which he had rem drinking, and
wr.V
ld,itatiV. orAllafit.foreasst.t.ho.beti _of , his antagonist,
the blood flowing copiously front n g:tpi ng Wound in the
forehead. The injured officer was instantly carried from
the apartment, and Walter Maynard had a dozen duels
upon! his bonds. In; the midst of the fierce conversa
tion, occasioned by this scone, the door again opened,
and a pedler, coverod'with deist, and bearing before hint,
suspeodod from a band which passed round his neck, a
boa filled with trinkets and jewelry of all descriptionS,
rolls of tobacco, &e. &c., adorned,with a number of the
printed ballads of the day, entered the crowded apart
: mcnt.
"Hero you are, gentleman; make a trade. if you're
wise; such chances don't offer every dny in one's lifo;
I've jewelry of every description for your sweethearts,
keepsakes for absent friends, and pistols for peseta ene
mies; or, if you prefer, l'vo got u fresh,assortment of
rhymes containing hits at rebels. of cetera, et cetera.
Mikeyour trade, gent lem en —nnike your trade."
done with your senseless jargon." exclaimed the
hostess, approaching the indict.; "there is neiso enough
already without your bawling. Come—tramp." •,
As she 'approached the scenting podlor, the latterin
elined his head and whispered in her car. The °Foot
of Ins communication was miraculonst.the worthy host
ess shaded her eyes with her hands, and drew a stow or
two back, to tnke n better scrutiny—finally; bursting into
a hearty : laugh, which was checked by a significant mo
tion of the other.
"Well, well, for this once you may stay," she ex
claimed aloud, addressing the pedlar; "so put down your
traps, an•l you shall have a canitin of flip to refresh your
inner being. Gentlemen," she continued, turning to the
officers, "though you may not feel disposed to trafic for
trafic's sake, yet here is an old neighbor of mine,l Jonas
Vanseeten, who for a consideration will give you ifuy in
formation yon may desire concerning the rebels now en
camped on Bunker's 1-1111 "
There was a geniral 'movement towards the pedlar at
these words, and in a brief time almost every elide in
his assortment had been purchased and-paid fur, so great
was the general desire for news.
"Doubtless you know all that is transacting ;at this
moment within the rebel camp," said an officer, who.
from Ids foppish air, could be no other than the ono to
whom Edgar Wallis had been so unceremoniously intro
duced upon a former occasion.
"I should ho blind as a mole and deaf as my grand-
mother Magery, who has not had her hearing these three
years, poor Boni, if did not pick up sornothing during
my peregrinations." And ho began singing, or rather
channting, in rt whining voice, from one of the ballads—
•"O11! the md coats they turned out
For to march to Concord town.
But the continentals made them route
At bloody Lexington!"
"Cense your Concord and Lexington—a few. suck
songs as that, in the British camp, might cost you your
life, friend pedler."
..•They must catch me first; and after all I don't think
they'd harm me. On • the word of a pedler, five times
have I had my nook within the halter, but I'm of so lit
tle consequence, they can't find-it in them to harm me,
and so let me go. Ah! those continentals are funny
devils. If I had but the knack of making shoes, I could
make then my stepping-stono to fortune—that could I
—providing they had the money to pay for their soleing."
And he again struck off with—
..it was In the month or June
,-
That the continentals came
• To Outtket's Height all in the night.
Of which nowt, did dream;
And on'the height they built a fort,
And Called it a redoubt.
put the teems came from Chorleston neck,
And made 'em turn nbout."
This unexpected conclusion tickled - the officers so
muck that thq requested. for lack of something better
to elotP l °Y their time. to hear the remainder of this sin
gular sr cimen of versification—probably the work of
the pedier hiC4self.
"They do say that the continentals fought like devisl
Incarnate," continued the pedler, "and that by right the
victory should have been theirs; but it's always natural
for the whipped rooster to crow, and it were cruel to deny
them that consolation—
"Then the British they began
To and the Yankees up to snuff,
they gathered to a man,
And swore to swath the blue and bej•
• They nettled dew h. Boston WWII.
And the want of work to do.
They congregate at taverns
Smoke cigars and play at loo."
"lie! ha! he has us, Paid'!" exclaimed the Colonel,
good-humoredly.
**But a Coll.-forsaken youth,- -
Walter /itaynaid was hit name,—
lie went and fined the Regulars.
I sing it to his shame;
gage him a commission.
And they gave him storm! of gold,—
Ohl I-wouldn't have his character
Forriebes all untold." _
"What's That?—who used my name?". askid May
nerd. savagely, emerging from tho chimney-corner, where
he had been seated, puffing his pipe and chewing the
cud of bitter fancy, like a baffled tiger. Bat the,,pedler;
seemingly not aware of the interruption, went o t us be
fore—
"Ile went unto a hank%
... AlLon.a_quict night, '
Wiienithe summer breeze was playing.
And the moon a shining bright,—
Ando scare of men in uniforms, ,
v s , Broke down each cottage door,
And many noble fellows . .
Bit the dtm to rise no more."
"But all this was nothing to the sequel; fur this traitor.
Maynard, panting for revenge on a family by the name
of Ashley, sat fire to their cottage. and
"Stealing like a guilty thing .
Into the quiet hall,
He drew hisknife, and in cold blood -,: ; ,
Be murdered one and all!"
til s
"It is f 'lse—false pi IIIJ lying tongue that says it," ex
claimed I\ aynard, stung to the soul by the reproach con
veyed into looks of his brother officers. -,
,"The fa her and the mother I killed, 'tis true: but the
daughter lives to defy me still!" Allelic fell into a chair,
frothing et the mouth with contending pagsions. - 2
"Here, p i edler," said the Colonel, approaching, "hero
v
is gold for ow hut leaVe this houselimmediately, or, not,
withstandi m g my protection, I cannot answer fur the con-
sequences
Mutteri tg his-thanks, the pedler swallowed his can of
flip, and t iade ltis exit, - followed by the hostess, who
wished, aS sho said, to take care of her property, for pea
pie had so altered oriole, there was no telling who to
trust!
"Aro you mad to peril yourself thus, by venturing in
, 1.3 the very den of the outraged lien?" sho asked, when
they were beyond sight and hearing. '
•••Tush!" he replied; "there is an old adage, you know
that wall's have ears, end should we be overheard, the
result would not be pleasant for either Of us. Suffice it,
Mother Terrill, that I am hero on secret duty, and shall
look to you to render me 01l the information you may ob-.
tain, When you eau do so without peril to yourself. Adieu!
I will visit you shortly again."
And saying this, Sergeant Rolfe (for he it was) turned
down an adjacent alley, and was immediately lost to
sight. Hurrying onwaid with what speed he might,
Rolfe traversed many bYc-ways and sinuous passages,
[ until he had almost made tho circuit of the city, until at
einu.ttt .11e.slm to it, daud w h ose
l'of cement, bore a strong resemblance to a beggar's gar
! mom. Here ho entered, and ascending to the •Itighess
floor, found himself presently in a low, cheerless looking
room, where, on abed which occupied one of the corners,
was stretched a fignre,Whieh, owing to the cunningness
of the ditigulse, few would have recognized for Edgar
Wallis. His head was boututup with a piece of soiled
cotton, and his fare, colored by some liquid preparation,
I
had the hue of death.
"Well, my poor invalid, how fares it with thee, to-
night?—art still alive?" asked Rolfe, jocosely, while be
disencumbered himself of his pedling apparatus. ,
"Ns well as can be expected, enswothed like h umm-
I my in fifty bandages, and half tureen to a pickle in dils
and balsams," replied Edgar, leaping vigorously from
I -
the bed, while his comrade fastened the door. "If this
treatment comes not shortly to en end, I shall become an
. invalid in sober fAct. But, tell mo.,what have you loaru
ed during your absence?"
"Something that will not fail to interest you, or I am
no judge of character." repliod Rolfe, seating himself.—
"Lucy, as I surmised, is a prisoner here in Boston, and
by the exertion of a little ingenuity we can, doubtless,
manage to obtain an interview with her. But the at
tempt must bcr'conductod with extreme caution."
"In what manner is this to be effected?"
'Ma! thou art but a dull block in affairs of Otis kind,
Master Edgar; had it boon sainc lovers, they'd ha' found
their way ero this to thy mistress' chamber, I warrant
me!"
••I confess my unfitnbss for the task, good Rolfe, and
consider myself, in truth, lucky in the having of such an
assistant. But come, let us hear your suggestions; lam
all impatience."
"Well, then, the plan I should purpose is this: that you
disguise yourself as a servant to same officer in 1116 Brit
ish seririce, for which - I can readily obtain the neccessar)-
ttniforni; and by loitering nbout the house in which she
ie kept confined, you can easily, on pretence of being the
bearer of a letter from your master—which you may allow
to be read—obtain admission to her presence. Once
. there, you will find plans enough to effect her liberation,
trust me l"
"It is a capital suggestion." said Edgar. "and I shall
immediately avail myself of it."
Accordingly. before sunrise, Rolfe bad procured the
necessary ilieguiie, and written a letter purporting to
come from Colonel Beaufort, tlio 'officer mentioned in
the tavern-scene between Maynard and the pedler. At
the proper time Edgar sallied forth froni the wretched
domicile. and hurriedly took his wet towards the house
which Rolfe had designated as the one which 'contained
his betrothed—he leaving obtained that information fre m
Mistress Terrill, hostess of the Red Lion inn. Fortune .
Seemed in every rospect to favor our hero's plans: ho ar- ,
rived at the dwelling, and way suffered to pass freely o
the mere mention of his errand. • At the moment of his
intrusion. Lucy—somewhat worn by her recent trials—
was seated at. a window commanding a view of the
American entrenchments on Bunker's Hill, end did not
observe, in her abstractions. his sudden entrance. al
though, had she known that the object of her present
thoughts was so near to her, she would not long have re
tained the air of melancholy indifference with which she
greeted the seeming lacquey as he entered. Edgar. for
getful of his disguise. was rushing towards her for the
putpozo of enfoltliag her in his arms. when she repelled
him. Surprised and confounded at.this cold reception.
he drew back, -exclairiting..—
"This from thee, Lucy: l'did not look for such a cold
rebuff from the:" .• .
Lucy gazed on him earnestly for an instant, and threw
herself with a low cry into his arms.
"Edgar!" she esobbed, "how could you expect that I
could recognize von under such a transformation? Did
you think so little of my conatancy.as to believe, me cap
able of swerving?"
"Forgive me, dearest. but in my anxioty I totally for•
- -
got my disguise." removing the trig and cep as ho spoke'
"Let tie. howeirer, forget every thing but the means of
releasing you from your duress°, of which, I doubt pt.
you arerheartilc tired,"
"tau Inky° arrived most opportunely," elm rejoined,
•"for Walter 'Maynard, tho 'eauste.both of your sutreringe
and mine, has just come to town, and I am hourly dread
ing hilt appearance."
With his arin encircling her watt, Edgar Wallis, ob
livious of all but the object of Ma present undertaking.
proceeded calmly to discuss with hoe the most feasible
method of effecting her release; but this - was not for long,
for, in the midst of their cogitations, a light otop was
hoard behind them, and turning, Xhey discovered, to their
mutual hcirrar, Colonel Beaufort. 4n expression of
triumphant malice was observable upon his features; for
Edgar having, as we have said, cast aside the wig which
had disguised him, that officer had no diffiCulty in recog
nizing him fur his former captive.
"So, so—was the taste of the fire so agreeable, that yon
must needs again place yourself iu the midst of it?" he
said; with an attempt at irony. "I 'am sorry for you,
young man, fur yon are here seemingly as a spy, and
martial law prescribes severely for those who may be
caught.working in co-operation with the enemies of their
"I fear no law save that of Heaven," replica rho
young, coniinental, firruly and fearlessly; "as for a King.
I havo none; to my country—the land of my nativity—=
alone, is my allegiance duo; and I have sworn that by
her I would rally, or by her would fall. As for your
threats, Colonel, knoW that they-have no effect upon me,
save to increase tho;contempt I feel towards all who wear
your' scarlet rtniforni. Yon can only (alto my life, at Ott
worst, and shot i ld I fall, theritare thousands of my corm•
trymen on yonder heights"—and he pointed, as he spoke.
through the open willdow towards the works ou Jinn
ker's Hill—"who will not fail to avenge my death!"
"lon speak boldly, and I must Confess, I think that
yuu deserve a better fate. The offer h mado you before
I still adhere to. Shotld year refuse. death must inecitn
,
•
bly•follow."
e 3
"I repeat it, sir, sc \ r cia
n your oiler, and that the
person who could makeo infamous a proposal is far from
•
tieing a gentleman."
"Bo it so," replied Co one! Beaufort,' contempinonsly;
"you have Made your chdice. flo!‘there, W ilkine! come
up, sir. I've a little buSiness for yen!" .
"Oh! sir, :von cannot be so lost to all the dictates of
humanity as to persist ib this cruel decision," exch l timecl
Lucy. throwing herself, in tears, at the obdurateofficer's
feet. Alas! she little thought that every motion of ht
exquisitely-turned limb l s only fixed the Colonel still deep
er in his purposes. For he, too. had cast an eye of lust
upon the helpless girl, and Maynard. well rewarded for
his trouble, hod made himself a willing Instrument.
"It is in vain that yon plead fur him, my girl," was
the Colonel's reply. as he endeavored to raise hero it is
mY dutY, only, that I atri performing. In time of war
soldiers cannot stand upon delicac - )L, The place for the
exercise of hurnaitity is th'e private dwelling of the citi
ten,land not the field of battle."' • .
It was this motto—carried out by the British to the
vary letter—which rendered them se obnoxious to the
American coloni.ts
Lucy, notwithstanding this cold rebuff; continued to
weep and plead for her lover, until he had boon fairly
torn from her arms, end forced from the apartment. when
she gave vent to a heart-piercing cry, and f2ll upon the r
%IT A l ti l thite%TnieiVas . proseUtodhim.
to welt iminetiattety upon the commanding general at
head-quorters; and4vith a half-mutterod invective upon
his lips, he left Lucy to the care of a foMatreer t aut and
immediately left the room.
Days fled away rapidly, and thelaithful Rolfe, learn
ing tho dangerous position of his friend, hastened to In
form General Washington of the predicament, in 6, hch
ho had been placed with regard to Edgar Wallis. Whose ,
name and exploits were well known to the commander
in-chief of the American forces. Tho nogritiations, then
being carried on between Washington and -the British
general for the evacuation of the city of Boston, enabled
him to interfere successfully,, tn. the yoling hero's favor: -
and on the day subsequent to that on which tho BritisAt
regulars marched out of the town to gave adniissloni%
the continentals, Edgar Wallis was United to the object
of his choice. and
"Fast as the church could hind thew, they were one."
liisrony.—l4 the history, of each nation there are ,
some eminent men, in whom the spirit of the na
tion seems to culminate_ either because they are
more the notion than the nation is itself, or because by •
Moir eminent power they constrain the nation to take
the form of these individuals; such Men are to be dis
tinctly studied and carefully portrayed; for while embo-„:
dying tho nation's genius they are an epitome of its his
tory. In a first survey, know a nation's best by its great
men, as a country by its mountains and its .plains, its
waters and its shores,—by its great charecters. Still,
while these eminent mon are to be put in the fore-ground .
- cirthe picture; the humblest class is by no means to be
neglected. In :he family of man there are elder and yowl
get brothers; it is a poor history Which" neglects either
class. A few facts front the every-day life .of the mer
chant, the slave, the peasant, the mechanic, aro often
worth more, as signs of the times, than a chapter which
relates the intrigues of a courtier, though these are not
to be, overlooked. It is well to know what song the
Peasant sung, what prayers he prayed; what food he ate;
What tools he wrought with;. what tax ho paid; how he
stood connected with the soil; •how ho was brought_ to
war, and what weapons armed him for the fight.
not very important to know whether General Breakpate
Commanded on the right or the loft; whether ho charged
uphill or downhill; whether ho rode a bright
_chestnut
horse or a dapple grey, nor whether ho got dismamted
by the breaking of his Siddlo-girth, or the stumbling of
his beast." But it is important to know whether the sol
diers were accoutred well or ill, and whether they camo
voluntarily to the war, and fought in battle with a will,
or were brought to the conflict against their own consent,
not much caring which side was victorious.
1- •
There was a singular problemarutmg the Stoics. which
ran to this purpose; "When a matitemys, "I lie," does
he lie, or does he not? If he lies he speaks the truth; if
ho speaks the truth, ho lies." Many were the books
written upon this wonderful problem. Chrysippus favor-_
ed the world with no less than six; and Philetus udied
himself to death in his vain endeavors to eolvoit.
A prim nitinz.v.,—.••l will consent to all you desire."
said a young female to her lover. "pnlconditics that you
givo what you have not. what you sorer oan have. and
yet what you can givo ine.7 What did she oak li k in for?
A husband. •
Cl 7 If you aro cloterinined to commit suicide in con
sequence of poverty. do it early in the morning instead
of late at night. and you will save the exponse•of three
meals.
PlT''lllay, neighbor Hodge; hat ere yet; fencing -ap
that paaturo for? Forty acres of it would starve a cow!"
"Right." replied Hodge. "I'm fencing it up to beep the
cows out."
The cholera has made its appearance in that :41ssialri
penitentiary at Jeffersoi City, and o te t bpe ierminsied
•
fatally.
111
NUMBER 51. i