Children's book of patriotic stories: The spirit of '76
History
Children's book of patriotic stories: The spirit of '76
Children's stories; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction
A hundred years later the grandson of Jabez Rockwell hung the
powder-horn in the old stone house at Valley Forge which had been
General Washington’s headquarters. And if you should chance to see it
there you will find that the young soldier added one more line to the
rough inscription:
_Last used at Yorktown, 1781._
THE LITTLE LORD OF THE MANOR[B]
By E. S. BROOKS
A picture of Evacuation Day in New York, in 1783, when the British
troops hauled down their flag and sailed away from free America.
A little lost lord, his distracted Tory grandfather, and some
kind-hearted American children are the principal characters. And we
are told how little Mistress Dolly Duane “won the distinguished honor
of being kissed by both Commanders-in-Chief on the same eventful day.”
It was the 25th of November, 1783--a brilliant day, clear, crisp, and
invigorating, with just enough of frosty air to flush the eager cheeks
and nip the inquisitive noses of every boy and girl in the excited
crowd that filled the Bowery lane from Harlem to the barriers, and
pressed fast upon the heels of General Knox’s advance detachment of
Continental troops marching to the position assigned them, near the
“tea-water pump.” In the Duane mansion a fire was blazing brightly and
Mistress Dolly’s pet cat was purring comfortably in the cheerful light.
But Mistress Dolly herself cared just now for neither cat nor comfort.
She, too, was on the highway watching for the exciting events that were
to make this Evacuation Day in New York one of the most memorable
occasions in the history of the chief American city.
At some points the crowd was especially pushing and persistent, and
Mistress Dolly Duane was decidedly uncomfortable. For little Dolly
detested crowds, as, in fact, she detested everything that interfered
with the comfort of a certain dainty little maiden of thirteen. And
she was just on the point of expressing to her cousin, young Edward
Livingston, her regret that they had not stayed to witness the
procession from the tumbledown gateway of the Duane country-house, near
the King’s Bridge road, when, out from the crowd, came the sound of a
child’s voice, shrill and complaining.
“Keep off, you big, bad man!” it said; “keep off and let me pass! How
dare you crowd me so, you wicked rebels?”
“Rebels, hey?” a harsh and mocking voice exclaimed. “Rebels! Heard ye
that, mates? Well crowed, my little cockerel. Let’s have a look at
you,” and a burly arm rudely parted the pushing crowd and dragged out
of the press a slight, dark-haired little fellow of seven or eight,
clad in velvet and ruffles.
“Put me down! Put me down, I say!” screamed the boy, his small face
flushed with passion. “Put me down, I tell you, or I’ll bid Angevine
horsewhip you!”
“Hark to the little Tory,” growled his captor. “A rare young bird, now,
isn’t he? Horsewhip _us_, d’ye say--us, free American citizens? And who
may you be, my little beggar?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account