THE NIGHTINGALE AND HER SONG. V. — THE NIGHTINGALE AND HER SONG. 66 A I. NIGHTINGALE made a mistake! She sang a few notes out of tune; Her heart was ready to break, And she hid from the moon! She wrung her claws, poor thing, 47 N the year 1777 war was going on in this country, for America, but the people would not obey them. A Governor, whose name was Griswold, found himself in danger of being seized by the King's soldiers, and took shelter in a farm-house, which was the home of a relation. While hidden there he heard that a band of soldiers was on the road, with orders to search the farm and seize him. 2. Griswold thought he would try to reach a small stream with deep banks on each side, where he had left a THE TRUTH-SPEAKER. 49 In great haste he orchard, where he boat which the passers-by could not see. went out of the house to go through an found a young girl, about twelve years old, with her dog. 3. They were watching some long pieces of linen cloth which lay around, stretched out in the sun, to bleach. Hetty was on a bank with her knitting, and near to her a pail of water, from which she sprinkled the cloth every now and then, to keep it in a damp state. She started up when a man leaped over the fence, but she soon saw it was her cousin. 4. "Hetty," he said, “I shall lose my life unless I can get to the boat before the soldiers come. You see where the roads part, close by the orchard; I want you to run down towards the shore, and meet the soldiers, who are sure to ask for me, and then you must tell them that I am gone up the road to catch the mail-cart, and they will turn off the other way." 5. "But, cousin, how can I say so?-it would not be true. O, why did you tell me which way you were going?" 6. "Would you betray me, Hetty, and see me put to death? Hark! they are coming. I hear the clink of the horses' feet. Tell them I have gone up the road, and Heaven will bless you." 7. "Those who speak false words will never be happy. But they shall not make me tell which way you go, even if they kill me, so run as fast as you can." 66 It is too late to run. 8. "Be quick, cousin! Where can I hide myself?" Come down and lie under this cloth; I will throw it over you, and go on sprinkling the linen." I will come down, for it is my last chance." 9. He was soon hidden under the heavy folds of the long cloth. In a few minutes a party of horse-soldiers dashed along the road. An officer saw the girl, and called out to her in a loud voice, "Have you seen a man run by this way?" "Yes, sir,” replied Hetty. 10. “Which way did he go?' "I promised not to tell, sir." 11. "But you must tell me this instant, or it will be worse for you." "I will not tell, for I must keep my word." 12. "Let me speak, for I think I know the child," said a man who was guide to the party. Marvin ?" "Yes, sir." 'Is your name Hetty 13. Perhaps the man who ran past you was your cousin?" "Yes, sir, he was." 14. "Well, we wish to speak with him. say to you when he came by?” What did he 'He told me that he had to run to save his life." 15. Just so, have far to run. that was quite true. I hope he will not Where was he going to hide himself?" 16. My cousin said that he would go to the river to find a boat, and he wanted me to tell the men in search of him that he had gone the other way to meet the mailcart." 17. "You are a good girl, Hetty, and we know you speak truth. What did your cousin say when he heard that you could not tell a lie to save his life?" "He said, 'Would I betray him, and see him put to death?' 18. And you said you would not tell, if you were killed for it." Poor Hetty's tears fell fast as she said, "Yes, sir." 19. Those were brave words, and I suppose he thanked you, and ran down the road as fast as he could? 'I promised not to tell which way he went, sir.” 20. "O yes, I forgot; but tell me his last words, and I will not trouble you any more." 66 'He said, 'I will come down, for it is my last chance.'" 21. Hetty was now in great fear; she sobbed aloud, and hid her face in her apron. The soldiers thought they had got all they wanted to know, and rode off to the river-side. THE TRUTH-SPEAKER. 51 22. While Griswold lay hid at the farm he had agreed upon a signal with his boatmen, that if in trouble he would put a white cloth by day, or a light at night, in the attic window of his hiding-place, and when either signal was seen, the men were to be on the watch ready to help him in case of need. 23. No sooner did the soldiers ride away, than Griswold's friends in the house hung out a white cloth from the window, to warn the boatmen, who pulled out to sea when they saw the red coats of the soldiers as they dashed along the river-side. 24. The boat, with two men in it, was nearly out of sight by the time the soldiers got to the shore, and this caused them to think that Griswold had made his escape. 25. Meantime he lay safe and quiet until the time came for Hetty to go home to supper. Then he bid her go and ask her mother to put the signal-lamp in the window as soon as it grew dark, and send him clothes and food. The signal was seen, the boat came back, and Griswold made his way to it in safety. 26. In better days, when the war was over, he named his first child Hetty Marvin, that he might daily think of the brave young cousin whose sense and truth-speaking had saved his life. Miss Crompton. EXERCISE. 1. He was in danger of being seized by the king's soldiers. 2. In great haste he went out of the house. 3. The linen was stretched in the sun to bleach. 4. She started up when a man leaped over the fence. 5. You see where the roads part, close by the orchard. 6. Would you betray me, and see me put to death. 7. Those who speak false words will never be happy. 8. In a few minutes a party of soldiers dashed along the road. 9. The boatmen pulled out to sea when they saw the soldiers. 10. They thought he had made his escape. 11. He bid her go and ask her mother to put the lamp in the window. 12. The signal was seen and the boat came back. |