didn't like much the idea of having their husbands killed, and the gals didn't like to have their beaus shot, but if the British did come up, and if she had a feller that wouldn't stand up for his own land, she'd give him the mitten just as soon as the fight was over.'

"I said nothin' just then, but I thought Sam Jake

man, with all his Latin and Ciceros, would have a hard chance afore winter."

The old man paused. reminiscence of past days. Hill enquired if supper was ready. "Ah," said the old man, "I see my story is too long for you, gentlemen. You are tired.”

He was evidently enjoying a

"No," said Hill, "go on with the story. Tell the cook not to hurry the chickens-to cook 'em easy. Go on, sir."

66

Well," resumed the old man, "Sam was round as usual, but kind of onasy. Mr. Parkins brought in a large old-fashioned firelock, which had been used in the old French war,.and had sent a bullet or two into the jackets of Indians in old times; and says he to Sam, 'Mr. Jakeman, if you hear a drum early in the morning to-morrow, I want you to get up. Ask no questions, and follow me with the old firelock. And Bill,' says he to me, 'there's one for you.'

"Sain looked streaked, and says I, 'I and Mr. Jakeman will go together if there is any trouble.' He kind o' stuttered out 'Yes,' but he looked awful bad. Well, I left him and Miss Parkins, that is, Hitty, alone, to do what courtin' they had to do, and I never told anybody what happened between Hitty and Sam that night, though Hitty told me all about it afterwards; but that was the last time they ever sat up together.

"Well, it's no use my telling what happened on the nineteenth of April out on the green there, where the monument is, for it's been talked on, and printed, and read by every woman, man, and child in histories and school-books. None of them can tell about Sam Jakeman, or me, or Hitty Parkins.

"When we all went on the green, waiting for the red coats to fire at us, Sam Jakeman warn't there, and I'il tell you the reason the old man, Parkins, was there with the firelock, and there was one there, a roguish sort of a chap, with the old French firelock that was left out for Sam Jakeman. Nobody seemed to know him, but he stud up strait with the rest on us.

"But stop; before I go any further to tell you about the hand that pulled the trigger of that old firelock, I'll tell you where Sam Jakeman was."

The old man was taking a fresh pull at the cider mug.

Clubfoot begins-"I'll tell you where he was. "Hush up," said Hunchback; "let Uncle Bill tell it his self. I like to hear Uncle Bill laugh when he tells it."

"Let the old man tell the story out," said Hill.

After a smack of the lips, and a roll of the tongue, which took all the loose drops of cider still remaining on the lips of the old man, he settled himself in the chair, and with a chuckle he proceeded :—

There was

"Well, Sam Jakeman went down cellar. a dark bin where we used to keep potatoes; it had a lock on it. He went in there instead of going somewhere else that night, and Hitty locked him in.

"He was a little skeary of two things-fighting on one

side, with a chance of being shot, or getting found out for telling the British about the powder.

"Well, now you know where Sam Jakeman was."

The old man begins his langh-" He-he-he-he. I'll tell you what Hitty did. There we stood on the green, and our captain said, if anybody wanted to go home, now was the time. Nobody started, you may depend upon that. The women were looking out of the windows round in the houses. There warn't many on 'em then; and soon somebody said, 'They're comin'.'

"Creation, I tell you, we felt kind of curious most all on us, as we heard the music, and saw the troops comin' up the road as fine as a fiddle; but we kind of edged up close together, and the Captain said, 'Men, that won't do to stand so close on to one another. If they do fire on us, they may hit some on us, and the further apart you stand, in reason, the better chance not to get hit. Some balls won't go through the spaces; besides we shall make more show to stand over a leetle more ground.'

6

Well, all this time they were comin' along, and I was thinkin' so much of whether my gun would miss fire or not, that I did not notice all that was goin' on till somebody said Fire!' My gun was pinted right to a man on a horse, and I let her go, and the man fell; and I always run away with a notion that I wounded him or killed him. I never knew.

"But we had to clear out after a spell; and the chap that had Sam Jakeman's firelock got wounded in the arm, and when they took her home, it was Hitty Parkins in a feller's clothes; but that's the only time I ever knowd her wear the breeches."

Here the old man had his laugh and another drink.

As the old man made a long pause, Hill asked him what became of Sam Jakeman.

"Oh," said he, "after the doctor fixed Hitty's arm, she told her father where to find him in the potato bin, and she said she took his place among the men to keep the number good.

"So they pulled Sam out among 'em. He was glad to clear out of this town, and neither he or any of his descendants have ever been heard of in the town of Lexington since."

66

The old man laughed, and all joined with him. Upon the question being asked what became of Hitty Parkins. Why," said the old man, arter a while she and I got married, and we had the good luck to have a dozen children, and some of the boys fought for their country, and died in the last war, doing their duty. Oh, that's a long while ago, and I'm alive yet. All dead but me."

"Supper's ready," said the girl. After a hearty shake of the hand, Hill bid the old gentleman good night, and with his companion retired to the supper

room.

CHAPTER XII.

"Let us take the Road,”

"A man he was to all the country dear,

And passing rich, with forty pounds a year."

'THE JOURNEY TO CARLISLE-MIDNIGHT ARRIVAL AND VISIT TO THE MINISTER-THE COMEDIAN AND THE CLERYGMAN-THE BLESSING AND THE BAKED POTATOES-THE FAREWELL-THE CLERGYMAN'S FORTUNE-DEPARTURE FROM CARLISLE.

vern.

An hour was passed in discussing the fare of the taThe shower was over; the horse, refreshed by a meal of oats, stood ready at the door. The bar-room cleared of the guests which had gathered there, as usual they had departed for home, according to the customs and habits of the different individuals composing the group.

The bill was settled, the bar-keeper merely asking which way they were going, as he handed the change, after taking his own charge from the gold piece tendered to him in payment for the "meat vittles" consumed, and the "fixins" and accompaniments to the aforesaid "meat vittles."

Hill replied that he must be in Carlisle that night. "Carlisle!" said the man. "I didn't think that anybody ever had any particular business in Carlisle. Have you ever been there ?"

"Never have. I cannot miss the way; can I?" said Hill.

"No;-straight road."