Selections from the Writings of Connecticut Women (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 Excerpt: ...during the night were increased a hundred fold by the bustle of the awakening camp in the front meadow, and the cheery sounds of laughter and light-hearted talk from those who having enjoyed their night's good rest under a friendly and hospitable roof were rousing to their day of forward marching. Not until both escort and prisoners had breakfasted was it discovered that any were missing. Margaret trembled in her room as she heard the words of sharp reprimand, and the imperative orders given to find the escaped men. She did not think any one would suspect her agency, for doubtless the way through her fire-place had been entirely forgotten, but she greatly feared that the smoke-house might be searched, and the two poor fellows discovered. Presently heavy steps ascended the stairs, and had anyone entered Margaret's room at that moment her face would certainly have convicted her, but fortunately no one entered. She heard a man's voice ask, "What room is that?" and Madam Smith's reply: --"That is only the room of a young friend of mine, and it has no door excepting one into the room where you slept last night, and it was bolted on your side." Then she heard a voice sounding as if its owner's head were in some confined place, saying, "Faugh what a smell of smoke and soot. No one in there " And then the door closed and the steps moved on up the attic stairs. Here the searchers evidently found the passage by which the two prisoners had escaped from the main garret, and concluded that they must have gone down the stairs, and out through the dining room unseen, and were now doubtless hiding in some out-house or perhaps gone to the woods. "Strange," said one of the searchers, as he came down the stairs, "strange what the f...