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Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3098, 12 September 1899, Page 6

I By Mrs. M. li RAYNB, In the "Detroit Free Press." In the summer of the year of grace 1776, when the American army was stationed in New York,, the commander-ln-cnief, General Washington, was indulging in a brief resting spell after dinner wfaeh ihe w&s approached 'by an [ arderly, who saluted and said : "A ' young woman wno calls 'herself Betsey Ann Blessing would have speech I with your excellency." ! "Betsey Ann Blessing ?" repeated 1 1 Washington with a momentary shrug ! of Irritation ; " who is she, and why | may she not defer her busness till the i morrow ? I warrant me that iher lover ' Is a prisoner of war, and she is ready 1 to swear that lhe is a loyal Whig ! What j think you, Holdfast ?" " If it please yonr excellency, she is well-favoured, as far as i could know » from Iher crying. for sbe ls m sore | trouble." "Ay ! I am a tme soothsayer 1 Cry- | mg, is she ? Show her in. Holdfast, and | see that the guard trouble her not. I I misdoubt my own judgment in giving j mdience to strangers iv these troublous j times. It may hap that Mistress Blessing prove a traitor in disguise." i Tbe orderly soon returned, ushering I fn a girl so young ehe appeared like a I child, and indeed acted like one, for no j sooner did she stand in tbe presence of ' tfhe great man than she seized his hand -that hand of stalwart proportionsand dropping on her knees kis>spd it with the ardour of a devotee. Mean while the tears streamed down her face In piteous torrent-s. and her form shook with suppressed emotdous. Washington had a lender heart, and he was greatly distressed by this unusual scene. " You have something to say ?" he asked gently. "Speak on, but 1 beg. child, that you cease wepping." " Oh, your excellency, you are too bind !" said the girl, and rising to heT feet she uncovered a beautiful downcast face Which glowed pink aud dewy through 'her tears like a rain-washed, sun-kissed rose. " Now, Mistress Blessing." said Washington in his kindest manner. " tell me what brings you hither, and what your errand may he ?" " I came hither to save your excellency's life !" was the startling response. It is a matter of history that General Washington never disdained the sim plest detail of army dpws, also thnt despatches of the greatest importance were brought to him in the most trivia! way. Instead, then, of laughing at the apparent presumption of tliis weeping girl, he 'bade her tell him everything, promising her immunity from punishment in case her iipws were not as weighty as she anticipated. Thus encouraged, she began her story. " Ou the morrow your excellency is to dine with several officers of yoni* command under guard ?" " How know you that, girl ?" as-ked Washington, much surprised. " Your excellency will lay certain plans against the enemy before the company ?" " Proceed !" commanded Washington sternly. *' Among the dishes set before your excellency will be a new vegetable of which you are very fond." " Ah." laughed the general. " you have lost or forgotten an order from the kitchen. Here is indeed a new version of the mouutan and the mouse !" " I know not. gracious sir. what meaning that hath of the mountain aud the moiise," ened Betsey, " but if a mess of 1 green peas be served at table on the | morrow I beg and beseech you, sir, not ! to taste of them !" "Wherefore. Mistress Blessing?" asked Washington in bis sternest manner. " The peas will be poisoned !" " How know you this ?" demanded : the general in the tone which made his soldiers quail when they heard it. " Speak, and see and that you trifle not I with me. Nay." child, do not fear ! If I What you say be true, not you, but the : traitor who planned the dastardly deed j shall suffer !" ; "No ! no !" retorted the trembling girl. "no one must suffer ! Is it not j enough that I have dared to come into a lion's jaws to tell of the deed, to mll sure safety for the designer thereof ? , Now that i have warned your excellen--1 cy. permit me to retire from your disi tin gui shed presence." ! General Washington gave a signal ' and instantly an armed guard of sol- ! diers responded. I " Arrest this girl !" he said sternly, " aud keep her under guard until such I time as she send for me to confess her | fault !" "That will I never, though I die ia I prison !" was the defiant reply as the ! girl, who had entered bowed and weep- ! [ ing raised her head proudly, and walked [ out with the soldiers like a jwi-s-g ' I queen. I All was tumult ln the kitdheas al Richmond Hill, and cooks were running about getting into one another's iway, when a fair haired youth In the gart> of a serving-man loitered in and made hip way unobserved to the great fireplace, w*here he uncovered the -skillets in which the vegetables were simmering on Uhe hearth. When he came to that one containing the peas he dropped in a ' handful -of some condiment, and instantly took his departure. j His next appearance was under the window of that room in wuich Mistress Blessing was incarcerated. " H-i-s-t ! Sweetheart ! The doee 16 ready. Keep heart until the morrow, when I will myself release tihee to ride pick-a-back on 'my roaD horse. It i« told in the town that Betsey Ann Blessing is arrested for a spy ! Keep up your courage, sweetheart !" "If you would befriend me, betake yourself to some safer place," whispered Betsey's voice through the barred window high above him. " A haltei ■vill be ready for your neck if you are seen or suspected, and listen— if your dose takes effect, you aro no longei lover of mine !" The youth went away, grumbling about all being fair in love and war. If Washington was different from his usual self at that historic dinner, the fact has not "been recorded. . There was ■much secret discussion of weighty af"fairs with 'his. guests, but he gave close Attention to the viands set before ihim It was not, however, until the vegetables were served that he made any allusion tc tbe food. When big favourite

('▼©getaWe; a dish of green fleas, "was tea coyerpd, lhe demanded, attention, ami *wiheii all was silent remarked In a loixi hvolee : . .•■'.:.* ■ ■■■:. ..-..-,.. „ .*. "There is death in the pot P* A great exoitement ensued ; thi guests, who were in full uniform, dre-a their swords, and murmurs of "death' tc rhe traitor !" were heard ob every side. Then Washington sent for .Mistreat Blessing, who came with a defiant lighl in lier eye, and wag given the seat oi j honour at her host's right hand. She took it wifh a dignity that called forth I approving and admiring comments. Sol- | diers are proverbially gallant, and those of "76" were no exception to the rule. I A servant was next sent ont by the , commander-iu-chief on a peculiar errand. He returned, bringing with ihim a live and particularly active chicken, j which partook eagerly of the dish of peas. And in five minutes 'by the watch i1 lay dead in ttieir midst. Betsy Ann Blessing married her lorer. after turniug him into a patriot, and Washington himself gave away the bride. How much he knew remained 3 is own secret, but green peas never tfterward graced his table Or were alnded to in his conversation.