The Little Red Foot
for another year. The snow was gone; the Kennyetto roared amber brilliant th
est dress, very fine, I, nothing loath, did hasten to dress me in my new doe-skins, not less fine th
all innocent of queue or powder, curling crisp like a woman's. Of which I wa
elted in, shoulder-caped, cut round the neck to leave my throa
ern of little green vines, made me brave in my small mirror. And my ankle moccasins were gay with Oneida devices wrought
ently mounted and rode around to where Nick sat his saddle a-playing on his fife,
me so fine. "If you are not tru
a king's gold crown today." And I clinked the silver coins in my
le as well as hard-worked bodies need a holiday now and then.
s eat as much, nor since time began could all the lovers in history love as much as could I this April day....
hrist
ord! but she was handsome in her s
their name
and Betsy. And they live at
you have made th
and we ga
e, beating time upon h
mmad
adid
diddle
ve's
t as sug
madi
adid
diddle
kes fu
y legs ar
d his gay
my brother John desires to be a
ourteen," sai
ad and stout enough. What w
of the district militia and whether the Mohawk regiment, the Palatine, and the oth
know," he said, "is that my father
so,"
ked cheerfully, "and I mean to use m
horses to
arers whom we recognized, Tory and Whig alike. Some gave us but a cold good-day and looked sideways at our fores
yoke of beautiful oxen, who drew bridle to exchange a mouthful of farm go
etended not to notice them, for I had always felt a shiver when they squeaked good-day at me, and when they doffe
r husbandry, practiced upon his fife so windily and with such enthusiasm that we three
lips and wiping his fife. "There's a schoolmaster
, some sucked thumbs and
's a good fellow, after all!
h, drew his war-hatchet, broke the lump, and passed around the fragments. And many a childish face, whi
en and the grinning slaves had gone
town. We stopped at one or two fo
the street, and little traffic. Nor did I perceive any red-coats ruffling it as of old; the Highlanders who passed wore no side-arms,-excepting the officer
ght sweets and a mouse-trap and some alley-taws for his brother John-who wished to go to war! Oh, Lord
desire to!-and I further purchased two books, "Lives of Great Philosophers," by Rudd, and a wi
e-bags, and after that we knew not w
malt-thirst, we remained standing in the street b
ects at the Hall?"
certain to prove awkward, if, indeed, it aroused in Si
along the street until we came to the Johnson Arms Tavern,
r horses and went into the Johnson Arms, ho
odd Tories who sat over chess or draughts, or wh
ferently as we ente
ick, "this is a gloriou
, "but I should be vastly obliged, sir, if you would sh
uit my fancy. Freedom, sir, in her every phase-and Liberty-the glorious jade! Ah, gentlemen, there's a sweethear
er man in a sneering voice, "why do you not
s already on her joyous way to Johnstown. It is a rendezvous
ght board, paid his reckoning, and w
It irks him to hear of fresh young jades, knowing only too well w
lled storms; but none came, so
ur pleasant city of Norfolk? Is it that which weighs upon your minds? Or is the sad plight of Tommy Gage distre
hort poem on these three Bri
n, Burgo
-wow
but budged not an inch. A pity, for it was come to a pretty pass in Johnstown when two honest f
d Nick gave the company another poem,
s and maids dr
Souchong an
ing girls, fair,
your throats and
applauded; and there was no hope o
elps at the Johnson Arms, that they stomach such jests as we cook for them? Time was w
ing, as we sat on the stoop, bridles in han
in Johnstown," he muttered, "I'd be undone, ind
ch w
igeon
Mayf
ye
weetheart the
ight you, for the p
p be warm and willing,-that is one thing. A blush and a laugh and 'tis o
ipe. "And followed. Lord, but she is handsome,-Betsy Brow
ha
around to see what sledge was following his. Then he shouts, 'Whoa!' and out
zen mittens,-Lord, Jack, I saw a star or two, I warrant you; and a gay stream squirted from my nose upon the snow and pres
my darters, you poor dum Boston critter! I'l
scratch-wig fell off, he became more civil-quit
to the ladies-who looked excited but seemed inclined t
oing," said
rowse. But he's gon
Canada?
, there in the snow of the Mayfield road! And he burly as an October bear-a man all knotted over with muscles, and two fists that slapped yo
his same Tory girl of Pigeon-Wood; and
rching for our stirrups with moccasined toes, comes a galloper in s
eet, I broke the seal and r
ough the still village now, painting every
n; I glanced at Nick; I gazed coldly upon the galloper,-
liments, and say that I am honoured by her ladyship's commands, an
urtesy, mole-skin cap in hand; and 'round he wheels and away h
o' fish," remarke
I should decline to see even Sir John, who now was virtually a prisoner of my own party, penned
ick," I said
oblesse oblige--" and then, sor
his ears. Your father wore them on his fingers. I kno
to liberty. It is not what we are born to but wha
y for you
for you to beli
h that winning upward glance tha
erhaps, I had been with Guy
oo," he murmured, "-whether ears o
lau
" he inqui
st remain if Lady John
l you ride home by
lingering there?" I
te be empty or full, I
h other and wheeled our ho