American Historical and Literary Curiosities, Part 12. / Second Series - J. Jay Smith

First day morn, December 7th.—I trip'd into aunt's. There sat the Major, rather more like himself. How natural it was to see him! "Good morning, Miss Sally." "Good morrow, Major; how does thee do to-day?" "I feel quite recover'd, Sally." "Well, I fancy this indisposition has sav'd thy head this time." Major: "No, ma'am; for, if I hear a firing, I shall soon be with them." That was heroic. About eleven, I dress'd myself; silk and cotton gown: it is made without an apron. I feel quite awkwardish, and prefer the girlish dress.

First day afternoon.—A Mr. Seaton and Stodard drank tea with us. He and me had a little private chat after tea. In the evn, Seaton went into aunt's; mamma went to see Prissa, who is poorly; papa withdrew to talk to some strangers. Liddy just then came in; so we engag'd in an agreeable conversation. I beg'd him to come and give us a circumstantial account of the battle, if there should be one. "I certainly will, ma'am, if I am favor'd with my life." Liddy, unluckily, took it into her head to blunder out something about a person being in the kitchen who had come from the army. Stodard, ever anxious to hear, jump'd up; "Good night to you, ladies," was the word, and he disappear'd, but not forever. "Liddy, thee hussy! what business had thee to mention a word of the army? Thee sees it sent him off! Thy evil genius prevail'd, and we all feel the effects of it." "Lord bless me!" said Liddy, "I had not a thought of his going, or for ten thousand worlds I would not have spoke." But we cannot recall the past! Well, we laugh'd and chatted at a noisy rate, till a summons for Liddy parted us. I sat negligently on my chair, and thought brought thought, and I got so low-spirited that I cou'd hardly speak. The dread of an engagement,—the dreadful situation (if a battle should ensue) we should be in, join'd to my anxiety for P. F. and family, who would be in the midst of the scene,—was the occasion; and yet I did not feel half so frighten'd as I expected to be. 'Tis amazing how we get reconciled to such things! Six months ago the bare idea of being within ten, aye! twenty miles of a battle wou'd almost have distracted me; and now, tho' two such large army's are within six miles of us, we can converse calmly of it. It verifies the old proverb, "Use is second nature."

I forgot one little piece of intelligence, in which the girls say I discover'd a particular partiality for our Marylander; but I disclaim any thing of the kind. These saucy creatures are forever finding out wonders, and forever metamorphosing molehills into mountains.

"Friendship I offer, pure and free;
And who, with such a friend as me,
Cou'd ask or wish for more?"

If they charg'd thee with vanity, Sally, it wou'd not be very unjust. Debby Norris! be quiet; no reflections, or I have done. But the piece of intelligence: Sally, is just coming, Debby.

In the afternoon we heard platoon-firing. Everybody was at the door; I in the horrors. The armies, as we judg'd, were engag'd. Very compos'dly says the Major to our servant, "Will you be kind enough to saddle my horse? I shall go!" Accordingly the horse was taken from the quiet, hospitable barn to plunge into the thickest ranks of war. Cruel change! Seaton insisted to the Major that the armies were still; nothing but skirmishing with the flanking parties; do not go. We happen'd (us girls, I mean) to be standing in the kitchen, the Major passing thro' in a hurry, and I, forsooth, discover'd a strong partiality by saying, "Oh! Major, thee is not going!" He turn'd round, "Yes I am, Miss Sally," bow'd, and went into the road; we all pitied him; the firing rather decreas'd; and, after persuasions innumerable from my father and Seaton, and the firing over, he reluctantly agreed to stay. Ill as he was, he would have gone. It show'd his bravery, of which we all believe him possess'd of a large share.

Second day, December 8th.—Rejoice with us, my dear. The British have return'd to the city. Charming, this. May we ever be thankful to the Almighty Disposer of events for his care and protection of us while surrounded with dangers. Major went to the army. Nothing for him to do; so return'd.

3d or 4th day, I forget which, he was very ill; kept his chamber most of the dav. In the evening I seen him. I pity him mightily, but pity is a poor remedy!