Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/445

1905.] one corner were some rude old hand-wrought andirons, and a queer pair of old glass lamps stood on a shelf. A few odds and ends were flung into boxes, and one barrel seemed to contain old newspapers and letters so covered with dust that he could hardly see what they were.

It must have taken a generation or two for all that dust to collect, he thought, as he plunged in to find the date on the newspapers.

“Gee whizz!” came with a long, low whistle as he found 1823 at the top of the sheet. “That ’s old enough! Uncle ‘ll like to see those, I bet!” he thought; and he dove in again and brought out a handful of letters. Such queer old yellow letters with no envelops, —he remembered hearing his father tell about how they used to fold the letters and seal them before envelops were invented, and some of them were cracking at the folds. Many had names written across the corners instead of having stamps. He stopped to look, and with a jump he was at the little round window, holding the letter close to the cobwebbed pane. It was, surely—the name was George Washington! He was familiar enough with reproductions of the famous George’s signature to feel sure that this was written by the general himself. On it was the address:



“To Brigr. General Forman, “Monmouth.”

And in the lower left-hand corner was the historic and familiar signature, “G Washington.”

Near the top, in the night-hand corer, was written, “Public Service.”

Most carefully Rob's trembling, eager fingers opened the worn, cracking folds of the sheet. On the old yellow paper was this letter:

I have requested Capt. Dobbs to assemble at Capt. Dennis s in Baskenridge as soon as possible a Number of Pilots, who are to receive their further Instructions from you.—Imediately upon the Appearance of a Fleet near Sandy Hook, if you are satisfied it is the One we are expecting, you will please to give Orders to the Pilots to repair down where they may be at Hand to be improved as Occasion and Circumstances shall require.

I am very fearfull that you have met with more Trouble in establish the Chain of Expresses than you expected—as I have not had the Pleasure of hearing from you since your first Favor of 23d inst—and I am informed from N York that a Fleet with part of the Army of Lord Cornwallis from Virginia arrived at that Place last Friday:—my Anxiety to be early & well informed of the Enemy s Movernents by Water, induces me to wish to hear from you as often & as speedily as any material Circumstance renders it necessary. I am

Sir Your most Obedient Servant

When Uncle Bob reached home that afternoon, an anxious trio of boys awaited him, and he was not even allowed to take off his hat before the important question of ownership was put to him.

“Say, dad, if we found any old things in this