“‘It’s them Hessians,’ said Anne.  But Nathan thought not—­it was not the tread of regular troops, but the confused rush of a multitude.  He hastened to an upper window to reconnoitre.  The day had begun to break, and he easily distinguished a large body of men in Hessian uniform, hurrying along the road in broken ranks.  As they came nearer, he perceived many individuals half clad and imperfectly equipped.  The whole consisted of about six hundred men.  Before their rear was lost behind a turn in the road another body appeared in rapid pursuit.  They marched in closer order and more regular array.  In the stillness of the morning the voice of an officer could be distinctly heard urging on the men.  They bore the well-known standard of the colonies.  It all flashed on Nathan’s mind—­Washington had crossed the river, and was in pursuit of the routed foe.  The excited old man forgot his years, as he almost sprang down stairs to the open air, proclaiming the tidings as he went.  Even the correct Hannah, who had preserved her faith unbroken, in spite of her husband’s and sons’ contumacy, and the, if possible, still more particular Rachel, were startled from their usual composure, and gave vent to their joy.

“‘Well, now, does thee say so?’ said the latter, eagerly following the others to the door.  ’I hope it is not unfriendly to rejoice for such a cause.’

“‘I hope not, cousin Rachel,’ said Amy; ’nor to be proud that our boys had a share in the glorious deed.’

“Amy was left to herself, and broke loose upon this occasion from the bonds of Quaker propriety; but no one observed the transgression—­except old Anne.

“’That’s right, Amy Collins; I like to hear you say so.  How them Hessians can run—­the ’tarnal niggers; they steal sausages better than they stand bullets.  I told ’em it would be so, when they was here beguzzlen my buckwheat cakes, in plain English; only the outlandish Injins couldn’t understand their mother tongue.  They’re got enough swallowen without chawen, this morning.  I wish them nothen but Jineral Maxwell at their tails, tickling ’em with continental bagonets.’

“‘That friend speaks my mind,’ said Elnathan, with a half-sanctimonious, half-waggish look, and slight nasal twang.

“‘Mine too,’ as devoutly responded a companion, whom he had just brought to assist in the pursuit of the robbers.

“The whole family had assembled at the door to watch the motions of the troops.  The front ranks had already passed down the road, when a horseman, at full speed, galloped along the line of march to the extreme right, and commanded a halt.  After a few minutes delay, two or three officers, followed by a party carrying a wounded man, emerged from the ranks and approached the house.  This was too much for the composure of our late overjoyed family; all hastened to meet their wounded or dead relation, but were disappointed agreeably—­the brothers were indeed of the party, but unhurt.