Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1901 — POLLY CALLENDAR, TORY. [ARTICLE]

POLLY CALLENDAR, TORY.

By Margaret Fenderson.

JN 17T4-5. previous to the outbreak of the Revolution, the Calleudars were Royalists, and General Gage’s young British officers, one •f whom was related to the Cullendart, frequently rode out from Boston to call at the hospitable country house. It was Polly Callendar whom they went to see; her beauty and vivacious Wit were the tb£ine of many toasts. And up to the evening of this story Tolly was as disdainful of the “mlnAte men” ns was her mother* At almtit noon of that day Madam Callendar was summoned to the bed* side of Elizabeth Ballard, a kinswoman living near Natick. Slie had left her brick oven full otthe week’s baking, and had set a large brass kettle, filled wi h redwood dye, on the crane in the great fireplace. Madam Callenfiar’s parting directions to Tolly had been not to watch the oven, but an yarn, spun during the previous Numerous skeins and banks of woolton yarn, spun during the previous [winter, were Immersed in It, and the last warning from Pol y's mother was: '•‘Redwood must never be hurried, IPolly. Stir often, lass. Tress the hnitks down hard with your elothesLstick, and then drop in a little of this Bowdercd alum to Bet the scarlet.” f So through the long, foggy afternoon It was Polly Cnllendnr’s homely task to watch the oven and tend the ‘‘scarlet kettle.” But with evening came an unexpected diversion. A knock was heard at the outer door, and when old Ttnstus, the negro servant, had opened It, a tall young man, in provincial garb, Inquired how far It was to Boston, and wdiat was the road. Learning that the distance was still considerable, lie entreated hospitality, saying that having ridden since d°wn he was both tired and wet. Tolly at fit ■st demurred, but In the end. moved by his plight and persuaded somewhat by his respectful manners and handsome face, she sent ’ltastus to stable the horse.

I She spread a plentiful supper before Lftju* wayfarer, and then, because bis Kappearauec pleased her, she brewed ■for ban gome of h r mother's clier■slied tea, and poured It into one of the Bellcnte teacups that had come from the young man ate In silence, these attentions. Hrutb to say. he was 111 at ease. He Baras on his way to Join the minuter men. and he was bringing with him a | hundred pounds that had been contributed by the “patriot committee” of his native tovn. He feared that in some way the redcoats had been given a umt of his mission,—Mounted men bad stafed hard at him that .day, and he hnd thought it wise to avoid a troop patrolllug tue roads. And now, despite the quality of his supper, he paused to listen anxiously whenever ■ horses' hoofs or voices were heard i without. Tolly, noticing his uneasiness nnd marking his blue, colonial ; yme-pun, drew her ow r n Inferences. MUtf a sudden the young man took bote of the kettle and its scarlet conHUmts. ■ •‘That Is a bright dye which you Hive there, mistress,” he remarked. B*Are you fond of so high a color?” ■ “In good truth, sir, and why pot?” Applied Tolly. “Have you any fault to And with It?” A “I woulu be n churl If I did,” nnHwered the guest, gallantly* “since It H, scarcely more pink than the cheeks Hi my fair hostess. H“The redcoats must feel flattered at Hjur preference," he added. H“And Is it not the hue that all Icynl Htbjects should prefer?” queried Holly, demurely. but I will not gainsay you, replied the young man. Hpytd yet,” he added, “It is a color to fade under our American sun.” ■fßut not from the hearts of the loyal subjects,” retorted Tolly, ■fils is no rebel household, sir. My who were here but yesterHftl’. wear the scarlet,' and are the Hiffig's loyal servants." And saying Hills she observed her guest closely Hftd saw that he winced. ■ “Beyond doubt he is one of the paBtefets,” she thought. “But such a youth! Moreover, he is ■Hst courteous, nnd his Voice and BHvs are more geutle and respectful HHm those of Cousin Charles.” for the stranger his heart sank Kfresli. “I will pay for my supper Hpd get on.” he thought. “1 shall be abroad In the darkness than Anil he rose to take leave ns Hently ns he might, but nt that moAneut r the tramp of horses was again |t»enrd, nnd this time they did not pass, Hut pulled up before the house door. kinsmen, It Is very like.” said ■Polly, smiling. “They wear rlinrp Awords, sir.” Then, ns she noted the Hunted look which the young man cast About the room, her light nnd tauntB[)u>anaer changed. “Is It that you net like to meet them, sir?” asked in a low tone, she spoke there entne an ImperaA rup at the outer door, nnd a cry IHKlpen lu the king's name:” HHtf heuveu's sake, mistress, show

me some way out,” cried the stranger. “It is lees that I fear their swords, but lam on-a mission of importance.” ‘‘Open, madam! Open Polly! It ia I, your Cousin Charles, and they say there Is a rascally rebel here!” cried the voice outside. “But we have the house surrounded.” Tolly had turned toward a rear door, but hearing these last words, darted to the centre of the room again. Tor an instant she was at a loss. Then her eyes fell on the door of her mother’s storeroom, a closet beside the large chimney, which It was Madam Callendar’s practice always to keep locked, but in the haste of departing that day she had forgotten to take the key. “Here, sir,” Tolly whispered. “Quick, be quick!” and she unlocked the door, half pushed the man within nnd hastily turning the key again put It In her pocket. “Open! Open!” cried the voice outside. “Open In the king’s name!” and the raps were repeated, “Coming, good sirs, coming!” cried Polly. Then her eye fell on the young patriot’s great-cont lying across a back of the chair. If seen that would betray all. She snatched it up and plunged It Into the great kettle of scarlet dye. Then, throwing the door open and courtesying low, ns was the custom of those days, she cried: “Good evening, Cous n Charles. Welcome, good gentlemen. My mother has gone to Natick for the day. No’tlieless you are tight welcome.” “Ay!” grumbled the young officer. “After my knuckles are skinned ( with knocking. But prithee, Tolly have you seen naught of this Insolent knave?” “Indeed, Cousin Charles, this Is but a sorry jest!” exclaimed Tolly Callendar. “Since when has my family been aught but loyal to the king?” “True,” assented the Briton. “Yet the rascal may be lurking about.” “Enter, then, and see for yourselves,” cried Tolly. “My mother would earnestly desire you to purge her house of rebels!” They came noisily In —while the young patriot's heart beat fast—they peered Into nooks and corners, and presently ascended to the attic. “Do not forget the cellar!” cried Tolly, gaily, opening the door and handing her cousin a lighted candle. “Perchance the knave Is hiding in some bln or box.”

The quest there proved as fruitless as In the chambers, but on emerging one of the party noted the closed door by the chimney and tried it. “Why locked?’’ he exclaimed. “The key, fair mistress!” “For that you will do well to ask my mother,”» replied Polly, Carelessly. “The closet is my mother’s keepingroom, and it is ever her custom to carry the key in her pocket.” “True,” remarked her cousin, who knew the ways of the household. “The rogue will hardly have got into madam’s keeping-room. Doubtless he has slipped away.” “If ever he were here,” flashed back Polly. “But beyond doubt, good cousin and gentlemen, you must be hungry after your hard ride. Will you not partake of our cheer?” Nothing loath the young redcoats gathered about the supper table, where for an hour or more Polly maintained the reputation of the house for loyalty and good entertainment In truth the soldiers were slow to depart and would haru.y have gone by nine o’clock had not Polly adroitly reminded her kinsman that the “knave” they were pursuing would surely get clear away. Thereupon they took leave and rode off with much laughter. But fearful lest tliey might return Tolly waited long listening, and not until old ’ltastus had come in to bar the outer door for the night and close the shutters would she release her prisoner. “Come forth, sir,” she at last commanded, with assumed austerity. “What have we here? A rebel, I fear me, from all I am told.” “But one proiov.ndly grateful to his preserver,” replied the young man, and to old ’Rastus’s great astonishment, he took Misa-ess Polly's hand an l gallantly kissad the tips of her fingers, albeit they were scarlet from her dye. “Melhinks, s’r, it but ill becomes me to accept such thanks from one who eonfvsses his disloyalty to 'King ueorge,” Tolly replied, still with seeming severity, “and whose name I do not even know. But since yon are here, prithee take seat before the fire. For of necessity, sir, I have made a gord Royalist of you, so far as your gnat coat covers you. See!” And with the clothes-stick she lifted the coat out of the kettle. “Not Cousin Charles's own is a brighter scarlet!” The stranger burst into a hearty laugh.“Cood faith, I had not thou yht to wear a scarlet coat!” he exclain ed. “Yet, sir, it may stand you it good stead, as you ride luto Boston to-mor-row.” replied Tolly. “It wat of that I thought as 1 dipped it. And now let

ns powder a little alum in the more to set the hue. I would not hive thy loyalty wash out, sir. In the first shower that falls on you.” As a consequence, our young patriot found himself powdering alum to dye his own coat scarlet. And midnight came nnd ns he and Polly sat In front of the great brass kettle and old ’Rnsfus nodded in the corner. Beyond doubt they became better acquainted in this time nnd Polly certainly learned the stranger’s name, for os the tall old clock in the corner struck one she said. “It is now time to wring thy coat, John Fenderson.” When wrung it had still to be dried, and Tolly put It for an hour into the warm brick oven. Somewhat puckered from the dye the garment still required pressing out, and to heat a sad-iron and accomplish this occupied yet another hour. The old clock struck three. “Truly, John Fenderson, making a king's man of thee has been a long task!” exclaimed Polly, as she held up the scarlet coat for Inspection. “Don it, sir? I would even desire to mark the effect.” And what John Fenderson would not have done at the king’s command he appears now to have done without hesitation at Tolly Callendar’s request. For between these two young people the grievous differences of Tory and Patriot had already been dispelled—in the dyeing of a coat before a fireplace. “Good luea, John Fenderson, In thy brave coai,” said Polly at four ns the young man took leave, after! she hnd given him breakfast. “May 1 the color hold,” she added. “But If It fades •” “I shall come back to you,” said John. “Ah, but It will grieve me when I hear that thou art to be hanged for a rebel!” cried Toily from the door. “Nay, Mistress Tolly, I should have| to send for thee to teach me how to dye!” replied John Fendefsori. So he rode away, and had cause to be thankful for the disguise the coat offered him, for while riding through Newton a little before noon be was hailed by three redcoats, two of whom raised their muskets, but the third held them back, saying, “Nay, by his coat he most be one of our men.” There is much reason to believe that Mistress Tolly’s loyalty to King George was ever afterward open to question. At any rate, the records of John Fenderson’s native town show that he married In 1779, and that the bride’s name was Polly Callendar.— Youth’s Companion.