Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 96: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

80 Tom ANDERSON, DarE-DEVIL refrained from signs and omens. The big cake was cut; Don Miguel accepted a slice and shut up about the King! The company roasted apples and chestnuts before the fire; told stories and guessed riddles. In spite of the Fates and the storm, the birthday was “a howling success.” ‘The uproar of the storm added to their sense of security against intrusion, and the noises of the elements drowned all the noise in the loom-room. Tom called upon everybody for a song. “Ma’m’selle de PIsle will favor us with ‘Malbrouck.’”’ He fetched Mimi’s guitar, and she sang the old song these Revolutionary children loved best, while mischiev- ous Tom imitated the “blookety, blookety, blook”’ of gal- loping hoofs — “mironton, mironton, mirontaine’’ — by pounding the floor with Pat’s peg-leg, as he sat by the fire, much to his amusement. Then om sang a rousing Revo- lutionary ballad. Next came Carr with “Arthur Bradley’s Weddin’.”’ Which of that laughing group dreamed of the wild work Destiny would do or ever they heard the quaint old Irish ballad again? No word of Ole’s Swedish love-song could they grasp; but the air was sweet and heart-searching as a dove’s note out of the rain-beaten woods when the dark drops down. Unbounded applause delighted Mr. Fauchete- goat. , “Now for ‘Loudon’s Bonny Banks and Braes,’ ” and “the Colonel” led the little Virginia girl out on the floor. He sang the first verse; then, her color coming and going wildly, Dare sang the answering verse: — **Loudon’s bonny banks and braes, Thou must leave them a’, laddie! Wha would thole when Britain’s faes Wad gie Britain law, laddie? — : But o’er the gory fields of War, Where Vengeance drives her crimson car — Thou ’It be perchance from me afar! Wi none to close thine eye, laddie. Wi none to close thine eye!” ECONMMICLMOOOKSa(e©)