The Tribute Money

During our last war with Oreat I aiii, a certain Skipper Noyes, with a i young man named Holmes, went in a wbalo-boat from Easthain to Boston, to procure flour and other articles íor i family use. Iu Boston tbey bought a half-deeked boat that was offered them oü 6ale, and set out on their return, i tending to leave the former owner of i the boat at Scituate. On the way, ] hoA'ever, they were captured by tho ] English. Afterward, Holmes was permitted, ou parole, to return to Boston with the boat, to procure the ineans of i ransoming her. But on his arrival, bis craft waa seized, as having been enged in suppiying the enerny, and he was obliged to make his way home by land. In the meantime, Noyes, acting as pilot on board the schooner, had trived to run her ashore on Eastham i tíata, where ehe was taken. ThoEngli.h authoiities, tired with indignation at the disgraee put upon the British anns by this capture, tOj.ether with some dozen British officers and sailor8 through the sole agency of tho aforesaid Skipper JNoyes, resolved to visit with eondign punishmeut, not only the offending individual, but also each and all of the " sneakiug Yankees of Cape Cod, whose chief delight on eurtb was to get a sixpeuce, and whose graat est fear was the losing of it." Ënlcrtuing this rather low estímate of the patriots of the Cape, the senior of the fleet issued a proclamation, enjoiuing on the various peninsular towne bordering on the bay the paymeut of u certain amouut of tribute mony in such proportions as were set down against the name of each townsbip. - The inhabilants of Eastham, foreseeing the gatheiing storm, and aware of their inabiiity to resist its approacb, had in the meantime sent back the prize and its crew, with all their atiainable effects, to Provincetown, where the English fleet then lay in harbor. - Of course, thia partial atonement had its eftect in procuring a lesa weighty judgment than would otberwise have fallen on the devoted villages ; but it by do meaos forestalled tha penalty. - Eastham was fined two thonsacd dollars, and the moDey having been procured, it was forwarded t( tbe Shiiley, seventy-four, in a siuall vesel niüiined by some three or four men, ono of whoiu was a cousin of Holmes. Having found their way to the cabin oí the Shirley, and into the piesenoe of Captain Sir George Collier, a n ugh ld sea dog, whose voice was as grufi as üb that of Bóreas himself, the heanrs of tbe money conimeDced counting it out. As they were thns empleyed, the coueinof Holmes accidentally dropped a half dollar, which, rolling about the cabin floor, pretently trundled up to un old trunk that stood in one corner, against which it reposed itself, leaning back face ontward, with the most nonchalant air possible. Trifling as was the incident, Sir George sprang to hia feet with a face as red as a piece of "old uiahogany," and etriking his clenched fist on the table ut which he had been t-itting - 'Til be- bbot !" he said; " if Chat ï'usty p'isïaróen haa not gone and cocked itself up against the trunk of that scoundrtlly Noyes. One would think that tho impish thing had dono it on purpose. I verily believe it carne out of the rascal's own pocket." Holmes' cousiu rec.ogniztd the trunk ] as one belonging to his rtlative, and and made a statement, of its proper ownership, lequesting the privilege of taking it away. Sir George assenled with au air ot surly cmplaiganee. "But pray piek up the coin," he adI ded ; ' I dudare it fairly grins at tne I with its ugly phiz." The deputioH having finished ; i ing out the tnoney, Sir G'-orge ordered 'a üervant to briug wines, to whioh the i gntits wera courteoualy requosted to h-lp then'.fcflvet, Having no particular objeción to best old Oporto, they did . so, and prepared to take leave. "Gentlemen." aaid Sir George, us they mude tbeir bows, " I prëtstmie tho voyage hither ha.s not botn a verv ; pleasun' one to yuu ; but 1 t hink you'll j not deny that you lound u goed port ut the end' of it 1" When they got back to Easthum,tbey found that Holmes luid arrived. He; was somewhat troubled wijh the idea that he was bound to deliver hiiu-olf; up to tha enernv, ïn lulfilinent 1 parola. ■ Hm frionds laughed ut tha proposition. "The matter is all settled," they j plied. " In the first place, you lobt tho boat bv a circumstauce that nu omi was able to loresee, and it was therefore out of your power tri return in the manner agreed upon. And tinally the whole concern has beeu. wound up by the payment of a eertaiu aum of rnoney iu full of uil the back accouut." Noves remonstrated as f'ollows: - " You can't be such a eonfounded nin ny, Holmes, as to be at the trouble of going clean over to Provincetowü, merely to be called a foolfor your pains, and seut packing back again. - I'll teil you something worth two of that. I've got a coupla oi brass guus that were on board that schooner, ; ed ftway snug in a hole near my house, i I don't want it known though, for as like as not, the selectmen would be for taking thetn away and sending thein baok to the British. I want you to help me dig them up to-night, aud get thetn to Orleans. The poople there i have had a meeting and voted not to pay. So I expect there will be scrimmage there by-snd-by, and it will be a good chance to seü the gima. Whftt say, will you go ?" "Why, I'l! you help dig up theguns," Holmes replied ; " but as for taking hold n tho tigbting, I don't exactly see [ my way clear, as yet. I cannot help feeling as though I wtre under tsome obligation not to fight against ihose Englishmeu jiist now." " Well, leel under some obligntiou to 'em too, and I mean to pay it oti' a bood as I can." On the following morn, Noyes hud the pleasure of seeing his guns aafely ! depotsited in Orleans on a hillsidw overlooking the harbor. Having uoootuplished tbis undertukiug, ha went to a neighboring house to get nis dinner. - While thua engaged, u boy came running in with thu iiews that a boat was neuring in shore, hearing a white flag. Noyes and his hoHt bolted the morsel that had just eutered the mouth, and and hastuiied out to observe vhat as going on. The boat struck the beach, an officer stepped focth, aud, after ordering bis men to lay off a fw rods trom tho whore, made his weary way to the inau.-ion of Squire Atkina, uu he was caJlöd, oue of tho town authorilies. j The erranii on which lie carne ivm ! ily interprtited as having conncctiou with the demuiideu tribute. Noyes I haviug bifrrow'èd u blfck coat ïn order, as be said, to appear n üttle '' professional," waylaid tho oiHcer as the latter was returniug lo bis boa, and aocosted i hitn with a face expresnive oí the est anxiety. '■ Wal, 3aptinr," he exi-.laimed, " [ l hope tlIOe 'tarnul se-lek-men have cun cluded to pay up, and hev 110 moru disturbanre ?" The Englishman replied with u louk of haughty disdain, and strodo on - But the eg.-i ot' the Yankee were quite ■ as long as those ol the Btranger, and euubled theif ownur to keep up a very equal pace. " I du declare," he conünued, " it is tu bad, tu bad. I told the pesky critters over and over again, just how it wculd be. If yon don't pay the money, says I, the British will come and knock you all on the head. Alter tliat, they will burn up the housen and barns, aad then the gals will be so Uewitched arter the red coüts, that they'll be up j and ofi with 'em, the whole bilin' on 'em ; and there wont be anybody lett j to poperlate the pluce. You know how it is, capting; there aint 110 duinV nothin' with them gals; they will have! a uut, on 'o you soldiois, auy na) it can : be tíxed." The Euglishtimn cbuld not help Balling at the apeaker's apparent eaniot ness. Furthermoie, he liad a spioe of the coxcouib in his composition, which disposid bim to bo nomevvbat uiolliöed by the flattery thus broadly hiiii uu. " ïheir taste is uot very hla.iuible," he said. " His majesty's oííicers are re ported to be, generally, a veiy goodlooking set ot men. Hnwever, fiiv I must correct yo'.i in ono point. l ui not captain, bul liüutenant in his l ty's service." " ljg pardon, square. lïut we're all captings here, aud l d dn 't want to speak as thotigb you viüê .uivthinir li, that's all. But Inok htre -ijuai r, p'i 'aps you'vo noticed a liltle red Innit-e t-st te the ea tward ot the uicetin-huiinf - that's my plaou hefe I live. Now, spDi-eu' yuu go to h'nn' off' cüiiik iis and such like, couldn't yon tire a titile ono f-ide of there? 1M be inuch oblecged if you would. You see, I wouldn't have no obj'jction to handing over a dollar or two for my share, but the plaguy iolks would like as uot. tuck me in jail, if I pitid anything. Good-by, square. Don't iorget the liltle house jest to the eii!-tward ot the meetinghousp, you know." A forlnight p;ised after the licutenant'o visit, and notbin wan heard trom the undiny. Il began to be Hiupeotf;d I that the latter, sutisfieiJ with whftt they had already obtaincd, had given up I i the uitnton oi' prooucuting thcir ■ ; threats against. trio ooDturUaoioun j itaiiU of Oíleans. Noyes was of a very ! different opiuipn, und kept a constant: írtokuut frota bií ob.ervatory, is he' tonaed it, otherwise, the g;irret window : o! bis house in Easthatn, which ! ihandjd a good viüw ot tho Orleans hu'r'bcif and its approacheS. The eveiit pro ved that hu was perfect Iv right in taking the enemy ut their word. For, eurly one morning as John Williamson ent pin í' door u fill his water -pai] a', ihe wcll, htí oast hiseye toward the harbor, and was surpnsed to perceive in unusutil bustle otl board a ucho'iner thttt luv anchored at the edge of the Hals which exteud quite a loug distanee t'rom the shore. He rubtwd hs eyes, and gave nno'.her look; then dropped his pail and ran to get his musket. "The Briu.sh ! the British ! ' Thü sleepy sentÍDel waked up auil joined the cry which he should have been the first to give. In a few minutes meu were hurrying in all direcftions toward the hill whero wasstatiuned the miniaturo buttory. Skipper Noyes had snuffed the fight from his attic window, boloro even ihe first alarm hadbeon given in Orleans, and was, by this time, ou a good staunch nag, riding in hot Laste toward the scene oí action. Arrived un the ground, he was appointed to take charge ot the single iron cunnon which, having hitherto officiated only on 4th of July and ssiniiw occasions, was now elevated to the dignity of a veritable miuister of war. Three barges, well manned, weio speeding toward the shore, leaving behind the burning sohooner. Noyes poinled the gun, and as it was diseharged, eagerly watched the effect of tho shot. It struck the waler just bevond the tiearer barge. " Lower a little from the sight, skipper," said Fathor Jones, a venerable white-haired ''revolutioner," who stood at hand " Fire a little forward of your mark, for, yon set, wheu yon tire over a hollow, the ball is litled by the uir uuderneath." The moment was critica!, for the foremost boat was rapidly approaching the sboro. Nevorthetes8, Noyes, heedful of the advice given, took his aim vvilh daüberation. Baug ! went the piect', aud alrnost siiiiultaneously a stoout went up from the erowd assembled on the bill. Tlie nearer bout was shattered and sinking, while the remnant of her crew were being picked up by the olhur boatrt. While these were thus delayed, ihe two brasa pieces opeuod fire with sueh effect, that one of the barges fuirly turnud tuil and sought satety in tíight. The other was beached to prevent her iroin going down with ber crowiled oceupa:its. The crew hoisted a white handkerehief in token of surreuder, and the townsmen ceased fii ing. Ainong the ioremost of tho,-m who Imrried to meot the captured Euglislannso was Nuyes, who, on com ing up, rtxMguized in Mie leader of the oppor'fie' party, a wi-11-known face. - Walking up tu him, and strelching out his hand : " How de du,,sqare," he exclaimod. " I atn right glad to see you; sartin' I atn." Etiglíshmári uhang'ed countentenai'co. " I have st (n vmi before, I think," was the rather reluctaut answer. " You've hit it, i-quare. I'ui the man that lives in the little red house." A consuitatiun was held by the viliagers, and il was determined to lurnish the Knrl!.--huiijii with a boat and send thetu back to tbeir ships. After a suffic'ent dehiv for rest and the procuring ot retrésliiueutn, the lieutenaut aud his party entereci the boat that had been provided then. Tho men laid their handf on tho oar, when Noyes stepped forward with a low bow. " Lieutenaut will you allow me to request of yon a small favor." " What is kdèP " ünly that you would iuform Captain Sir George Collier, when you meet him, that judgiiiii from your experience, his majesty's otlicers are likely to find i much better poft on board of hij ship than anywhere in the bounds of Cupu God. Furtherrnore, please to give him the best respecta of Skipper John Noyi'H.. and say that that gentleman would humbly request the ratuiu ot that huif dollar oi his, provided Captain Collier has no further use for it." The lieiitenant had the good sense to take this waggery in the aianner in which it was iutended. He expresscd his willingness to fultill the oommistiion which he had been entrusted, and, motioning his men to their oars, bade the puiiple of Oí leaus a tinal adieu. Cui.TURB 01' ÜN'ION'S - A HlST To Faumkk.s. - The extrüordinary rise in tlm prici' of onions, causotl by the groat deluand in our canips and arrny hospital ! lor this most valuable of cominon veyetahli; uti scorliutics, hasdoubtless sufficiently indicated to intelligent farmers that theonion erop will be oue of the most pi'oütable whii'h they can cultívate thii) soasori. In order to assiwt ttujiu in this most promising work, we oopy the followiog hint from the pommnnication of a farmer to a westeru paper : The prevailing opinión i that to grow gSód uniriiiti, tho sets grown the proviuus ycar should be planted. Thiá is an error. Botter onions and larger cropij can be grown from seed than irom sets. The seed should first be .no wii in n hot bed as thick as they cat Í st umi. Am Hoon SH tlie seed is up, open ti e bed to ll-e air and water freely - In April prepare your ground aud plant vour sets tVom the hot bod.s, sin! gly, one by one, three inchos asunder, in riiwn ten iiicIih apart. Ifthegiound lis vory good and 'hv are well cultivai ted, you may havo eight huudred bushi els from au aoin. f i mm 'i. In tl e South thuy sell brandy for 83 without er f.'J,50 with eugar, per drink