Bogota High School - Purple B Yearbook (Bogota, NJ)

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aaa .Mr aa punpr ta asa Of course, of course, said the General, That is the first hearty laugh I have enjoyed in weeks, and I am afraid I needed it. Already I feel better. The guard mentioned 'Informationf am I not right? That you are, General. I think I had better start at the beginning. You see, I am-I mean, I was a Tory. And being a Tory it was only natural for me to be able to pick up some first-hand information. Ah, indeed, the General leaned forward expect- antly. Aye, General, and it seems only fair to my new country that you should know this. Lord Cornwallis is a coming to Princeton, and then-. Lord Cornwallis in Princeton! Impossible! Wlfy, only yesterday - Begging your pardon, General, but only yesterday I saw him with my own eyes. Incredible! also most disturbing. Do you realize what that means? It means that before the week is up Cornwallis will attack us. Aye, if you don't attack him first. The General had been pacing the Hoot during this conversation, suddenly he swung around and directly addressed Jeremiah: Sir, if you are a spy I warn you I shall have you shot immediately, if you are in earnest you will never realize the importance of your information. Vifhich is it to be? I'm in earnest, said Jeremiah determinedly. Never was more so in my life. By this time Cornwallis is entering Princeton. But of course you wouldnt take the word of a poor farmer like me. I'm a God fearing person. Fetch the Bible. Jeremiah, said the General, laying his hand on Jeremiah's shoulder, I believe in you, and have trust in you. You'll not go back on me now, no, not me, our country. Before you came to me could you say 'My Country? Say it, commanded Wfashington, My Country. My country, repeated Jeremiah wonderingly. Then suddenly he broke down, his eyes, filled with tears, and he whispered hoarsely to XVashington, I'll do it. General, I'll do it, I'll go back and I'll bring back enough information to blow the English and Hessians back to where they came from, and then everybody will be able to say 'My Countryf Witlr that he turned and stumbled out of the room. As for George XXi'ashington, the man had been uncovered, and he went back to his work softly whispering, My Country, Our Country- Fate interposed and thus was Jeremiah given his chance to prove himself of the Generals trust, a scarce twenty-four hours after his interview with VO'ashington. And this time fate came in the form of a message from the Hessian headquarters instructing him to deliver eight hogshead of beer to Trenton. So it was with a bright and happy frame of mind that Jeremiah went through the early morning chores. Still whistling and singing an hour later he called for the beer and started on the seven mile trip to Trenton. Reaching the outskirts of the city he was haled by the guard, who upon noticing Jere- miah's load exclaimed, Vell, vot haf we here? Himmel! Is it beer vot I see? Pass, I command you. You haf mine absolute permission to pass. Und see dot you lose none of it. Jeremiah nodded gaily in response to the sentry's greet- Puge Eighty nine,

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1 f ,JJJ Ffa .asasa A PURP E B tvasasasaa HOW CAPTAIN BULLWINKEL WON HIS STRIPES BY FRED BRADSHAW fflyirzlc from iff Z7jJ'.70l'1:L'zlf brzrkgrozffzff. M125 Life if pzzrefy firfifiozzrj fcgfl AD you been present on 1 ceitun told wintry diy in the eary fE'T3'1Qf'f'f ' 1 'L' ' Q ' l part of December in the year 1776, in front of XWashington's headquarters, you might have observed, aside from the usual col- lection of blue and buff figures that decorate the entrance of any Colonial generals headquarters, a man, made conspicious by his lack of, shall we say 'Martial bearingf or, still better, lack of military equipment. He shambled on towards the Generals headquarters, apparently indifferent or perhaps, hardened, to the shouts of derision which arose from all sides: The Tory g In the river with him , 'iWl1HliS up, Jeremiah, Colonel Rahl send you over with terms of surrender? This sally greeted with uproarious laughter by the soldiers, produced upon the man addressed as Jeremiah no noticeable effect, other than to make him lengthen his stride. It is customary for anyone desiring an interview with the General to be placed between two soldiers and thus conducted into his presence. To be placed between two soldiers is a terrifying experience to one of Jeremiah's calibre. The wonder of it is that through it all he still maintained his set atti- tude of indifference. Although when finally he was ushered ino the Generals presence, it wouldnt have taken a very close observation to discern the severe case of 'ague' he was troubled with in the legs. By the time the General took it upon himself to raise his head above the collection of papers that cluttered up his desk, Jeremiahs self assurance had utterly vanished. The General smiled as he saw the deplorable condition of Jeremiah's legs, and beckoned him to a chair. Jeremiah, ignorant of military ettiquette addressed the General first. From a desk in the corner rose the stern features of the secretary, and stared at Jeremiah long enough to instill within him an uncomfotable feeling that he had committed a gross blunder. The General, sensing Jeremiah's discomhture told him with a chuckle, My secretary is out of sorts today, you see, it has to do with a girl in the village-. Vifhereupon at this point the secretary made haste to retire into the next room. Jeremiah took heart, evidently the General was in good humor today judging from his joking banter. So Jeremiah summoning up his courage, let loose a deluge of words, an introduc- tory speech he had composed and then memorized. In his excitement he had risen from his chair and now that his speech was over he leaned exhausted, against the Generals desk for support. The General gulped and then said, You said something? A weak huh came from Jeremiah. The general unable to control himself any longer burst into loud laughter, Jeremiah laughed to because he thought the occasion demanded it. XXfhen their laughter had subsided General Washir1gton's face resumed its habitual worried expression. Page Eighty-eight

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.a,.as.as.4r- PURPLE B t.as,as.4t.a,.4 f PRR! . JJ J J J Page Ninety ing and then proceeded to the Colonel's headquarters. By the time he had reached his destination he had brought with him not only eight casks of beer but the entire Hessian Troop as well, One by one they had collected in back of the beer laden wagon and now they all were gathered in front of their Colonel's house. The Colonel himself came out on the balcony and addressed Jeremiah and the troop, Please accept my thanks, Herr Bullwinkle, you can set it in the basement, and then to the men, Tomorrow night is Christmas Eve and we shall celebrate in the proper manner. There will be no guard duty, a cheer went up among the men, That rabble across the river, sneered the Colonel, Bah, their commander is too wise a man to risk a battle with us trained soldiers. I want that all should be merry. That is all. Jeremiah unloaded the casks. He spent the remainder of the day among the Hessians, picking up scraps of information. By nightfall he was ready to return. XVhen just about opposite the American encampment, he hid his oxen in a nearby barn, and then went down to the river bank. He lit a small lantern, closed on three sides, so it was visible only to those stationed on the Pennsyl- vanian shore. Almost immediately a boat put off from the opposite shore. The boat made no sound, save for an occassional splash, Jeremiah had seen to it before that the boat's oars were padded. At length the boat picked him up and returned to the opposite shore. General Wfashington himself was there to receive him. As the boat grounded, the General called out excitedly, XVhat news, what news ? The Hessians are going to make merry tomorrow night, replied Jere- miah, and I reckon they'll all be dead drunk before midnight. The General strode rapidly towards his headquarters issuing orders as he went, Captain Lawsby, assemble the staff immediatelyng Jeremiah, come, follow me, we'll have need of you before the night it over. Five minutes later Wfashington addressed the statf in his headquarters, Gentlemen, tomorrow night we attack. Major Clark, have your men scour the river bank for boats. General Lincoln, demand volunteers to man the boats, see that all is in readiness for the attack, By the way, Gentlemen, I wish to introduce to you, Captain Bullwinkle.