The Gauntlets of Washington
Directed by J. Searle Dawley and Walter EdwinIn the year 1830 a poor old wayfarer wandered into a village. He was a man well on to 70; his tattered clothing was vaguely reminiscent of the Revolution; he carried a battered old drum which he was beating with martial rhythm hoping to obtain alms. The villagers jeered and laughed in scorn. The village squire, who happened to be passing, ordered the tavern-keeper to drive the old man away. The squire, himself an old man, was very much feared by the villagers who mocked and taunted the poor wanderer until he was almost reduced to tears. They left him alone in the street. He made a few steps forward with the idea of leaving the village when suddenly a new expression came into his wrinkled face, his figure straightened, and with a firm step surprising in so old a man, he followed his persecutors into the tavern and commenced to tell them a story. Shaking with emotion he drew from his breast an old military gauntlet. "See," he cried, "This belonged to George Washington. He gave it to me and the other to my friend, young farmer Curtis. I saw the General and two aides coming towards the farm. I called Widow Curtis, who came out in a fluster to receive him. He asked if he could rest there for a few hours. Hodges led away the horses. Hodges was mean; I suspected him. He hitched the horses and ran through the pasture and over the fence. I called young Curtis and we ran too. I told him about the General as we ran. 'What's Hodges running for and why are we following him?' he asked. 'I don't know,' I said, 'but it's mischief; don't let him see us.' We followed for three miles and it is well we did. He came to the old mill and some Hessians gathered around him. They were all excited. Hodges pointed towards the farm. We knew the traitor was telling the Hessians how they could take General Washington. We ran back, told the General, took down old Curtis' drum and fife and musket that hung in the kitchen and ran to the barn just as the Hessians came to the house. I shot one of them. Curtis played the fife. I dropped the musket and beat the drum and yelled and shouted and those Hessians ran like rabbits. They thought the whole American army was after them. General Washington gave each of us a gauntlet and here is the one he gave me." The squire had entered during the story and like the villagers stood in silence. The old man had worn himself out. The squire gently offering his arm for support said, "Come home with me, old friend. I am Curtis. I shall show you the other gauntlet."
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