alone in the parlor, with nothing to disturb their happiness, and time passed so pleasantly with Dixon, that it became later than he was aware, when he intended to leave. Amelia kindly asked how long he should remain at Fishkill, but he could not say, though he supposed Washington would remove the army as soon as there was no prospect of a battle being fought in this vicinity. He said, however, that he would endeavor to see her again before leaving, and then bade her a good evening.

Dixon now retraced his steps towards headquarters. The villagers had all retired to rest, and nothing was heard but the sentinel pacing his nightly round, and the howling of the wind that was sweeping through the village, with short and fitful gusts. As he passed the large tree under which he and Amelia had sat that day, during the intermission, his mind reverted to those happy moments passed together there. He cast his eye around and saw his country's flag floating in the moonbeams, and waving to the breeze, and as he gazed upon the spot that but a few hours since had found him so happy, he felt an anguish beyond all expression. He was now an officer of rank, yet he would cheerfully resign his commission, and leave for his native State and home, if he could possess the lovely object of his affections, from whom he had just parted. The kind reception he had met with at Captain Swart's, and the treatment he had received that day, awakened new emotions in his bosom. It encouraged him to repeat his visit, and at the same time inspired him with fresh hope, and he quickly retreated to his resting place at Derrick Brinckerhoff's. Scarcely had he got to sleep

when the startling cry of fire awoke him from his slumbers. The Mills belonging to Mr. Brinckerhoff were now enveloped in flames, and the fire had made such progress before it was discovered that all efforts to extinguish it proved unavailing, and the morning light witnessed a heap of smouldering ruins. How the fire originated was never ascertained. The troops had liberty to leave the encampment every day at certain hours, and they had committed many depredations. The Presbyterian church, near Brinckerhoff's, was considerably damaged by the soldiers, who had taken the siding off as far up as they could reach, to boil their camp kettles, and they had also destroyed most of the fences along the highway, from the headquarters to the village. General Washington ordered every soldier into the encampment, and gave strict orders to the sentinel not to let one pass without a written order from their officers. He at the same time offered gratuitously a sufficient number of men to rebuild at once the mills destroyed. Accordingly a large number of soldiers were immediately set to work, some in hauling timbers, some as carpenters, hewing and framing, and in a short time the present Mills were ready for occupation.

The country at that time was comparatively new, and wore a different aspect from the present. Dark, dense forests were interspersed from the village down to Fishkill Landing, some of them extending along the line of highway, and not enclosed. No smiling village greeted the eye of the traveler by the way, and the now beautiful Matteawan was nothing but an extensive field, while the village of Fishkill Landing had but

a few isolated dwellings. Johnsville could boast of but one solitary dwelling, and Stormville had but two, including a tavern. From Stormville to Fishkill Village was an extended forest. The mode of traveling was mostly with heavy lumber wagons, having a coarse box resting on the bolster, the seats in which were chairs taken from the house. The lines and traces of the harness were of rope, and the dress of both sexes, was of home manufacture, coarse and cumbersome. Education was not by any means as universally diffused then as at the present time, and school houses were scarce throughout the country. There was an academy east of the village, near the present Presbyterian parsonage, which was under the supervision of Rev. Chauncey Graham. It was a small building, with a cupola and bell, and was taken down shortly after the Revolution and re-built at Poughkeepsie. The Episcopal Church in the village of Fishkill was built prior to the Revolution, and was surmounted with a tall steeple, which was taken off about the year eighteen hundred and ten, as it was considered dangerous. The small-pox broke out about this time in the army, and this church was then used as a hospital. The soldiers' graveyard was at the foot of the mountain, near the residence of Isaac I. Van Wyck. There was a newspaper printed in the village at that time, which was the only one in the county. It was edited by Samuel Louden, who had fled from New York city when the British took possession of it, and he here established his press at the place now the residence of John C.Van Wyck. Before Washington left Fishkill, Dixon had an opportunity to make another visit at the residence of

Captain Swart, and as he knew he would be obliged to take leave soon, he resolved to lose no time in making his business known; and as a favorable opportunity offered, he addressed himself to his dear Amelia, telling her the object of his visit, that he had come to offer himself to her, and desired to know at once her conclusion, as his time would not admit of any delay. Amelia admired the appearance of the young officer, for he was uniformed in a style becoming his high rank, and he had letters from his native State showing that he belonged to some of the first families. Amelia was much agitated at the sudden proposal, and her whole frame was convulsed with tremor. She hesitated for a time, deeming her acquaintance so very short, though he was unquestionably an officer of rank and related to distinguished families in Virginia, and she at length suggested that if he would resign his commission and retire to his plantation, she would consent to marry him, to which he readily assented. Dixon lost no time in tendering to Washington his resignation, which was accepted, and the marriage ceremony soon took place, Dixon and Amelia soon leaving for his native State. They settled on his large plantation, where they lived the remainder of their days in peace and happiness.

Captain Swart had several sons, who as they grew up became intemperate and great spendthrifts, who wasted his property, and at the close of the war of 1812 he died. His family soon spent the remainder of his property, and left for parts unknown, and the name has become extinct in the town of Fishkill.

FARMER JONES;

OR, THE DISCONTENTED MAN.

All mankind are in pursuit of happiness, and how many different ways do men pursue it. Some pursuing one vocation, some another. "How few, alas, possess it in this world," thought farmer Jones, as, he returned home from the labors of the day. It was the season of haying and harvesting, and farmer Jones had been swinging his scythe all day through his big meadow, as he called it, with his workmen; for he wanted to finish his haying that week. He had been a long month engaged in his harvest and hay, and he was worn down with the severe labor of that busy season. Mowing was then done with the scythe, for it was before the invention of mowing machines, and the labor of getting hay was more laborious than at the present day. Farmer Jones' home was always made pleasant to him, for his wife was industrious, and she knew that her husband was tired and she had supper ready as soon as he and his workmen arrived. She, too, was tired of the busy season of haying, for her husband employed several extra workmen, and as soon as the haying season was over they would be discharged. Farmer Jones had never been engaged in any business