Moore commanded him not to obey. The tories repeated the order, accompanied with a threat to beat him if he refused. The command of the young girl was reiterated, and just as the tory was about putting his threat into execution, she threw herself between them, and preserved the slave from the intended violence.

At one time, great danger was threatening Captain Wallace, who commanded a small force, a few miles distant. It was of the utmost importance that this intelligence should be conveyed to him, but there was no male whose services could be commanded, and, therefore, Miss Moore volunteered to convey the message herself. This was when she was but fifteen. Midnight was chosen as the hour, and accompanied by her little brother, and a female friend, she set out in a canoe up the river towards the encampment of the whigs. Silently and swiftly they propelled their frail vessel up the dark current, through forests buried in darkness, and a profound silence that awed them; with the calm stars above, and the deep river gloomily rolling by, and no human sounds to relieve the oppressive solemnity of the hour. It was the hour too, when the enemy usually set out on their marauding expeditions, and the young girls knew that neither their sex, nor innocence would preserve them from ruthless foes, who were more relentless and cruel, than the swarthy savages of the forest, But the fate of many of their countrymen depended on their exertions, and, as it proved, the future destiny of our heroine, was involved in the successful issue of their enterprise. Undismayed by the perils of the journey, the young girls bent their energies to the task before them, and at last saw lights glimmering in the distance, that pointed out their destination. They soon reached the encampment, a picturesque scene, with the ruddy glow from the camp fires, casting the surrounding scene in still greater shadow,

and motley groups of figures gathered around the fires, sleeping, talking, eating, &c. After delivering the warning to Captain Wallace, the girls embarked in their canoe to return, and soon left the encampment behind, winding their way through dense forests, and reached their home in safety.

The next morning, a handsome and gallant looking American officer, rode up to the door of Captain Savage's residence, and requested to make a few inquiries of the young lady, by whose energy and zeal her countrymen had been saved from an impending danger. Miss Moore appeared, and when her youthful and blooming beauty greeted the eyes of the young officer, an exclamation of pleasure burst from his lips. He almost forgot to make his inquiries, until reminded by the blushing damsel, but her voice rather increased than relieved his embarrassment. his questions having been at last answered, and having no excuse by which to prolong the interview, he was reluctantly compelled to depart, but his eyes to the last rested on the fair girl's form. It is said that the young lady was no less struck with the handsome dragoon's figure, and that his face came often to her in her dreams that night.

All

It was not long before the young officer made an excuse for again visiting the house where resided the beauty who had bound him captive to her charms, and as these impressions were reciprocal, he soon discovered welcome in her manner, and drew happy auguries therefrom. He became an accepted suitor. But their love in a measure verified the old adage. The step-father opposed the union; at first strenuously, but the perseverance of the lover, gradually broke down his opposition, and he eventually yielded consent.

It was not till 1784, that Miss Moore became united to Captain William Butler, afterwards General Butler, member of Congress, from 1801 till 1814, and commander of the southern forces, as Major General, during the last war with Great Britain.

Mrs. Butler filled a distinguished place in society, and was celebrated for her lofty virtues, high intelligence, and graceful refinement. Her distinguished husband died in 1821, but not until quite recently was she called upon to close her mortal career.

ADVENTURES OF MR. FERRIS.

Ar early morn, of a day in September, 1776, a long line of boats put off from the enemy's fleet, which for some days had been lying nearly opposite Throg's Neck, on Long Island sound, and approached in an imposing manner to the shore. The gay regimentals of the soldiers, and the glittering bayonets that threw back the sun's rays in floods of brilliant and dazzling light, with the sounds of martial music, and the occasional solemn booming of a gun, presented a beautiful and inspiriting scene. But to the residents of the country, who were tremblingly watching the disembarkation, the pageant was only one of terror, and as with heavy hearts they watched the invaders land upon their soil, their bosoms sunk in hopeless despair, and a long era of oppression, suffering, and imprisonment was opened to them, of which this was the first scene in the drama.

In the house of James Ferris, a large land holder, and wealthy farmer, residing on the Neck, a cheerful and happy family group were gathered at the morning meal. But as they arose from the

table, the appalling sight burst upon their view, and in an instant peace and contentment were changed into dismay and terror. Part of the troops had already landed, and their danger was imminent. Mr. Ferris was aged and crippled, and thus escape to him was impossible, but his son, Thomas Ferris, a young man of twenty, he determined to save for future services to his country. The trembling hands of the whole family group, were immediately engaged in preparing him for departure; his clothes were hastily tied up in a handkerchief, and with his musket thrown over his shoulder, he sprang upon the horse ready saddled at the door, and galloped off toward the head of the Neck. But he was observed. by the British, and a party sent to prevent his escape. He succeeded, however, in reaching the head of the Neck before his ene-mies, but as he crossed the bridge, a volley of musketry was discharged after him by the disappointed soldiery. Not a bullet touched him, however, and he hurried forward to join the American ranks.

The members of the family, whose peace had been thus suddenly disturbed, meanwhile, remained in the most keen anxiety as to the fate of the fugitive. The discharges which they heard did not serve to allay their fears, but the approach of the enemy to the door, turned their thoughts to their own danger. Mr. Ferris had hoped that his age, and his inaction in the contest, would preserve him from molestation. But he was mistaken. When, indeed, in the course of the war, was a dependence on British mercy justified! He was ruthlessly seized, and torn from his family, despite their entreaties, and sent to New York as a prisoner. We are all aware of the terrible sufferings of the American captives confined in New York, and of the attrocities practiced upon them by their inhuman keepers. Mr. Ferris was thrown into the old

sugar-house prison, where, subjected to every exposure, half starved, and compelled to eat the unwholesome food placed before him, he contracted a disease which then prevailed among the pri soners. His strength became utterly prostrated, and he was brought to an extremity of suffering, difficult to realize. But during the term of his confinement, Mrs. Ferris, who was a determined and resolute woman, went into the city for the purpose of attempting to procure his liberation. Undaunted by the innumerable obstacles in such an attempt, and undismayed by the almost utter hopelessness, she persevered to the last, and eventually procured his release. But it was at an hour when disease had wasted his strength, and death was hovering so close upon him that his captors considered him of no more danger to the cause of his majesty. The devoted wife bore him to her home, only to see him die. It was but a few days after he was borne out from his pestilential dungeon, that he was carried to his last earthly abode; and the soil that rested upon his bosom, covered one of the many martyrs who purchased the liberty of their country, not in the wild excitement of the battle field, but in the silent, slow, and unanimated agonies of the dungeon; by the cancker of suffering that eat into their souls and consumed their heart-strings.

Thomas Ferris, young and active, with a vigorous and powerful frame, now became one of the deadliest and most dangerous enemies to the invader. We can readily imagine that the horrors which surrounded his father's untimely end, gave an edge to his animosity, and often nerved his arm in the contest. He was generally employed in collecting information of the movements of the British forces, and this duty brought him into frequent connection with Luther Kennicut, one of those persons employed by the commander-in-chief to frequent the camp of the enemy in the