Theodore Winthrop

“ At the present day we never take too much of our anodynes and our stimulants. One weed, one toddy, one wife, one million, one Presidential term, — whenever wisdom whispers, Satis, we pause and echo, “Satis ’t is.” Wisdom was younger in Jierck’s time. ”

“ It is not pleasant to betray the errors of the past; but it is a truth grave in this history that the unhappy fellow had much more than enough when, at half past eight, he halted his party under cover of the shrubbery on the lawn at Brothertoft Manor-House. ”

“ He stopped by the kitchen window of his father’s house and peered in.
The family were at supper. These were the early years of the Revolution, and war had not yet utterly desolated this region. Squire Dewitt’s was still a prosperous household, and he, a fine old patriarch, presided at a liberal board. ”

“ Jierck filled it from the jug, and made for the barn, just in time to evade pretty Kate carrying supper to the others and her Hendrecus.
Supper was done. Dusk was come. Jierck set out with his party for the rendezvous. The peril was considerable. Hanging was the penalty for being caught. So they sharpened their eyes, pricked up their ears, trod softly, and tried to persuade the runt pony to do the same. Jierck brought up the rear, in a state of sullen contempt.
At the cross-roads Major Skerrett and his companion met them. It was night now in the woods. ”