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WHIG AGAINST TORY:

OR, THE

MILITARY ADVENTURES OF A SHOEMAKER.

A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

FOR CHILDREN.


1851.



CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION

CHAP. I. Gen P. tells about the early life of Enoch Crosby.

CHAP. II. Gen. P. tells about the war, and how Crosby enlisted as a
soldier for one campaign.

CHAP. III. Gen. P. tells how Crosby again enlisted as a soldier, and
of his singular adventures.

CHAP. IV. Gen. P. tells how Crosby enlisted in the service of the
Committee of Safety, and how he was taken prisoner.

CHAP. V. Gen. P. tells about how Crosby's visit to a mountain cave--
how he was again taken prisoner--and the manner in which he escaped.

CHAP. VII. Gen. P. tells about the farther adventures of Crosby--how
he was obliged to show his secret pass--how he resided at a
Dutchman's--how afterwards he was cruelly beaten and wounded.--
Conclusion.



INTRODUCTION.

"Will you tell me a story this evening, father?" asked William P., a
fine lad of twelve years of age, the son of General P., who had been a
gallant officer in the revolutionary war.

"And what story shall I tell you, my son?" said the general.

"Something about the war, father."

"You are always for hearing about the war, William," said General P.
"I have told you almost all the stories I recollect. And besides,
William, if you love to hear about war so well, when you are young,
you will wish to be a soldier, when you become a man."

"And would you not wish to have me a soldier, father, if war should
come?--you was once a soldier, and I have heard people say, that you
was very brave, and fought like a hero!"

"Well, well, William," said the general, "I must tell you one story
more. Where are Henry and John? You may call them--they will like to
hear the story too."

(_Enter William, Henry and John_.)

_Henry_. "Father! William says you are going to tell us a story about
the war! what----"

[Illustration]

_John_. "Shall you tell us about some battle, where you fought?"

_Gen. P_. "Sit down, my children, sit down. Did I ever tell you about
_Enoch Crosby_?"

_William_. "_Enoch Crosby_? why, I never heard of such a man."

_Henry_. "Nor did I."

_Gen. P_. "I suppose not; but he was a brave man, and did that for his
country, which is worthy to be told."

_John_. "Was he a general, father?"

_Gen. P_. "No; he was a _spy_."

_William_. "A spy! a spy! father, I thought a spy was an odious
character?"

_Gen. P_. "Well, a real spy is generally so considered. I think it
would be more appropriate to say, that he was an _informer_. During
the war, many Americans were employed to obtain information about the
enemy. They were often soldiers, and received pay, as did the
soldiers, and sometimes obtained information, which was very
important, especially about the _tories_, or such Americans as
favoured the British cause."

_Henry_. "Is that the meaning of the word tory?"

_Gen. P_. "Yes; tories were Americans, who wished that the British
aims might succeed, and the king of England might still be king of the
colonies. Those who wished differently, and who fought against the
British, were called _whigs_."

_John_. "Was Crosby a whig?"

_Gen. P_. "Yes; no man could be more devoted to the liberty of his
country."

_William_. "Whence were the names whig and tory derived?"

_Gen. P_. "Do you wish to know the _original meaning_ of the words, my
son?"

_William_. "Yes, sir."

_Gen. P_. "The word _tory_, the learned Webster says, was derived from
the Irish, in which language it signifies a _robber. Tor_, in that
language, means a _bush_; and hence _tory_, a robber, or bushman;
because robbers often secrete themselves in the bushes. The meaning of
the word _whig_, I am unable to tell you. Its origin is uncertain. It
was applied, as I told you, to those who fought for the liberty of
America."

_William_. "If the word tory means a robber, it was very properly
applied to those, who wished to _rob_ the people of America of their
rights--don