, as often as an officer showed a disposition to
retire. Captain Plunkett took the advantage of this circumstance, and
putting on his new coat, at the moment that the relief of the guard was
taking place, sallied forth, twirling a switch carelessly about and
ordering the exterior door of the prison to be opened, walked without
opposition into the street. Repairing without delay to the habitation of
his fair friend, he was received with kindness, and for some days
secreted and cherished with every manifestation of affectionate regard.
To elude the vigilance of the British Guards, if he attempted to pass
into the country, in his present dress was deemed impossible. Woman's
wit, however, is never at a loss for contrivances, while swayed by the
influences of love or benevolence. Both, in this instance, may have
aided invention. Plunkett had three strong claims in his favour: he was
a handsome man--a soldier--and an Irishman. The general propensity of
the Quakers, in favor of the Royal cause, exempted the sect in a great
measure from suspicion, in so great a degree indeed, that the barriers
of the city were generally entrusted to the care of their members, as
the best judges of the characters of those persons who might be allowed
to pass them, without injury to the British interests. A female Friend,
of low origin, officiating as a servant in a farm near the city, was in
the family, on a visit to a relative. A pretext was formed to present
her with a new suit of clothes, in order to possess that which she wore
when she entered the city. Captain Plunkett was immediately disguised as
a woman, and appeared at the barrier accompanied by his anxious
deliverer. 'Friend Roberts,' said the enterprising girl, 'may this
damsel and myself pass to visit a friend at a neighbouring farm?'
'Certainly,' said Roberts, 'go forward.' The city was speedily left
behind, and Captain Plunkett found himself safe under the protection of
Colonel Allen M'Lean, a particular friend of his. Whether Captain
Plunkett ever married the young girl who had rendered him such service,
I cannot say; but you may fancy he did, and it will make a pretty
story."

"Well, now we have had enough of the women," said Kinnison.

"Yes," said Hand, "and now we must have something more of the men of the
Revolution. Come, which of you will tell something about George
Washington--the Father of his Country?"

"I can tell you of an important incident in the career of Washington