"It was not long after this, during the absence of Jacob YanTu.- sel on one of his forays, and when no one was in garrison but his stouthearted spouse, his redoubtable sister, Nochie Van Wurmer, and a strapping negro wench called Dinah, that an armed vessel came to anchor off the Roost and a boat full of men pulled to shore. The garrison flew to arms -- that is to say, to mops, broomsticks, shovels, tongs, and all kinds of domestic weapons -- for unluckily, the great piece'"! ordnance, the goose-gun, was absent with its owner. Above all, a vigorous defence was made with that most potent of female weapons the tongue. Never did invaded hen-roost make a more vociferous outcry. It was all in vain. The house was sacked and plundered, tire was set to each corner, and, in a few moments, its blaze shed a baleful light iar

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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

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over the Tappan Sea. The invaders then pounced upon the blooming Laney Van Tassel, the beauty of the Roost, and endeavored to bear her oil to the boat. But here was the real tug of war. The mother, the aunt, and tire strapping negro wench, all flew to the rescue. The struggle continued down to the very water's edge, when a voice from the armed vessel at anchor ordered the spoilers to let go their hold. They relinquished the prize, jumped into their boats, and pulled off, and the heroine of the Roost escaped with a mere rumpling of the feathers. Shortly after the catastrophe of the Roost, Jacob VanTassel, in the course of one of his forays, fell into the hands of the British, was sent prisoner to New York, and was detained in captivity for the greater part of the war.