Tarleton, trembling with rage, turned to the young officer who stood close by intently watching the scene, and said: "Captain, where is this woman's husband?" He answered: "Under guard in yonder tent." "Order him to be brought here," and soon Charlie Mackey stood before the valiant Tarleton. "Sir" said he, "you have been convicted of bearing arms against His Majesty's government; worse, you have been convicted of being a spy. You have dared to enter my lines in disguise as a spy, and you cannot deny it, but for the sake of your wife I will give you a full pardon on condition that you will take an oath never again to bear arms against the King's government."
"Sir," said Charlie Mackey, in the firmest tones, "I cannot accept pardon on these terms. It must be unconditional or I must die," and poor Lydia Mackey cried out, "I, too, must die." On her knees she plead with such fervor and eloquence that Tarleton seemed lost for a moment and hesitated; then turning to the young Captain he said with quivering lips and a voice choking with emotion:
"Captain, for God's sake sign my name to this paper, and let this woman go."
With this, Mrs. Mackey sank to the ground exhausted, and Col. Tarleton rode off, doubtless happier for having spared the life of the heroic Lydia's husband.
The history of the American Revolution can hardly present a more interesting tableau than that of Lydia Mackey begging the life of her husband at the hands of the brave and bloody Tarleton, and it is probable that the "Lydia Mackey victory" was the first ever gained over the heart of this redoubtable commander, and it is very certain that Charles Mackey was the only condemned prisoner ever liberated by him without taking the oath of allegience to the Mother Country.--MRS. F. H. ORME, _Atlanta Chapter, D. A. R._
In most instances, the state floral emblems have been adopted by the vote of the pupils of the public schools of their respective states.
Alabama, goldenrod. Arizona, suwarso. Arkansas, apple blossoms. California, California poppy. Colorado, columbine. Connecticut, mountain laurel. Delaware, peach blossoms. Florida, Japan camellia. Georgia, Cherokee rose. Idaho, syringa. Illinois, rose. Indiana, corn. Iowa, wild rose. Kansas, sunflower. Louisiana, magnolia. Maine, pine cone. Michigan, apple blossom. Minnesota, moccasin flower. Mississippi, magnolia. Missouri, goldenrod. Montana, bitter-root. Nebraska, goldenrod. New Jersey, sugar maple. Nevada, sage brush. New York, moss rose. New Mexico, crimson rambler rose. North Carolina, chrysanthemum. North Dakota, goldenrod. Ohio, buckeye. Oklahoma, mistletoe. Oregon, Oregon grape. Rhode Island, violet. South Carolina, Carolina palmetto. South Dakota, pasque flora. Texas, blue bonnet. Utah, sago lily. Vermont, red clover. Washington, rhododendron. Wisconsin, violet.