Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-12-21

woman VIM opSuou tue uooE.
"My husband does not allow me to give
anything to Travellers" she said, "but al
ways feel for the poor soldiers coming
back, and I'll give you some supper if you
won't be long eating it, and she wiped her
eyes with her white and blue checked
apron, and set with alacrity about provi-
ding refreshments for the poor man, who
had thrown himself in the nearest chair,
and with his head leaning on his breast,
seemed too tired even to remove his hat.
/" l am glad to have you eat, and l
would not hurry you up for anything" she
said in frightened way, "but you will
eat quick, won't you? for expect every
moment he will be in
The man drew his chair to the table,
keeping his hat on his head as if he be-
longed to the society of Friends, but that
could not be, for the friends do not go to
the wars. He ate heartily of the bread
and butter and cold meat, and how long
he was about it
Mrs. Tompkius fdgetcd. "Dear me-"
she said to herself, "if he only knew, he
wouldn't be so cruel as to let Tompkins
come in and catch him here" She went
and looked from the window uneasily
but the soldier gave no token of his meal
coming to an end. "Now he is pouring
vinegar over the cold cabbage and pota
toes. l can't ask him TO take those away
in hand Oh dear, how slow he is, hasn't
the man any teeth" At last she said
mildly, 81 am very sorry to hurry you,
sir, but couldn't you let me spread some
bread and butter, and cut you some slices
of meat to take away with you. My hus.
band will use abusive language to you if
he finds you here"
Before the soldier could reply, footsteps
were heard on the door. stone at the back
door, and man entered. He stopped
short, and looked at the soldier as saw
age dog might look. Then he broke out
i'll tone between growl and roar.
! "Heyday, Molly, a pretty piece of
business! What have l told you time
and again, madam You'll find that you
had better mind your master. And you,
you lazy, thieving vagabond, let me Sec
you clear out cf my house and off of my
land good deal quicker than you came
on the premises!'
"Yom house and gou land |" ex,
claimed the soldier, starting suddenly up,
erect and tall, and dashing off his hat with
a quick, fiery gesture. His eyes flashed
like lightning, and his lips quivered with
Indignation as he confronted the astonished
Tompkins. The latter was afraid of him,
and his wife had given sudden, nervous
shrek when the soldier first started to his
feet and flung off his hat, and had sunk
trembling aud half,tainting in chair, for
she recognized him.
You haint any business to interfere
between me and my wife" said Tompkins
sulkily, cowed by the attitude of the sol.
der.
"Yonr wife, exclaimed tie soldier
with the very concentration OF contempt
expressed in his voice, and pointing to him
with an indignant finger.
"Who are you ?" asked Tompkins, with
an air of effrontery.
I" I am Harry Jones, since you ask, re-
piled the soldier, "thc owner of this house,
and this land, which you will leave this
very hour! As for Molly, softening his
tone as he turned to the woman, now Sob
bing Historically, "shc shall choose be-
tween US"
o Harry! sobbed she, while Tomp-
kins stood dumb with astonishment, "tako
me, save NE p'
With one step he was at her side, hold.
ing her in his arms, " What did you
mean, treating this poor child so! Did
you think because she had no earthly pro.
tector that there was not God in heaven
against yorl"
No man who is cruel to a woman is ever
truly brave, and Tompkins skunk away
, like beaten spaniel.
The next day had not passed away be-
fore everybody in the town knew that
Harry Jones had come home alive and
well to rescue his much, enduring, patient
I wife from worse oonstraint than that Of
a British prison; but what they all said
and what Harry said, and what Molly
felt, l must leave you to imagine, for here
the legend ends.
Avn LVbon Commodora Tatnall, now