Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-07-04
Major Zagonyi's Guide.
BY ANNIE SAWYER DOWNS.

On the morning of the oath day of Oc-
tober last, somewhat novel scene un-
rolled itself before the door of a quiet
farm house, about two miles from Spring
young lads had just raised a very modest
little flag and as the wind foated it
gracefully in the air, they gave three
cheers for the Stars and Stripes, cheers
which if not loud, were certainly hearty.
The younger Of the two women, Lucy
Dudly, mother of the boys, stood gazing
up to it, and as she thus gazed, her face
put on stern determination, aud she
murmured low, between her almost shut
teeth, 1t shan't come down again while
| live
Yes it will, mother broke in one of the
boys, for the seceshers are in town and
they'll make you
His mother did not notice him, but
turning to the older woman, said, for
Williams sake, mother, we'll keep it up.
Even before she had done speaking, the
sound Of horses feet was heard, and the
youngest boy, clinging to her dress, tried
to draw her into the house, crying out {;
There they come 0, mother, run -
While the old grandmother retreating |
behind the door, trembled visibly; but
the mother stood firm, awaiting the men
whom she knew only too well. Only one
little month before they shot down her
husband, like dog, because he said his
house was his own, and he should hoist
just what flag seemed to him best over it.
They shot him before her eyes, and his
hearts blood had sprinkled the very
ground where she stood, and ! wonder
not that the look in her eyes was scarcely
womanly. Down the road they came, a
dozen confederate rutiians, called soldiers
by courtesy, 'and chivalry' by Mr..
VIM. Russell. They were well armed
and mounted, and as they thundered up +
to the door the leader shouted, Down
with that damned Yankee rag if you
don't I'll blow your brains outP
No notice was taken, the woman might =
as we'll have been stone.
Lucy Dudly, don't you hear me ? and
he pointed his revolver at her. y
Il hear, Bill Armstrong
Blast ye, then, why don't ye mind ?
Because | won't b
You won't, won't you? and he fired, g
but missed. He swore madly at his z
horse for shying; and as he did so, she c,
said, This is my house, and this is my b
flag want it here and shall have it here. 81
You can shoot me and then pull it down d,
you certainly won't before e,
One man shouted we amt cut br
throats we don't kill women and chill o
dren.' bI
You have killed women and children re
more than once was the taunted answer. oil
Several Of the men, old neighbors of TO
hers, felt the thrust and quailed before W
her eye, while others drew their pistols, gt
but the leader throwing up the weapon OF
nearest him went on w
Wal, Lucy, victuals and drink we To
have got to have, and we won't go under ne
that cussed rag ul
'Victuals and drink can't help your W 10
having, but if l am going to get them for u"
you, you come in through this door, ,"'
Evidently her look daunted them, for 'f'
bold as they were, they were bad, and III
they knew it so with rude laugh the
captain dismounted, shouted, 'come on
boys = and leaving their horses to the o.
,are of the children, they one after anoth-
Or went into the kitchen, and drank
'agerly of the whiskey set before them. -,
AS they thus drank, they became won :.
lerfuly communicative and, listning
eagerly, Lucy heard that they had a.
'een sent out from Springfield, with some A.
ifty others, to see if anything could be 49,
cen of the advance guard of Fremont's :1
'rmy, who were supposed to be in that 49,
vicinity. She found that this party bad -
een stopping at one house and another, -.
rinking and devastating, and very nat -
lrally had divided, and that Armstrong
meant to wait until the rest came up, and ,T,
tart for the town together from her house.
She likewise learned that they had not -.
cen anything of the Lincoln soldiers r..
'he gave them their fill of liquor, she let /"
hem eat the best the house afforded, and and
: sue was 'ahing p''cner 10 get more rigt
'hiskey, her keen ears caught the sound T
distant fife. Armstrong heard it evel
DO, and with an oath, said them lazy glitt
lbbers of his were at last coming, and BAN
he old woman must take some more not
odgers along her
Lucy had taken the pitcher, and clos gall