Litchfield enquirer., 1862-06-26
MAJOR zAeoNYI,ss GUIDE.
BY ANNIE SAWYER DOWNS.

.a MAJOR zAGoNYrs GUIDE, os sa tgas ;. BY ANNIE SAWYER DOWNS. 4al sa@ F vT.as4ai 5sff.tg af Y ----r. gEsi sa8 se5HSsa On the morning of the .24th day of last Octo Der, a somewhat novel scene unrolled itself be fore the door of quiet farm house, about two miles from Springfield, Missouri. Two womer and three young lads had just raised very mod est little flag; and as the wind foated it grace fully in the air, they gave three cheers for the stars and stripes, cheers which if not loud were certainly hearty. The younger of the women
 Lucy Dudly, mother of the boys, stood gazing up to it, and as she thus gazed, her face put or a look of stern determination, and she murnured low. between her almest shut teeth, 1t .shant come down again while I live" ."arg7ass 5.:z5a |e~tfYes twill mother, broke in one of the boys Tor the seceshers are in town again, and they'll make you s' -s''7''' : *e1' s.'- tt- fe His mother didnst notice him, but turning te the; older woman said, reFora Williams sake mother, we'll keep it np' Even before she had done speaking, the sound of horses feet was heard, and the youngest boy, clinging to hel dress, tried to draw. her into the house, crying out, there they come: o mother runp While the old grandmother retreatiDg behind the door trembling 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 be- fore her eyes, and his hearts blood had sprink- led the very ground where she stood, and won- der not that the look in her eyes was scarce wo- manly. Down the road they came dozen con federate ruffans, called soldiers by courtesy, and .chivalry' by Mr. William 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 out ~ : ,s ~ 'td -.ni.
 No notice was taken, the woman might as we'll have b en stone.
 Luce Dudly don't ye hear me 2 and he point ed his revolver at her.. rEd 20 a.rac' II 1ss
 hear, Bill Armstrong; ..,..f,.sT
 Blast ye, then, why don't ye mind?' ,.
 Because won't @. a a'ta'7>i
 You won't, won't youY and he fired but missed. He swore madly at his horse for shy ing and as he did 50, she said, this is my house and this is my flag want it here and shall have it here. You can shoot me and then pull it down; you certainly won't before. i
 One man shouted, We aint cut throats; we don't kill women and children
 You have killed women and children more than once,' was the tauntng answer. Several of the men, old neighbors of hers, felt the thrust and quailed before her eye, while others drew their pistols, but the leader throwing up the wea- pon nearest to him went on. ?. / -'r i. :.
 Wal, Luce, victuals and drink we've got to have, and we won't go under that cussed rag
 'Victuals and drink can't help your having, but if am going to get them for you, you come in through this door, -st ..I-s -..
 Evidently her look daunted them. for bold as they were, they were bad, and they knew it; so with rude laugh the captain dismounted, and shouted, Come on boys and leaving their hor- other wentinto tine. kitchen, and drank eagerly of the whiskey set before them. As they thus drank, they become wonderfully communicative; and listening eagerly, Lucy heard that they had been sent out from Spring field, with some fifty others, to see if anything could be seen of the advance guard of Fremont's army, who were sup posed to be in the vicinity. She found that this party had been stopping at one house and an- other, drinking and devastating, and very natur- ally had divided, and that Armstrong meant to wait until the rest came up, and start for the town together from the house. She likewise learned that they had not seen anything of Lin colns soldiers. She gave them their fill of li- quor, she let them eat the best the house afford ed and as she was taking pitcher to get more whiskey her keen ears caught the sound of a dis tant fife. Armstrong heard it too, and with an oath, said them lazy lubbers of his were at last coming, and the old woman must take some more dodgers along. I'd. G esara..- , Q. ..3,Jr,
 Lucy had taken the pitcher, and closed the door behind her, almost flew out into the yard, and taking the oldest boy by the shoulder, said in Q terribly hoarse voice, Tom run for your fn ho fba 1oro nd toll those men you meet to take down their flag, stop playing Yankee Doodle and come up through the lane with you, and they can get eve " one of these men. Don't let the grass grow under your feet, boy Er sr.z2l+:@. sa5 s-g - The wind had brought to her ears, what it never whispered to those drunken men, that in stead of their comrades their sternest foes would be around them. And all her energies were d- rected to keeping them still in the ignorance so fatal to them. -..-. ......
 Meanwhile Tommy's tow head shot over the meadow, over the wall, through the narrow lane, reaching the great road just as a mounted band of men came in sight. He mounted e stump, waved his jacket. and the foremost among them stopped. a.s,rs...ve-5 ss~-s ,s'., v-ys-.r, 2" Marm wants your fling man to stop playing that thing, and have down that 'ere flag, and come up to our house through the lane. Come on now -s 4.5.s. ,a... -....... ..a.s-, !;
 He was starting but Zayonyi stopped him. I don't understand, boy; what does she want ? F-
 Tom was indignant. Wants you to nab some seceshers up to our house, but you needn'tcome If you don't wanter.' .zgzg-ss .. 2. .,.. -z- if
 Something in his face struck one of the men and he said Who is your marm, boy?
 Lucy Dudly.' '' s-t .-2 5.-s t'Fess s'1
 { Go ahead, major,' shouted the fellow. She's true blood they shot her husband month ago..
 Zagonyi followed by portion of his men, wheeled into the lane, trying to keep Tommy in sight; and soon they came in view of the low house, and the noisy mirth of the confederates was distinctly heard. Armstrong never suspect ed, even ordering Mrs. tDudly to show lem right in.' She went to the door and they needed not that she should speak her piercing, eager look told everything. They surrounded the room, Za- gonyi's clear voice ordered those inside to sur render, while at the same moment, the ffer gave an exultant-
 { .isni Yankee Doodle's come to town, l. <
 la Yankee Doodle dandy 1a ena l@sii et@i Armstrong saw the trap, and fired his revolver, hitting the gray-haired old grandmother, levelins her with the ground. Nobody noticed the shot excepting Tom, and as he held her bleeding head on his knees, he never shed a tear but he is on one of Commodore Foote's gunboats as pow der monkeyyto-day, and he never hands charge but he thinks of that terrible hour. One or two on both sides were wounded, but the struggle was soon over, and the rebels marched out bound to gether with old chains, which the boys very glad I ly found. Zagonyi must take the prisoners witt him, for men couldn't be spared to guard them
 and as they were ali in front ot the door before