Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-01-03
THE EVENING STAR.
d Is SING
BY MRS. II. Z G. ARIY.

THE rebels II shoot you," said his mother
.My! The rebels was wuss scared than the
Unions, said Moses. "There amt q rebel no.
where In the dIggins to-day. The cowsis SAFER
man they have been these three weeks"
"1 ou'd better not 20, Nose; something IL
happen; sides. them potaters want hauling"
.Reckon III co." said Nose decidedly. 81
shall be back about noon-then 1 can haul'ta-
srs The ret Of the day"
IL was fall three O'Clock In the afternoon
when Moses returned-driyins his wagon care
tally and slowly over The rolling prairie.
What d. ye 'spose Nose has got 4. the
wagon Z" said Judy, the ebony "contraband,"
who had been hired by her master to Mr.. Wat
ACE for The summer, rushing into the house with
nyirg leap Judy had been out on the run TO
Feet the wagon, and had returned more rapidly
than SIZE went.
"wbat has he - said Mrs. Watson, drop
ping her work, and locking st-rnly At the con-
"A dead sojer7"
"Whatr'
"A dead soier, ni>sus."
mo such thing. What's Ia bringing home a
ssad,oier forl They always buries them when
Perhaps be isn't dead 'xactly, but hc'sa
EmE'
'.Sstes aIiver' cried Mrs. Watson, rushing
ert CT the house with her cap strings fying
behind her. and followed closely by the contra
band "W hat have you got there, MoseF'
"A soldier said Moses. ale had cravled
onf into the bush and got left / couldn't leave
hmm there TO die nohow."
rsHeIl die, said Mrs Watson
Wen nUss him up said Judy.
81 put him Ii the wagon to what we could
DO II I'D known he'd die on the way should
a uied-could not leave him there"
"Iou must get doctor" said AIRS. Watson,
who had been investig ating, and, upon raising
Ihe corners Of the handkerchief that the soldier
had evidently tied about his head, had dis
severed an ugly wound. Hell die quick If
You DON'T
Hes shot in the leg, too, said Nose, Tearing
down from the wagon; and hurrying into The
stable, be jumped bareback upon his mustang
and went whizzing OF over the prairie in
state OF excitement and at speed 10 which
even he was unaccustomed.
sie was fortunate enough 10 overtakc, within
Q few miles, division OF the army vhich was
having rest, and after some little difficulty TO
find a surgeon, who had been detained by mis-
duties and WAS now hurrying on, some what
inpatently. to regain the body Of the army.
"fou must come TO my house, quick SAID
Hoses, riding huTriedly up TO the surgeon Oh
his wild hItle mustang. There's a soldier
there. shot most 10 pieces"
"Cant GO back now" said the surgeon
shortly, impatient at the rough address and
roIgher message Who is he!''
"a DunhO'
"A rebel, suppose Get your own dce.or,,
"Aint 10 rebel said Moses, keeping mage
win The surgeon, who was spurring on. II
cont lake rebels at my house"
How GO You know he isn't"
"Looks like he wasn't. He's TOO decent a
follow FOR u rebel. He'll Tile If you don't come
saifk.'
acct your own doctor"
aHaiD't got no doctor"
Isn't there any doctor in these partsf z,
light miles and more TO the nearest doctor.
and he amt good for nothing" said Moses.
Asing negatives enough to upset entirely the
assertion he was trying 10 make.
The surgeon refined up his horse angrily and
Hooked At the strange messenger.
How far is II %
"Three miles and better. Your horse'l take
IL IN time"
II suppose youth have 10 CO." said the sur.
rson 10 his assistant IF you make haste YOU
can overtake us at the first halt;;'' and without
further pariey the assistant turned his horses
head and rode oil in Moses wake.
Even with his well-trained horse he found 1t
difficult TO keep the flying mustang in sight
sns Moses kept his eye turned carefully over
ki. shoulder, lest the medicine man he had
found such trouble in obtaining should manage
&C escape; leading the way meanwhile as ran.
idly as he dared, but taking care no: TO get TOO
far in advance.
Arrived a. the place. they found the wounded
man, with his clothes removed, placed care
fully in Mrs. Watson's best bed, while the MAJ,
who had been called In 70 assist in this work.
and the two women, stood watching the heavy
sleep that seemed fast yerging to the sleep OF
death.
The doctor shook his head when ne saw the
fracture OF the skull which the handkerchief
had concealed.
les an ugly affair." said he, probing care
rnlly. alt has been so long, TOO. The wound
IN the leg is not so bad, but this
be was too proud of his professional skill
howeyer,aDd handled BIS instruments with an
snction, and when once about the delicate
speration be had 70 perform he did II as pa
fisntIy and well as ii he hailS corps OF physi.
clans to look on and approve
III think he will die, !" said he, stepping back
70 look 1t his patient when the work was DONE
We'll nuss him up," said Judy.
TIE doctor threw half contemptuous look
80 the black girl.
You'll have 10 do il, if yon save hirn: keen
as head cool, and AZ be gets crazy, A. he may If
be comes 10 II all, have the men near. But
above all. keep his head COOL
He dat cut some necessary medicines TO
Mrs.. Watson for the purpose of allaying fever.
ard gave the final injunction 10 watch him
Eyes, we'll nuss him. breathed Judy again
from u distance.
"FoV'u nuss hin,,' said the doctor contenptn.
eusiy 10 himself as he mounted and rode of:
for the unprOmising look of the two females In
whose charge Inc left the wounded man gave
b.m no clue 10 their kindness of heart; as one
who mas never seen q cactus blossom can form
30 Judgment of it from the look of the plant
The remnant OF the summer had passed. and
she autumn had deepened to the sere and vel
low leaf, before the wounded soldier came
back 70 consciousness OF his existence: bnt
through all the rawlings of delirium, and his
nuttering on the verge of the grave, kind hands
had watched him carefully.
Beneath Mrs. WatsoD's unkempt exterior
mere was strong vein OF humanity and
Judy hated her master who was n rebel and
mad now run away from him, a she said, and
consequently she loved the Union soldiers
whom she regarded as her deliverers, and was
ready To serve the poor masa'' To the last
when nj length the sick nam came 10 q
khowiedge OF his condition, the tide OF life was
s'il Rowing teebly in his veins, and there was
prospect that he must cling 70 his pillow
many day. One Of the first questions he ask
sd, " hen his long deErinm passed Off and he
recalled slowly the events OF the summer was.
Has any one written 10 my mother %
\ our mother! bless your said Mrs Wat
sou, Delighted AT this token of Improvements
IN her patient, Nobody knew you'd got arv
mother. We picked you out OF the bush, and
mere we've been tending you week and weeks
out We don't know your name 70 this day."
The young man smiled family al this siucr;-
Lar reply; but his anxiety Tor his mother
s~se vas not 10 be- quieted, and the epistolarv
powers OF Moses were therefore called into re-
suisi;ion, and through his agency a scraIS-i
was p-nned which they hoped might reach it's
cestinn'iOn. Notwithstanding the disturbed
st2ic OF the country and the consequ n irrcgu-
1Elty OF The mails. This, however, IL certain
~ never ard.
In" light SHOWS OF December law m patches
nlOn the gronEd, when The soldier az Ins. Ind