The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-02-20

The cripple looked murderously
into my eyes here, as if measuring
my strength and courage; bnt | qui
city removed my spurs, cast off my
sword, and asked him the way tc
the stable. 80,
"Get the lantern Jay" said the
man; "if wo are to loose the corn
we may as well be psid. Show the
soldier to the cowhouse. Gil bin
twelve ears and rick O. bay.--
Martha Ann, do you spread coun
terpape yer in tho corner. Nancy,
! fetch up a pail Of cider. Stir yer
trottersF' r.'. s.
Settling himself in the chair, the
old man muttered nervously, and
glowered at the fir ne he raked the
fagots in a heap. Pale and sini..
ter, the cripple limped through q
door way, and iumbIed in the dark
ness OF another room for the required
lantern. The girls fulfilled their in
structions with agitated iaces, and
cast dou5 eyes upon me at inter.
vsls. They were cosrsly clothed in
frocks of grey kersey, and their shoe:
were rough and large. The young,
er o the two had pretty timid ace
with ehy black eyes, and her hail
was tied with q piece Of blue ribbon
whats yer name at home?" sale
the old man at length, looking
iiercely up. | replied good hn,nor
cdiy, anxious to induce a plessanteI
reception, and asked the old gentle
man to tell mo his own name in re
turn.
"Lightfoot, cir, "said he, in n tone
Of mingled braggadocio snd sulIen
meas. 1.-The Lightioo's ha' beer
one O the iust families. Jeem,
Ligbttoot WAS the best speaker thai
ever sot in the Legislator OF Virgin
n5. Neal Lighttoot belonged to ,h,
WIggins branch o. tho family, and
owned the beat Piedmont horace ia
this section o country; Pat. Light
foot Of Jeems rivor-"
'Ycrs the lantern for the Yankee,
said the cripple, linn ping into tho
room. Be stared blackIy and hal
icti family, hunc open the door, snc
mnttering :hat was to look sliv,
after my hoss,' led the way across
the yard to log stable or shed
Stop said j; the good pony
nnSt be waterei." and turned to
wards the old well. To my gres
surprise, the cripple dsrted forward
dropping his lantern, end selzinq
me with the grip OF a stropg man.
Don't 60 therep hs said, with a
strangely altered voice 'there Amt nc
water there! The polo ia go, we'd :.
ed at tho bottom. Come yer; come
this way ..
| found him absolutely dragging
me, end was lot more amazed a
his vchcmence than at his wonder
,ul physical power, ro inconsistent
as | thought, with his detormity. -
Truly. l had fallen among boorisl
people. Yielding to the whim o
the lad, ! watered my horse at the
windlass well, but refused to rom ov,
the saddle at his solicitation. Re
turning to the q Yelling | uni 6
table spread and some Indian bread
bacon and cider prepared for me-
The young girl 10 whom have al
luded, sat NJ the bead Of the table
bat tailed 10 interest her in cOnvcr
sstioD. and turned ct length 20 the
old man. ret
THIS is a sad war, sirl'
You folks got il up
We lament it, sm sure, as mucl
as yon do
Likely. Look at me, spoiled IN
land and cattle, q prisoner in my
own house, an alien in my ewn coun
try-my four sons driven from me
but thank God, f !b,ing out their de
liversnce sgin YOU and your hories.
"Ccrue,' said ! softly, let Us lay
these things aside tonight. R.iuru
to better dsys snd themes. You
have still sp,rk OF regard for the
good old Union. Have yon forgot
ten the pslmy time OF '7G, whcr
South and North stood shoulder tc
shoulder and TcOnderoga -
! stopped in mute sstonishmen,
AT the iteration of the last work, Z
desthly pallor camo over the old
gentleman; Ills chin dropped upcr
ME bosom, and his hands hung ner
vously upon his chair From bod
manicsl defence, he had changed tt
cowed, tremulors, dsmented silence
Suddenly and mechanically he rose
CROPPED by way OF tho wall TO ss,air
case, and shutting like a msn in 6
dream disappeared. saw no NOR
OF him that night. The girls scar 20
Ily lees sgitated, also imm ,diatel,
retired; and | was left alone will
the cripple, sstonnded at the ofec
OF my ora!ory, and certain that hs'
fallen into q house OF lunstics.
had been previously scquainte'
with bitter Southern psrtisans, bu
the auimosity Of this family wac al
together savage and Unprecedented
There was certainly the extsnuatip
circumstance OF the younger Light
ioots' connection with the Confedel
: ate service: and tho irritabilitY {