The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-02-20
THE WRONG PATH.
A STORY or THE WAR.
lCoNCDUDED |

The plSf0l IN lts holster, ana chlTplng
to my beast, went YEARLY onward
There was chance, at least, that |
should reach some secluded farm
house or negro hut. After the space
OF halt hoor, came to fence and
gate. and to my great relief discern
cd the stacks end DOT houses OF a
tarm. A second gate through which
| passed cresked dismsly behind
me, and shut with loud noiee, bni
turning the anglo OF a log cabin |
had the satisfaction Of dismo uniting
before an ancient Virginia resi-
dence, where y candle still burned
in the lower story, cast flood Of
light scr ss the yard. IL was o
dwelling framed after fashion i'm
memorial in the South. Long, open
porcbes rooted and rallied and as
cended by steps, enclosed it in front
and in rear, while tho brick chin,
neys at the gables were built out
side OF tho house, and against it. -
The kitchen wss separate building,
but connected with he dwelling by
covered psseego'wsy, or, colon
made, and both dwelling end kitch
On had peaked or double roofs. -
There were, ss | esw at q glance
two wells, one modern in construct
ion, consisting OF windlass and
chain for raising or lowering Il e
bucket: bnt the other was descrip.
ton OF q well found only in Ameri
ca, and even these rapidly falling
into disuse, knowr os the pole or
balance, well. 1t consisted oil Il long
hickory pole or shaft, suspended
from a fork, d or crotcbed upright.
and tied at its short or tapcring end
to o pendant or rod. To this was
attached the bucket, which could be
readily lowered by hard, and hoist
ed by the superior weight Of the
long end OF the pole. was parlic.
ularly attracted to this latter well,
because curiously, enough the heavy
end of the pole wac in tho sir, and
the bucket apparently at The bottom
o. the we'll. The we'll hole was GOV
ered with planks, and from tho cir
cumstance OF q broken plough being
deposi,ed above them, Inferred
tn at the well WAS no longer used. -
1t had quaint and venerable sp-
pearance, standing thus in the
night, and | wondered that lie posi-
ton should be so reversed. The
whole place, indeed had an air Of
gloom and improvidence. Some Of
the windows in the dwelling were
stuffed with old hats and breeches,
the whitewssh hid peeled from the
Notwithstanding, the p0rches were
rotten aud to,tering and except the
cheerful glow OF tie FIRE, | saw moth
ing indicative of hosp tslity and
comfort. Long experience in camps,
no wever, had fsmilisriLad me to
rough isre, and | ielt very grateful
Tor the opportunity to res: TIL morn
ing, and too feed my faithful pony.
Lcaping lightly up the sters, and
traversing the porch, ! knocked
thrice, quickly sn1 loudly. Some
shufling of feet aud csrnest whisper
ing ensued, and then a hideous De,
formed hoy opened tho door. do
not know that | have ever seen a
face 30 terror strickened; HE lips
were quivering, his knees trembling,
and the hand by which he held the
latch shivered and ratified in a fear
iul manner. saw st . glsccs that
one OF bis feet was clubbed, Snd
that bic right srm was short and
withered. Beside blazing log FIRE
in the great sooty chimney place sat
two girls and very ole man, who
seemed quite as i'll at ease. The
pale face OF the giils we're little re.
lieVed by the attitude Of the man,
who had attempted to raise, but sp.
pesred to have been parslyzed in
the act. la his hand be grasped
the tongs, and his lace expressed
conflicting emotions of hate fear and
despair.
Good evening said | soothing.
ly; Il hope that | havn't disturbed
you"
"You have disturbed me-" said
the old man. rafting the tongs in
his qlsking fingers; "you bn' nigh
been the death o. me. You hs Civ
en- me q turn that'l shorten my
days. What are you srter, on foly's
property ip the dead hour O. night,
knockin' at their doors, and scsrin'
their wimmenp ..I ..'
At this one of the girls began to
sob, and the eyes OF the cripple di
lated with rage. u
Compose yourselves" said
waking into the room, my spurt
clattering, and my sword dragging
along the floor; ~ am not an enemy
though wear the uniform of one
| am a soldier, as you SEQ, astray
and wesried, and willing to pay fol
q bed by your fire, and little corr
lfor my horse" -r SD .. t.r ! 3,
eve ha' nayther bed nor corn 70
Yankees. You ha' overrun ou
farms, aud murdered our boys =,
Beggsry and tears come upon yo,
all, as you ha' brought them upol
us!" '-.'. = -