Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-11-16
Marion and the British Officer.

ed from Gen. Horry's life of Marion,
the story of Marion and a British Of
fcer who was invited by him 20 dine
on sweet potatoes. We have all read
it in childhood, but at this tune 1t IS
well worth a leperus@l
About thi. time, says the narrator,
we received a flag from the enemy in
Georgetown, S. c., the object Of which
was to make some arrangements about
the exchange of prisoners. The flag
bearer, after the usual ceremony of
blindfolding, was conducted into Ma
rion's encampment. Having heard
great talk about Gen. Marion, his fancy
had naturally ensuglf sketched out for
him some stout figure OF a warrior,
such AS O'Hara, or CORVALLIS himself,
of martial aspect and flaming regimen
tails. But what was his surprise, when
led into Marion's presence, and the
bandage taken from his eyes, he beheld
in our hero a swarthy, snoke-dried
little man with scarcely enough thread
bare homespun to cover his nakedness;
and, instead of a tall rank of gay dress
ed soldier, a handful of sunburnt, yell
~low-legsed militia men, some roasting
potatoes, and some asleep, with their
black firelocks and powder horns lying
by them On the logs. Having recov-
cred a little from his surprise, he pre-
scented his letter to Gen. Marion, who
perased it and soon settled everything
to his satisfaction.
The officer took mp his hat to retire.
ooh, no" said Marion, ".it is about
our time Of dining, and I hope, sir, you
will give US the pleasure of your COM
pany to dinner"
At the mention of the word dinner,
the British officer looked around him.
but to his modification could not see
the sign Of a pot, pan, Dutch oven, OIL
any other bookings %utensil that could
raise the spirits of a hungry man.
Wei, Tom," said the Genl. to enc
of his men, " GENE, give us oar diE-
ner.'
The dinner to which he alluded wa
no other than a heap of sweet potatoes
that were very snugly roasting unde1
the emhers, and which Tom with hi
pine stick poker, soon liberated fron
their ashy confinement, pinching thep
now and then with his fingers, espe-
cially the big ones, to see whethe
they were well dopa or not. Then
having cleansed them of their ashes
partly by blowing them with his breatl
and partly by brushing them with til
sleeves lof his old cotton shirt, be pile
some of tbs best on a large piece {
bark, and placed them between tn
British officer and Marion, en- the trun
OF a fallen pine on which they sat.
II fear, sir" said the General, "ou
dinner will not prove so palatable t
you as | could wish, but it is the bes
we have"
The officer, who was a well-bre
man, took up one of the potatoes, an
affected to feed, as if he had found
great dainty, but it was very plain tn,
he ate from good manners tia
good appetite.
Presently he broke out in a heart
laugh. Marion looked surprised. g
beg your pardon, General, but OF
cannot, you know, always commar
ones c%onceit. I was thinking no
droll some of orr brother officers won
look if our Government wele to gi'
them such a bill of fare as this.
Suppose" replied Marion, "it is n
.qual to their style Of dining?"
"No, indeed" euoth. the ofic,
- and this, | imagine, is one of 70
Lent dinners-a sort of b~anyan.
general, 10 doubt, you live a gre
deal better"
Rather worse" answered the G.
for often we don't get enough
| this"
Heavens !" rejoined the Office
t but probably what you lose in me
YOU make up i'll malt-though stint
g in provision you draw noble pay"
t mot. a cent, sir" said Marie
: "not a single cent"
Il Heavens and earth then y
must be 10 "A bad box. dent see CT
5 eral, how You can stand it."
Why sir" said Marion. with