Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-11-21
Down In Dixie.

4uere was ouce upon tlme very nlce
young Hessian sergeant who, while in
command of picket guard in the Stenan-
doah Valley, gradually became aware that
there was very pretty girl in the habit of
passing quite frequently while he was on
duty.
Very pretty girls, indeed, were all three
Of the Misses jeff Dark of hair, bright
of eyes, and keen of wit, they knew the
rules of coquetry from alpha to omega,
better thau they did their prayers, aud
took great interest in observing their prac-
tical effect.
The family lived just inside our lines,
and were neutral, that is to say, they had
TWO brothers with the famous Ashby; aud
used TO sell meals, &c, and so forth, ia
Virginia, generally means whisky-to our
officers and soldiers, at about ten times the
real value, all the while wishing 1" this hor.
rid war would cease"
Our yonng friends natural modesty hav.
ing been overcome wich great difficulty, he
became rather intimate, not TO say, a very
gallant Hessian, with the young lady and
her sisters.
Why shouldn't he, pray? lie had not
seen white female in three months who
had not scowled or spit at him, bat one
and she threw q brick, q sort of thing,
though amusing at first, grew tresome by
repetition; SO that when he met two good
looking females, who did neither, be was
fascinated.
Though he took his meals at their house
Oor which be paid fifty cents each), aud
made himself generally agreeable, to the
best OF bis ability, our Sergeant never for.
got that be bad command of an unusually
large picket guard, sent out purposely to
give timely warning of an expected raid
on the station, aud never left the road
without posting force too strong to be
cut of by cavalry dash before an alarm
could be given, and be would not leave his
men after dark for all the beautiful ladies
in Secesh land
After declining several invitations to
pass the evenings few days before the
time OF his return, he received a most
polite and pressing invitation to bring
his men to dinner prepared by the Misses
jeff
They have behaved so gentlemanly, so
unlike the usual coarse of mercenaries, that
really they must accept Of our hospitality.
You'll come, know"
Who could resist such speech, accom-
panied as il was by look and blash
| that would have brought Gen. Wool him
self down.
But can't leave the road uuguarded
My orders are"
"Oh, never mind that. Isn't the road
in sight? Why can't you leave one man
and bring the rest up? There is no dan
ger in the middle of the day. to be afraid
OF. This is Northern courage-is it :" she
enquired, with an air Of contempt for oul
Sergeant's style.
OF course it was the old story of Sam
son and Delilah; and this speech, with Z
little more wheeling, compelled an accept
ance of the invitation.
The Sergeant, after taking short leave
Of the family in the parlor, and an affect
ed one of Mrs. JEFF on the stars, beat re-
treat.
Flattering, isn't it. that she shoul(
take such q deep interest with mel" b,
solouui2ed. But then TO ash the men
I'm blessed if can see through it any
how"
He fell into brown study, and wa
startled by whisper:
"Massa Sergeant
The Sergeant started, looked around
and half drew bis revolver, hut seeing
noting but Juvenile darkey ensconced il
the angle of worm fence, be put IL bacl
again
" Halloai Nick, you imp Of darkness
he said. recognizing one of the house ser
wants Of the JEFF family. whom be had oftel
favored.
"Msssa Sargent, don't let any one sc
you, an tell yer some6n.
A long coufab ensued. interspsed wit
considerable eursing on the part OF th
Sergeant, at the end OF which be took hi
way to the camp. instead of the post. in
study far brownsr than that homw hich b
he just emerged.
| AT precisely noon OF the next dav. q loo
into the diulpg room Of the Jef famil