The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-04-14

the nlgSerS, IL lace IL OUT! Iney Won taS
to make fuss, for they're Union-shriekers,
and my sons a capting in the confederate
army!
Thump thump, thump loud knocking
at the door,
My, it's visitors! Who can it be? She
sat down her pail and basket. I'll act just
as if had right here, anyhow
She was hesitating when the string was
pulled, and two strangers stout, square built,
with foreign-looking faces, carrying muskets
and dressed in confederate uniform, entered.
Mrs S0ckridge? said they in heavy leu
tonic accent
'Ye-ye-yes -stammered the widow,
trying to hide the guilty basket and pail be-
hind her skirts. What do you want Of Mis-
Stackridge?
One of the strangers said to the other, in
German, indicating the plumber, This is the
woman. She is getting provisions ready to
send to her husband in the mountains
Let us see what there is good to eat, said
the other.
Mrs. Sprowl, although understanding no
word that was spoken, preceived the bor-
rowed property formed the theme of their re-
marks. Have some, she FASTENED to say,
with extreme politeness, as the Germans ap-
proaclleu Ine PROVISIONS.
Thank ye, said they, finding some bread
and cold meat. And they ate with an ap-
petite, exchanging glances and granting
with satisfaction.
o, take all you want, said the widow.
y ou're welcome to anything there is in the
house, Pm sure adding within herself, 1
am so glad these soldiers have come! Now
what ever is missing, will be laid to them
You de lady Of de house? said the for
eigners, munching.
yes, help yourselves ? smiled the hospita-
BILE widow
You Mrs Starkridge? they enquired,
Yes, take any thing you like, replied the
widow.
Where your husband?
My husband my poor dear husband he
has been dead these She checked herself
remembering that the soldiers took her for
Mrs. Stackridge. If she undeceived them,
then they would know she had been steal
ing.
Dead I? The Germans shook their heads
and smiled. No! He was here last night
He was seen. You take desc tings to him
up i'll de mountains
Would you like some more cheese? said
the embarrassed widow
dnk ye LIS is D6LCef as ratlOIS
Mrs. Sprowl returned to the pantry, in
order to replace the provisions she had so
generously given away, and prepared to de-
part with the basket and pail inviting the
guests repeatedly to make themselves quite
at home, and take what ever they could
find.
Wait, said they Each had a knee on
the floor, and one hand full of bread and
cheese. They looked up at her with broad
complacent unctous faces, smiling yet reso-
lutte. And one, with his unoccupied hand,
laid hold of the handle Of the basket while
the other detained the pail You will tell
us where isyour husband, said they.
o, dear me, don't know I'm poor
lone woman. and where my husband is |
can't conciave. I'm sure
Y on will tell US where is your husband,
repeated the men and one Of them getting
upon his feet, stood before her at the door.
He's on the mountain somewhars, don't
know whar, and | don't keer, cried the wild
ow, excited. There was something in the
stold determined looks OF the brothers she
did not like He's bad man, Mr.. Stack
ridge is. FIN asecessionist myself. You are
welcome to everything i'll the house-only
let me go.
LOU III iOI 10 Sdlu TIE SOlulSr al the
) door, till you tel us. We come for dat
On entering, they had placed their mus
kets in the corner The speaker took them
and handed one to his comrade. And now
the widow observed that out of the muzzle
of each protruded the but-end of small
cowhide. Each soldier held his gun at bis
side, and laying hold of the said but-end,
drew out the long taper belly and dangling
lash of the whip, like black snake by the
neck.
The widow screamed. It's all mistake
Let me go. | amt Mis- Stackridger
Nothing so natural as that the wife of the
notorious Unionst should deny her. identity
at sight of the whips. The soldiers looked
at each other, tteredsomething in german
smiled, and replaced their muskets in the
You tell us where is your husband, or else
we whip you. This they said in low tones
with mild looks and a camlness which was
frightful. The widow saw that she had to
do with men who obeyed orders literally
and knew no mercy.
hain't got no husband. l amt Mis-
Stackridge. Pm poor lone widder, that Jest
come over here to borry few things, and
that's ALL
we unterstan. You say shust now you
Mrs Stacl1ridge. Now you say not Dat
make no difruns. We know. You tell us
where is your husband or we string you up.
This speech was pronounced by both the for
eigners, sentence by each, alternately. at
the conclusion, one drew a strong cord from
his pocket, while the other looked with sat
isfaction at certain hooks in the plasfering
overhead, designed originally for the sup
port Of kitchen pole, but now destined for
another use.
| Don't you dast fetch me = screamed the
false Mrs. Stacllridge. I'm a secessionist
myself, that hates the Uuion-shrekers wus'n
you do, and I've got a son that's capting,
and poor lone wilder at that ?
Dat we dou't know. What we know is,
you tell what we say,or we whip you. OATS
Captain Sprowl's orders
Captain Sprowl! That's my sonl my
own son 1.-The sent you, then it's all right
| so we tink. All right. And the soldiers
, Selling her, tied her thumbs as Lysander
had taught them,- passed the cords over the
; hook as they had passed the clothes-line over
| the cross-beam the night before, and drew
r the shrieking womans hands above her
head precisely as they had hauled up To
/. by's They then turned her skirts up over
her neaQ, ana fastened them. / MS also
they had been instructed to do by Lysander.
f 1t was. you will say, shameful; for this wo-
man was free and white. Had she been a
? slave, with a different complexion, although
perhaps quite as white, wonld it have been
! any the less shameful? Answer. We believ-
' ers in the divine rights of slave-masters.
. Now yon will tell said the phlegmetic
/ Teutons, measuring out their whips
60 for my SON My son is Capting
' Sprowl!' gasped thestifled and terror strick-
! en- widow
Dat trick Won't do. You shpeak, or we
d shtrike.'
S 1t is true, it is true! am Mrs Sprowl,
and my husband is dead and my son is Cap
S tain Sprowl, and poor lone wilder, that If