Smyrna times., 1865-04-20

effects OF Hoods army, so the story goes.-
There is a good deal Of music in it,
NASHVILLE, Jan. 29th, lS65
Dear Brother Tom Il wrote to you some
six months ago, and feel quite uneasy about
YOU, as not line has reached me since last
June. now repeat to you that matters and
things are getting worse every day. TOu will
be iIstomshed to hear that your friends of the
female denomination are dropping off every
day. Yes, dropping off, too, as willing vic
TINS into the arms Of the ruthless invader
just think Of it Mollic the uncomfortable
who used to parade that large Bcauregard
breastpln, and who used to sing " Maryand
my Maryland,' with SO much pathOs, was mar
ried some four months ago to a Federal with
but one bar on his shoulder. Sallie, who used
to sleep with the " Bonnie Blue Flag under
her pillow, who looked daggers and pistols at
the invaders, who would not speak to her
schOol-mates, N and c., because they
received and treated Federal officers with due
pOllteness, she too is gone-yes, married to a
Federal officer with two bars! Sue, the his
tollcal one, who carried the glittering stietto
III her belt, who was going to initiate Charlotte
Corday and assassinate somebody for her coun-
try sake, she too, has gone the wav of all
mesh, and married an officer with that detcsta-
bic eagle on his shoulder. And now, pull ont
your handkerchief, and prepare for the worst,
my poor brother Tom. Your old sweetheart,
Anna, the one to whom you dedicated your
! sweetest verses, and whose mGludious voice so
defed both generals and the whole 18th army
corps, who was sent first South then North,
! but upon whose rebcllious tenperamcnt no
cllmatlcal change could have the least inhu-
ence, She, toO has hauled down the stars and
bars and is about to surrender at discretion.
l should not have believed this but to CON
1 m | har tbo Il,
with gentleman who protects us during your
absence on purpose to find out the state of her
political sentiments from her musical pro-
gramme.
Take it like a man, Tom for must tell YOU
that head very distinctly the words of "RaL
| " Round the Flag!' and the Union For
ecer! sung in her best style, with glorious
tenor voice minging with it.
Poor brother Tom You know considered
her always the Gibralter Of the South, and
now, when she surrenders, | must think that
the Contcderacy has gone up. You had better
come home Immediately and look to your in
terests in that quarter, as perhaps it may not
be too late yet to produce a favorable change
in your suit. Tell the boys down in Dixie If
they do not return soon they will not find a
! single girl or widow below conscript age in
these parts, as the watchword now seems to be
"S0ure qui peut," which means Marry who
you can My principles are unchanged, and
L am as true to the South as ever We have
a captain boarding with us nsere(g BY way OF
protection, who seems to be rather IA clever
fellow for Federal. He takes a sly glance
at me at the ta5.e sometimes, but OF course |
| do not return it. You know me too well tol
that. Let me hear from you soon, and believe
me ever,
Your loving sister, MARIE
P. S. I. Do you think it would be a viola
ton OF my Southern principles to take an occa-
slOnal ride for my health with the captain
lie has such Il nice horse and buggy. You
know that there can be no possible harm in
that
p. S. II. That impertinent fellow actually
squeezed my hand as he helped me out Of the
buggy this evening. Wehad such Il delightful
ride. l want you to come home and protcct
me, Tom, as l don t like to live this way much
longer.
=. s. III. If ever | should marry Yankee
lbut you know my principles toe well for that
! L would do it merely as the humble instrument
to avenge the wrongs OF my poor oppressed
country. Little peace should he fnd day Of
night thornS should be planted i'll his couch
his dreams should be OF Holofernes, and my
dry-goods bill as long as the Interal Revenue
Law.
p. S. ". Come home, brother Tom, anc
take the amnesty oath for two months or there
abouts. | want to tell you secret On due
consideration | have come to the determine
tion to make martyr OF myself 4es, broth
er Tom, l am going to marry the captain on
patriotic principles. MARIE.