The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-10-09

TedculuH GHe tjulCc VI lslI. Dll.K6, lOOkEU 1yl-
pealingly at him and asked for coal
Hav'n't any; have refused Eve hun
dred people
l sat down, forlorn. Upon raising nv
eyes found that he was looking at me,
upon which took heart to say: " Do you
not think that little fine coal might pos
sibly be scraped up, just to keep me from
freezing-only that ~
His quick reply was: had saved
half-load; you can have it,"
Ifelt like crying; but didn't. paid
him ninety dollars, and in an hours time
was crying in my faithful .Judy's arms, in
gratitude to cheerful blaze; but tears
soon turned to smiles at her queer mode of
comforting. Good Lord, missis while
you was freezing you didn't cry; now
you is warm, you let your tears run. For
de Lords sake, hold up your head; three
somebodies is at de door, begging to get
dere hands warm" So I admitted the
tenants-only too glad to extend the hos
pitality--besldes lending them a half.
bushel of coal apiece.
l frequently went to the legislative halls;
and was sometimes pleased, sometimes dis.
gusted.
! heard Ex-Governor Wise lecture one
night-just month, think, before the
equalization. The crowd was dense to
sutfocation. His eloquence chained my
mind, riveted my ears, and cbeered my
heart, for he, With all his native power,
inornate and copieus language, pronounce
ed emphatically that our day Of delivery
was at hand.
Starvation seemed likely to ensue as the
winter warned into spring. Meat was SO
scarce as be rarity to epicureans. Flour
brought from two to three thousand dol
lars.
One morning in March Invent to market,
and as was slowly sauntering toward the
oyster stalls espied q chicken, which al
most deafened me with it's lusty Growing.
| asked of the black man who was stand.
ing by:
"Uncle, what do you ask for your chick
en- 2"
"All, missus, that rooster ak one hun
dred and fifty dollars for"
''How old is he, uncle?"
II carnt say, 'zactly, but it pears to me
that during this summer he will be in his
six year."
land you still ask so large sum for
him? Why, he will be as tough as
leather"
Yah yah'. Desc Confedrit times peo-
pie don't stand on tough" said he.
AFTER THE CAPTURE.
y y By the third day things began
to assume something like law and order,
but starvation was staring the whole pop
ulation in the face it is true that suffers
had opened stores of tempting comestibles;
but who had money to buy9 Not one, ex.
cept some of the Jews. I myself had not
one mouthful, except quart of meal; the
marketing furnished on Saturday was ex-
hausted, and my neighbors could not give
me, as they had nothing to bestow.
One by one the men who had left the
city strayed back again, and some soldiers
on parole came to their wives, but, except
the comfort that sympathy gives, they
were of no more real service than fifth
wheels to wagons. Husbands had nc
money, but were human nevertheless. My
six thousand dollars in Confederate money
which had in hand for pocket money
could not bring me one ginger cake. Off
GERS, men of rank social distinction and
meals for which they could not hope tt
pay. The landlady's stock on the fifth day
consisted of half ham and half barrel o
Irish potatoes She posted a notice ovel
the door for "sodgers;' and several Fedora
officers came to the house, and she got il
hand her first greenback.
was very nearly desperate, when Judy
came in painting with delight. "Oh nov
never say again that you 'spects to starve
for God hears the young ravens when the.
cry; here is some money" and she put il
my hand two-dollar greenbeck-the frs
ever saw. /, trained by the lessons
taught during the four past years, mad
little tobacco pouches and filled them will
, tobacco, and got them sold, which brough
me little. Soup houseswere opened, ant
/ have seen crowds at them, dense to suffo
cation. with timid and refined ladies, hold
ing little pitcher-sinking with shame
; to be filed only to keep from starving
anything but that. never went, but Ju
dy did, though could not drink the soup
The Sanitary Commission hoisted its flag
| and had distributed many comforts befor
heard of it. And even after was awar
r of the establishment / hesitated, from shee
independence and pride, till weakness an,
famine clamored for help.
, found my way there at dusk, and tim
idly entering, ventured to inquire for MI
Williams, the superintendent. He appear
ed, and by his kind and easy manner wa
made to feel less like criminal, can new
er forget his kindness, or that of DR.. Nc
, Donald, of Boston, to whom he Introduce
me. Never can / forget it! just at tina
, moment respectful Language and deport
ment accompanying a. favor granted wa
more welcome than / can express. MI
Williams sent home with me servant
laden with a box Of GOOD substantial food
) besides such delicacies as had craved 70
months; Judy stood at her post as inar
cier, general manager, supervisor, comfort
er, servand and friend. In all this time
! had not heard from my husband, till on
day, three weeks after, the door opened
he burst in the room and exploded int
tears. $50 you are alive-alive still, an
see You again" Rumors Of the mos
startling description had reached him G
the treatment Of women when Richmon
was occupied, and the three weeks OF iran
}. tic suspense had weakened his mind to eS
, haustion. Judy, of course, had her shar
, in congratulation, and after having II
counted our several experiences we let on
curtain drop, as I do now. in. E.
II