The Lincoln County herald., 1871-11-02

began 10 demonstsats how he would take
Richmond if he sess the commauder.in.
chief.
We suppose during Ihe late war there
was hardly q store, Office, or corner gro
cory throughout shc whole North. ia
which Richmond vas not frequently taken
on the map. 1t beat ali how many
flowers there we're "born 10 blush un.
seen" MIR. Faxon wac one Of these
flowers. Indeed. so much confidence had
he in his theory, that he had serious
thoughts Of embodying his views in
writing, and forwarding them to the
Secretary of War for the future guidance
Of the government. Unfortunately for
the government, he never did SO.
In tho present instance, Mr.. Faxon had
just got the union forces in aanking posi-
ton, with the rebel capital and army ia
great dansos Of bei~s "b.ss.d," body,
soul and breeches, when an unusual
tumult in the street, caused him to leave
Richmond in possession Of the conied
eracy, and hasten to the door. Mr..
Faxon, looking up the street, could not
at once discover, from the cloud Of dust,
barking Of dogs, and general confusion,
what was the matter. But soon there
came dashing down the street, a horse
recking with sweat and foam, while bis
rider countryman in his shirt sleeves,
begrimed with dust-gave evidence with
his horse, Of having journeyed fast and
far. AS this SOLITARY horse nan" rushed
onward at breakneck speed, he gavo ut
terancc to sundry shouts which we're un
,ntelligiblo to Mr.. Faxou, until the
speaker passed opposite the door, when
the little merchants heart sank within
him as he caught the dread words
"Morgan-John Morgan is coming"
IL may be prope. to state here. that it
wa, in July, 1863, that the rebel John
Morgan made his famous raid through
the states of Indiana and Ohio. The
people Of Elderbush had heard Of Nor
gan, and something of his movene nts
from weekly newspapers, and from occa
sional hearsay; but beyond these sources
Of Information they knew little or moth.
ing. being an isolated village, with no
railroad or telegraphic communication
with othe, places. They were totally
unprepared for the advent Of the ubi
quitus raider, and the bare announcement
Of his presence in their immediate vicin.
ity, fell like a thunderbolt on tho commu
nifty.
So it did on Mr.. Faxon. lie le, ned
against the door post nerveless and
speechless for a moment. Mrs Faxon
had also heard the noise, and seen the
horsemnn dash down the strcet and
past the store. shouting as he went
What it was he said, she did not know,
but supposed it to be something unusual,
from the startling effect it seemed to
have upon her husband. Carefully plac
ing the unfinished sock in her knitting
bag, for Mrs. Fsxon was q careful woman n =,
she rose from her chair and started for
the "front" as rapidly as her large pro-
portions would admit. As she reached
the door. and her eyes met the woe bagone
look of her husband, she exclaimed
"Why Fa1on what 10 the world ails
ye! what ye standiu' there for like a
dummy ?"
Mr.. Faxon made no instant rcply.
"Speak mani know yc amt dumb T.
said the thoroughly aroused and now ex.
tremely impatient Mrs Faxon. "What's
the matter?"
"Oh, Samantha" gaspingly uttered the
little man, list to think Here we 've
been q tilin' and tilin' and a savin' and .
savin, only to have it all snatched away"
''Snatched what? who's been snatchin'
anything from yer asked the worthy
lady, casting hasty look about her, ap.
Parsntly searching for tho supposed a..
sailaut, to take iustsut revenge in case
said assailant should be within reach.
Nobody, aa yet; but they will. The
rebel gineral Morgan is comm onto the
town, Samantha, an he'll jist burn every
thing we've got, and carry Of the rest
| wouldn't wonder q bit If he hadn't
heerd about our store afore he left the
South, an that's jist what he's comm
for now. Like a. not be sent spies on
ahead, too. mind, yesterday. q sigui6
cant lookin' man was in here tryiu' to
buy butter, an hs didn't buy any,
nuther. Mebbs he was . spy ?" and Mr.,
Faxon looked anxiously into his wife's
face as though to 6ud relief from this
last terrible suspicion.
Mrs. Fayon was the most courageous
Of the two, yet even her heart sank when
she heard Of Morgan's approach, and she
stood pale and irresolute. but only for q
moment; then her presence Of mind
returned.
"wsll s'posin' he is coming. she said |;
Uva don't inland N stand ha,o opd ha
butchercd like sheep. Now, sti. your.
self, Faxon. ga lets shot up the store,
then you 60 down and zee what they'se
goin to do TO defend the town."
As she spoke, Mrs. Fa1on stepped out
OF Tho door and began enesge,ically to
bring 10 calicoss, muslsns, end other dry
goods, which had bseo hung out sn
tempting display. EncoSraged BY her
example, Mr.. taxon pus himself v,go,.