Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-02-20
Stlett Story.
From Our Noun. Folks
TOBE'S MONUMENT.

The "seven days' fight" was ended.
Hundreds Of our brave boys lay with
white, still faces upturned t" The sky on
the slopes OF Malvern Hill, or moaned
away their lives ia the marshes along
the Chickahominy The worn, battered
remnants of the "grsud army ol the
Potomac" were encamped ut Harrlson's
Landing. on the James. waiting Tor trans
port. TO take them back Ia Nsshinglon.
Here, on this desolstc saud.plaln. with
out single Tree lar shelter from the July
sun that blazed down in turrid ferceness :;
with no green thing, not even blade OF
grass, in sight; behind them the enemy.
before them The river; ii seemed as II all
the horrors OF the Peninsular campaign
were echpsed by this.
Il was latter taps. sultry. southern
summer night No sound broke the still
nes. save the measured tread Of the sem
tinels, the tapping Of the river against
the bank, or the shrill cry oi some night
bird from the marshes. On the extreme
/ edge of the encampment, ON the side
pcareS, The enemy, a sentinel paused IN
his walk and peered curiously out into
the aIkuesS. where. just beyond The
limits OF his beat, rose huge rock over
grown with gray moss Certain sure.
I he said tn himself. something moved
/ out wonder If IN. Johnnies are Al their
tricks again, ills time gave the alarm
/ But that rock couldn't hide many OF en-,
either. guess I'll wait CIT. and may
be-thore it is again now" A dark oh
jsct moved out from behind the rock, then
suddenly disappeared, as II the earth had
opened and swallowed it up.
We'll. now. that's Gus. ,oliioquiz
/ ed the soldier. ii don't believe IA
sperits that'll vanish into air while lou're
looking At EN- but there hsin't been no
airlhquaAe To open the ground ant
swaller up that. whatever It Is; ano
what's become ont? That's what ID
like to know"
His desire tor knowledge seemed likely
to be g-atitied. for the object appeared
again, slowly moving towards him, lie
raised his muskel 10 his shoulder, taking
careful aim, then lowered it again
"Pshaw ~ he said. Its nothing but
dog" He Was resuming his walk, wheI
the supposed quadruped rose suddenly
ard walked along on two ieet. in man
ner 80 unmisiakably human. that the sen
tiuel levelled his musket once more. ant
shouted Halt :" The appariIion droppet
again. aud rolled itself iuto a ball. "Ad
vance and give the cOuntersign !" There
was neither sound nor movement. anC
the order Was repeated. The ball un
rolled itself, and crept little nearer
and a laint. childish voice said, "Ain'l
got none. Massa."
"Well. there now,n said the sentinel
Iii it ain't just little dsrkey. and
guess Eve frightened him half to death
! Come here, Snowball!'
The child crept up, and said, tremb
/ lingly. Deed. Massa. aint got nuihI
ter glib yer
We'll. who asked you to give me any
things"
Yer done AK me ter glib yer suffin jes
now; and amt got muffin 'csp' my clo's'
what got on"
well, you needn't fret; / don't want
'em They wouldn't fit. even If there
was anything to 'em but holes. But jus'
tell me where you went to. after YOU
came out from behind that rock"
Went down in de hole. Massa."
What hole ?"
Oars u big hole down unerneai de
rock, an Use hidin' in dar all dc day,
waitin' ter de dark, SOS ter come in tel
! dc Unions
"0h that's the game is it? Now I'll
have 10 hand you over TO the corporal.
Corporal of the guald! Post two"
The call rang out through the still
night, and hundreds of slespers started
TO their feet and seized their arms; Tor