The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-05-09
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the seven d&Ys tight was ended. fiu-
drods u cur brave boys ay with white,
stlll faces upturned 10 The shy on the
slopes of Malvern Hill, or m0aned away
their lives ia tlie marshes along the Chick
ahomny The worn, battered remnants
Of the grand army Of the Potomac were
eueamped Al Harrison's Landing, on the
james, waiting for transports to take
them back to Washington
II was after taps--a sultry, Southern
summer night. On tie extreme edge Of
I the encampment, on The side nearest the
enemy a sentinel paused ID bis walk and
peered curiously out into the darkness.
/ Pshaw be said, It's nothing but a dog.
I He was resuming bis walk when the sup
posed quadruped rose suddenly, and
walked along on two feet, ia manner so
unmisiakably human, that the sentinel
leyeled his musket once more, aud shout
ed, Halt A faint, childish voice said,
T Aln't got none, massa.
Z Wen, there now, said the sentinel, If II
aiu't Just little darkey, and guess I've
I frightened him half 10 death. Come here
T Snowball
The child crept up, and said, trembling
/ ~ deed, Massa, / amt got notiin ter glib
yer
Wen, who asked you to give me any
thing;
Yer done AK me fer glib yer sufiin jes'
now, and amt got muffin 'cep' my clo'es
what got on.
Well, YOU needn't fret; don't want
en-. Corporal OF the guard! Post two.
The sentinel FASTENED to post two, and
found the sentinel with his hand on the
shoulder Of little black boy, who, be-
tween fear, fatigue and hunger, was un-
able to give any account Of himself. I'll
/ take him to Captain Leigh, the corporal
said he's officer of the day. Maybe he'll
/ be able to get something out Of him.
The captain stood in front of his tent,
/ looking out into the night, when the cor
poral and his charge approached.
Captain, said he, here's boy just come
into the lines. Very WELL you can leave
/ him here. At the first sound of the cap
tain's voice the boy drew nearer to him.,
as knowing instinetively that here he had
found friend. You can 90 into the
tent, said the captain, and go to sleep till
morning.
What Is your namei was Captain
Leigh's first question the next morn
ing.
Name Tobe.
Is that all?
OATS ali, Mass Cap'n.
How old are youl
Dunno, Mass Cap'n. Nobody nebber
done tole me dat ar.
Where have you come from?
Cum FUN de back o. Richmon' Mass
4 Cap'n.
What did you come here for?
All de res oh 'em runned away; an
ole Mass he wor 50 mad, / wor jest fear
ed o. my life. sides fought mought
find my nanny ef l got 'mong der
Unions.
Where is your mother!
Dunno, Mass Cap'n. Ole Mass done
sol her down in Georgy las corn-shuck-
in, an amt nebber heerd of her sence.
But | fought mebbe she mought ha' run
ned way too, an I'd find her wild der
Unions.
Well, now, what are you going to
do.
Dunno, Mass Cap'n. I'd like ter stay
long wild you.
What can you do?
Kin wait on yer, Mass Cap'n; kin shine
up boots; an'-brightcning up, as his
eyes, wandering around, caught sight Of
the horses--kin clean de hosses right
smart.
You are not big enough to take care of
a horse.
Deed IS, Mass Cap'n; and amt fear
ed o. no hoss. Ole Mass alus set me ter
tend ter de DOSES dat nobody else
couldn't manage. Dey allus let me ham
die 'em ef dey's eber so debbesome. Jes'
yer try me, Mass Cap'n, an see ef telled
yer de troof.
I III keep you with me, you must be a
good boy and, do as tell you.
Deed will, Mass Cap'n. Pse do ebery
word yer say, sho's yer born.
So when the troops left Harrison's
Landing Tobe went too, IN charge of the
Captains horse aud baggage; and when
the steamer was fairly under way, he
frightened into new creature, as every
revolution of the wheel placed greater
distance between himself and ole Massa.
Mass Cap'n, be asked one day, where
Il We gwine at2
Either to Washington or Alexandria,
don't know exactly which.
win dar be one sto' up dar, Mass
Cap'n.
Yes, there are plenty Of stores; what
do yon want from onef
Please Mass Capu, please jes--and be
stammcred and caught bis breath. APP
parently overwhelmed with the magni-
tude Of desires
Well. out with Il. what wonderful
thing DO YOU want
Please, Mas Cap'n, ics buy me one
banjo.
a banjo what on earth 10 sou want
Of lhaif
Kin play the banjo right smart; an
dance TOO. XII Mass Cap'n, plays for
yer sll The time
There'd be rather too much Of good