The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-08-22

Then. after / had expressed my gratif1-
oo+io,, ut meeting lady who fearlessly
c,-nrcsscd her true sentiments, and assured
Gcr that the raw recruits who were hasten
ing to their army would only be in their
own way, and no sort of impediment to
us, we launched out into a discussion of
the merits of the controversy, | advocating
the right of the South to withdraw from
the Union, and she advancing arguments
against any such destructive and reYoiu-
tionary theory"
Agreeing finally to disagree on tins SUP
iect, she said suddenly, as an expression
of SON ow again settled upon het features
Il was pIaising your troops just ho", ana
said they had disturbed nothing about the
,,,.n,,,iSeS. 7 fornot, one of your soldiers
dd;d tI,n most heartless thing this morning
-. heard Of | can not conceive of any
90 being so utterly devoid of feeling"
Immediately imagined something
dreadful and tremblingly inquired what
had happened? She pointed towards the
garden, and said, II have All aquarium
out there, aud my fish are very particular
pets: know them all by name and they
know me. Whenever L go out to feed
them they come to the surface and friSk
about in the sunlight like so many playful
kittens. Well, sir, some soldier must have
climbed over the fence and stabbed with a
stick or bayonet my most beautiful fish,
for l found him dead. Wasn't it hoI1i-
BILE -
1t was impossible to suppress a smile at
this, and, lest she might think me rude, l
explained that, having marched over a sec
ton of Virginia that had been devastated
by the Federal forces, and knowing of in
Vulnerable instances of ferocious cruelty
towards Southern women and children,
she must pardon me if the story of her
unfortunate fish struck me as being su-
premely ludicrous.
oh she said, Il have read of these
things, but have never credited the ac-
counts How can men so far forget them
selves as to act like such barbarians? But
let me SHOW you my aquarium"
We walked out into the beautiful and
carefully tended garden, and passing be-
meath a graceful vine-cOyeTcd arbor OF
summer-house, came upon the most eX-
tenSive and exquisite aquarium | had ever
seen. The water was as clear as crystal,
and there We're all sorts of artificial Co
verts for the pretty gold and other rare
fish that flashed and gamboled about as if
their lives were one long ecstacy. At one
end OF this aquarium, the very picture of
a soldier, stood at rest fine looking
Young Confederate infantryman, with his
bright Minnie musket by his side. Look
ing at the lady inquiringly, she said in a
whisper, "Oh, when l srw my poor dead
hSll / wrote note ueltllll9 tnc CllCuln-
stances to Gen. Lee, whose headquarters
are near, and he sent me that soldier to
stand guard over my fish,
This was too absurd, and | laughed
heartily as we turned away.
She said it was very kind of Gen. Lee,
and went far to convince her that all she
had heard of his noble qualities was true.
When about to take my departure, my
hostess said LET me make prediction
you are satisfied your army will be victori-
Gus well, before the fourth of This month
Eicksburg Will be taken and Lees army
will be defeated. In your retreat, l fear
your soldiers may be reckless and re-
vcngeful, and that they will set fire to our
house. All | ask, is to be permitted to
burn our own house and barn.
| thanked her for her courtesy, smiled at
her prediction, and promised, if near at
the critical moment, to see that she was
permitted to enjoy the mournful pleasure
She cravCG so earnestly.
Her prediction was wonderfully verified.
/ Vicksburg fell on the 4th, and We were il
full retreat from Gettysburg on the 4th.
( | made it convenient not to pass by that
/ house.
\. B.-Thc lady was Mrs. Mcclure, wife
/ of the wealthy aud distinguished Congress
man, and if | am not mistaken, Gen. I'm
( hodcn, subsequently, i'll one of his raids,
destroyed her entire property. She must
have glOred in her misfortune, for pluck
/ icr, more earnest, or more patriotic woman
, did not breath north Of the Potomac.