Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-10-09
A .'Johnny I.eb," i'm Pennsyiva.

a lew days ago group OF oiu Non-
federates were sitting on one of the
galleries of favorite lake shore water
ing-place spinning yarns of personal
adventure during the Revolution"
After. several had been spun out it came
the turn of a quite and demure gentle
man, who had served with one of Lou
isiana's best regiments in Lees army,
and with that army had invaded Penn
sylvania. "You see,' said he, "we
crossed the Potomac, and tbought we
would have nice time helping our
selves to buttermilk, chickens and such
things that had played out completely
in Virginia; but the very first day after
crossing, the Adjutaat of our regiment
read to us Gen. Lees order against pi-
routing, and threatening severe punish
ment TO any officer or private caught
depredating upon the people. We
thought it was rather hard on the Am
erican citizen, but we said old massa
Robert knows best, and, if he says pay
as you go, why, we will do tin Con
federate money.
"It was near Greencastle when I and
two comrades of my mess struggled
and brought up at neat farm house,
where there was every evidence of
plenty in the eating line. We were
met at the door by a very matronly la
DIV; as neat and tidy as possible. 'Ah'
we said to ourselvs, we are in luck /;
now for square meal We doffed
our old gray caps and entered the house
and piled our rifles in corner. Mad
am, said, ''wc are as you know, Con-
federate soldiers and consequently hung
ry; can you get US up a nice old fash
ioned meal-something that will re-
mind us of home, as it ware, Home,
Sweet Home" where you probably
wish we all were just at this time ?"
The old lady declared there was not a
scrap in the house; all had been sent
away upon hearing that the ''rebels
were coming to rob, burn and steal.
We demonstrated; we said, Why, mad
am, we came here to fight men, not to
molest women and steal their bread.
That's what old Robert says, and We
stick TO it. We are going to pay for
everything We get. Even this an
nouncement that we had returned to
specie payment would not move her
there was nothing in the house, abso-
lutely nothing My comrade, Wilson,
a father of a family down the Rapides,
had devoted himself, as soon as he had
entered the house, to playing with a
little baby in the cradle. He now arose
and said in the politest manner possible,
"Have you any salt 7" This was evil
IDENTIFY regarded as queer question,
and she replied, ooh yes; 1 have salt /;
bat what under the sun do YOU want
with salt, having nothing to eat p
'Oh, we'll, says Wilson, bring the salt,
and bag was at once produced. Will
son very demurely carried the bag to
the cradle, turned down the infant bed
clothing, and proceeded to rub right
down then and there, that baby, all
over its back and front and all. Mean
while the matron, standing with eyes
wide open, watched the operation close
ly. Finnally she exclaimed Goodness
sakes, what are you doing with the ba-
by?' 'Oh says Wilson, quietly, you have
nothing in the house to eat; we are
hungry we came from long ways
Just 10 see you we must eat, and when
this baby is salted sufficiently we are
going TO eat him 1t is needless to add
that in a remarkable short space of time
that baby was ransomed by as fine a
dinner being served as ever graced the
boards of Pennsylvania farm house"
New Orleans Picnyune.