Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-10-12


dere, and den yen'd 60 a scootin' rOunr
to find out how he got dere. So 'cude,
dat I'd be dc fu,t TO rl you he WAS der
if de Lord'd let me- tell you what
MasSa Colonel you white folks is might
smart about some things. and lhinl
you're blame sight smarter than you is
But. Massa George, a nigger's mighty
cunnin'. And when you give me da
almighty kick | knowed that it was al
right, and dat you tot dat was dan
mean niger. And den, when you
rushed out of dc house. aud pitched into
de school house. and swarmed all fra de
wood wild dose secesh OF yourn huntin
high and low an not finding muffin,
knowed I'd got you off dc scent, and
'cluded to make.myself sca'ce till you
and your soldiers had skedadled, fol-
fear you'd axe me somethin' | mighn I
want to tell. Den, jis about sunset |
went TO where de gin'ral was slowed
away among de ralters, and tole him de
coast was clear, and we went back TO de
house, and de missus she laugh and cry
bofe togedder. and he gifts on his hoss
and gifts for sure. And dat's de way,
Massa George, you didn't git de gin'ral
dat time"
1t was very interesting to watch the
play of the colonel's frank and open coun-
tenance as Jake told his story in his
roundabout fashion. Cloud and sun
shine chased each other over his lace.
Puzzlement faded into vexation. vexa.
ton into amusement. amusement into
into supreme satisfaction, till when Jake
had ended his recital. he clapped him
cordially on the shoulder and vowed he
was regular trump, in terms more
emphatic than devout.
The close of this reminiscence OF the
war, was signal for other narratives of
chair breadth scapes" relating TO the
same eventlul period. for nearly ali the
party had been engaged in the contest on
one side or the other. ard each had some
stirring inciden. to relate that we need
not now repeat. 1t was very interesting,
however, TO note the absence OF any
symptom OF bitterness or remnant Of
animosity, and the entire cordiality
which marked the intercourse OF these
men. They were from widely different
classes; some were educated and refined,
otheas rude and unpublished. They had
been arrayed on opposite sides. and at
times, rs their narrative rev called, had
been in fierce antagonism. While the
war had lasted they had been alert and
unsparing toes. often pushed to dire
xtremities by each other. But now
that Ike war was over they seemed to
have totally forgotten their old hostility
and Just as quandam school boys revive
old recollections of hard knocks given
and received, or rejoice over the memory
of pranks played, feuds waged, rivalries
klndled, triumphs won, and defeats suf-
tered, they dwelt upon their mutual
conflicts and escapes on sterner theatre.
Not trace OF vindictiveness was visible,
and their comradeship seemed as perfect
as il it had been uninterrupted. 1t was
difficult to realize that they had ever
been hard pressed by each other, and on
more than one occasion had been en-
gagged in deadly grapples; and was
amazed At the good humor with which
they gossiped over events so full OF pas.
sion at the time, aud on the turn OF
which hung captivity, or. mayhap, life
or death. Instances of this nature were
recalled by one and another OF the party
and the attendant circumstances were
related as though they were capita
Jokes; and each was as merry over the
reminiscence of some tight place" in
which he had been put by some other as
though it had been nothing more than o
harmless irolic undertaken for mutual
pastime. October Harper'S