The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-06-28
Y K()B.

it was a saying in the family that "Sue
was the poet, Zoe the fnancier, and Char
ley-had discovered the Yakob."
1t needs very little wit to give saying
long life in lonely farmhouse, and Va
kob was AS remarkable novelty among
us as a poem or good deal of money
would have been.
He was d very short, very stumpy, very
white headed Dutch boy of seventeen,
whom Charley found on the battery one
winters day. Charley went to New York
every winter to buy groceries for the plan
tation, and clothes for the slaves, and he
had found Yakob on his last visit, in 1859,
Just before the war began.
The German showed no sign Of interest
in any living thing except Charley whom
he followed about like dog whenever he
could, never speaking, however, unless
forced to do so.
The war came, of which 7 wish to say
little, Our family, like many others on
the border, was divided Joe went into
one army, Charley into the other. My
mother and Sue presented banners and
arms 10 Southern companies.
The negroes caught the excitement,
some of the house servants following their
young masters. Yakob alone was un-
moved as stone. Either Joe or Char
ley would have been glad to have him as
q reorr't i'' THAR companies l,--
ttNever, neVer!" he grunted' NO
fight"
"But don't you want to uphold the Re
public" said one,
''Do you care for liberty" inquired
another.
IT care for mine kopf," clapping his
hands to his head. II keeps mein kopt
on rnein shoulders"
Beast" muttered Joe.
Even Charley looked disguised, which
Yakob quickly perceived.
~ come to this country for peace, !" he
said, rapidly in German, 'and the men
take each other by the throat. know
nothing Of your North--your South
"You know nothing but Yakob,' with
laugh.
The light eyes flashed little.
"Ya-und Yakob's work, he said dog
pedlv, and turned away to the tobacco
house.
Even we, who were children remembel
The times that then followed on the border
the marching and counter marching Of the
armies the turning of our fields into bat
tie grounds, and our houses into hospl
tails; the ravages ofthe bushwhackers and
guerrifIas, first on one side then on the
other; and, worse than all, the bitterness;
ofneighbor against neighbor.
Two years passed. Ny brother Joe has
been killed at Bull Run. Charley has
been in prison for nearly year.
I think that Cbarley's imprisonmen
was harder for mother to bear than ever
Joe's death for one was at rest, whilt
the sufferings Of the other were continual
ly in her mind. Such tales were told 3
the prison where he was that | believe sh'
would have been glad to know that he, tee
was dead.
One July morning she came down !
breakfast looking more wan and haggar
than usual.
II had strange dream last night, " 81
said. Il thought Charley stood besid
me with his rod in lis hand, As he use
to when lie was going Quito fish. va
putting up his lunch, and he was jokin
With father as if the war had never beer
twas all just Is It used to be-"
"And as il will be again" said fathe
heartily. "Don't loose your trust in Coz
mother"
II shall never see Charley again II
said, "if he would come home i would !
to certain death"
Our house was at chat time enclrcled p
troops; not regular troops, but the raf
BILE and followers Of q great army tbs
was encamped few miles to the nortl
Until now the officers had protected Y
from outrage, but q change il the positio
Of the forces left 10 without their author
".