Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-08-08

ing over his shoulder, quite still, with
the calmness of desperation. Even in
the midst of my panic | could but feel
sorry for Mr.. Gibbs, as he stood there,
crippled and helpless. the center of a
| group of trembling. terrified women.
| (" OH Brother john" Mrs. Willis
gasped, g have theraiders Gomez"
Looking at the waving hillside and
hearing now the, loud talking of men,
Mr.. Gibbs nodded his head without
uttering word. "Brother John" said
the irrepressibe Mrs. Willis, "the demi-
john hadn't Charlotte better smash the
demijohnp"
YES" he said, harshly, "and lose no
time about it," Here all the other females
of the party, except myself, ran to fetch
that pernicious jug from its hiding place
in the back of the tent. had entirely
forgotten the demijohn, and now that it
was brought to my saTnd, heartily wished
it to Kamschatka. To tell the truth,
did not fancy going off all alone in the
dusk with that dangerous luggage. But
being celebrated veteran, | was asham-
ed to object. r ~
Here! hereT said Mrs. Willis, thrust
ing the dangerous burden into my hands.
1.-The raiders are coming. Run! Run
What makes you go so slowP"
| Now, five gallon demUohn of whis-
ky is mighty heavy, and my trembling
limbs could with difficulty support my
own weight, and the energetic shove she
gave me nearly upset me, as / tottered
unwillingly away with my odious load.
| could but think what a fool was to
run so far and then at last be caught like
rabbit in the woods, and | heartily
wished myself in Macon. While such
unpleasant reflections fitted through my
mind staggered along with the hated
demijohn toward the swamp. On its
edge stopped, for / was afraid to go any
further, and getting behind large pine
tree l threw my burden down, cohfi-
IDENTIFY expecting it to smash. But it did
nothing of the sort, but lazily rolled
about on its fat side Then it burst upon
me that there was vast difference be-
tween the soft swamp soil of middle
Georgia and the rocky ground of the
mountains where l had destroyed the
demUohns of my childhood. l looked
wildly about for 3 friendly stone, forget
ting that that was thing unknown in
this region. Then l looked for pine
knot, but strange to say, not one could |
see in the gathering gloom. In my i'm
potent wrath | kicked the demiiohn;
but, alas! my shoes were Confederate
and thin and soft. All the while could
hear talking going on at the tent and did
not know at what moment some investi-
eating raider might come in pursuit of
me. In despair pulled out the stopper
and tried to turn out some whisky. But
the exasperating demiohn calmly went
"guggle, guggle," and discharged its
contents with deliberation that iren-
zied me. Worse still! | heard footsteps
approaching. Great heavens | thought,
they are following me and if they find
this whisky we are lost. With the cour-
age of desperation | stepped quickly in
front of the pine tree, behind which /
mad the dreadful jug and faced about,
standing with hands mechanically
cllnched, ready to meet the intruder.
The next instant, in the dim twilight,
recognized Mrs. Willis with a hatchet
in her hand. Snatching it from her |
darted back and Shivered the glass demi-
john at a blow. The whisky flew in the
air and bathed us in very odoriferous
shower.
How did you get away from the raid
ers?" / asked.
There is but one."
"One! Why, where is all that cavalry
| saw riding down the hillside?"
Those were our horses picketed there.
which took fright and tried to stampede"
After all the much-dreaded raider had
come as messenger of peace. 1t seems
that the head of Gen. Wilson's raiding
column had reached Macon, when, ru-
mOrs of Gen Lees surrender having
arrived, the authorities had effected an
armistice for ten days in which to learn
the truth. On hearing of the armistice
the colonel commanding the rear guard
sent squads of men in every direction
along his route to tell the inhabitants out
hiding to go home, Engaged in that
errand he stumbled upon our camp
How do | know you are telling me
the truth?" asked Mr.. Gibbs.
= am here alone and unarmed," said
the man; "you might kill me if you
chose"
That was so; for one of the two negro
men suggested that we should tie the
raider to a tree in the swamp and leave
him there, and was surprised at our de-
| clining. The news of an armistice con-
veyed no idea to his mind.
The Federal soldier spent the night at
our camp, sleeping on pile of carriage
cushions in the front of Mr.. Gibbs tent,
took breakfast the next morning and es-
corted us part of the way on our jour
ney home. No burning had been allowed
since the raiders left Columbus, so our
houses were uninjured. We returned
| peacefully to our homes. had met my
| first Federal soldier and broken my last
demUohn.-DetroI Free Press.