The Saline County journal., 1879-06-05
HARD TACK.

HARD TACK.
II waa after the battle.
But what did Polly know about bat
ties, or the war, or tho cause of il? She
only knew that long ago her father had
gone away to fight the Yankees, and one
day they told her that he would never
come back again.
But Polly was little girl, and forgot
the bad news in few moments. The
battle today was something more real
and terrible. There had been . noise
like that of thundor behind the hills all
day, dense black clouds rising perpetu.
ally up into the clear air, and flashes of
fire more frightful to poor little Polly
than lightning.
Early in the morning the negroes had
left the house, leaving her alono with
her mother and the baby, Tom. Now
Polly's mother had been sick . long
time, and she had grown almost used to
see her lie weak and helpless in bed ;
but to-day she was 80 white and cold
that the little girl was frightened. She
crept up and lay down on the quilt at
her feet.
what can do for you, mammal she
said, again and again.
But her mamma only feebly stroked
her head. Don't leave me- she whis-
pered. LET me see both you and Tom
till the last-till the last
She grew 80 still, after awhile, and
her breath came SO heavily. that Polly
clupg, sobbing, to her breast.
d wish Uncle David was here! What
shall dor she cried.
Her mamma opened her eyes and
looked around.
Is David como? Take caro- of them
David-of Polly and poor little Toni
There's nobody hero,' said Polly,
holding tight around her neck.
Tom, who was . fat, white little fel-
low, only two or three months old, lay
munching his fist in the cradle. The
mother seemed to come back, as If from
q deep sleep, into which she had been
sinking, as Polly cried There's nobody
here.' Again she looked at her little
girl, and then at the window,past which
the black clouds drifted in dreadful
whirls. From tho field near at hand
came the approaching sound of shots,
yells, and the cries of wounded men.
Polly the sick woman said, Il am
going TO leave you
sOh, mamma there's nobody here
cried Polly. Don't 60, mamma! There's
nobody TO take care of Tom and me-
The poor lady held the little girl close
to her breast with both hands.
'God-is here, Polly she tried to say;
but she could not. She could only
hold her close, and presently her hands
fell apart, and Polly could not hear her
heart under her cold breast. She had
gone home to the beautiful country to
which the Lord Jesus called her. She
knew there, as she had known here, that
he would take care of her little girl, and
of Tom, too.
But Polly did not know it. She pulled
at her mothers night dress, kissed her
cold lips, cried for her to awaken, until
she grew tired, and then she crept down
and played with Tom awhile. Present
ly she heard steps coming nearer the
house, and, standing on tip-toe, looked
out of the window.
Armed men were coming out of the
woods-black and grlmy, in groups of
twos or threcs. A dreadful bloody fig
ure fitted by, tossing its arms wildly.
Then horse without rider stood with.
out the gate.
1t was not night, yet the sun had gone
out in heavy sulphurous fog. Polly
looked out q moment, and then at her
mother lying still and cold.
Il guess I'll 60 for Uncle DAVID she
said, and taking her sun-bonnet from a
nail, she went out leaving the door open
behind her.
Now, Uncle DavId's house was half q
mile down tho road, but Polly was
slow traveller. 1t was an hour before
she reached it.
A few minutes after she started, two
or three men came shouting into the
yard, and up on the porch. Thcy wore
Jackets and trowsers of light blue.
House ahoy ~ they cried.
Nobody here, Jem, said the foremost.
well, we'll find something to eat,
anyhow, said Jem.
They burst open the door, laughing
and joking-for you understand the
Union troops had won the battle, and
Jem and his friends were in good humor,
il they were hungry.
Jem went into the chamber. The
others stopped in the kitchen. The noxt
he came out again.
what ails you?'thcy cried. Have you
,een . ghost?'
You look like one said another
But Jem only held up his hand to
make them hush. BE still, boys he
There's nothing there but
. dead won an and baby
Jem's looks quieted them. They iol-
owed him without noise, to the inner
DOM, and stood looking at little Tom
Kicking in the cradle, and his dead
mother. They had left hundreds Of
,orpses out on the battlefield, without q
hought, but as they looked at this poor
,aby, the tears stood in some of their
yes.
Wars q bad business, said Jcm, at
ast. I'm tired of it,
They waited few minutes, and then
wo OF them went to forage IN the cellar
or something to cat, for, with all their
'ity, they did not forget how hungry
hey were. Tho others covered up the
Ace OF poor Polly's mamma, and gently
,laced . white sheet over her.
.