Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-10-21
COMPULSORY PRAYER.

AN ADVENTURE OF TOM WOOD, THE CON-
FEDERATE SCOUT.
"Well, now, tell us, old friend, when scout
ing inside of the enemy's lines, did anybody
ever detect you as Confederate spy?"
"Never. But I was mighty near being
caught up once, and the only way l escaped
was by being mistook for my brother Jim"
Here the smile on his face spread into broad
grin, and the old man chuckled as his mind
went back to the serio-comical adventure.
Tom Wood, or "Uncle Tommy" as he was
known in General Lees camp, had never
been with the army in Flanders, but he had
learned their habits all the same, and was
perhaps as wicked hunter as ever shoulder
ed rife
"But III tell you about how I liked to
have been caught. 1t was late in December,
and it occurred to me that would take my
Christmas frolic by making little scout out
to my home in Randolph county. We were
camped at the Warm Springs, and had moth.
ing to do in camp and l felt lonesome like.
AS Christmas drew on,I got to thinking about
my old woman and the children at home !;
they were away inside the lines Of the enemy,
and I thought Christmas would be more like
Christmas to them if could unexpectedly
drop down among them. So I shouldered my
old gun, and away went, out through Po-
cahontas and down into Randolph. / got
along first, rate on my way out; saw no Fed
erals; slipped around their pickets saw my
family, and after enjoying myself for season,
started back.
"Of course I kept out of the way of all
the settlements and stuck to the mountains.
| stopped at nobody's house unless I knew
them to be true blue Southerners. One night
l came to the Greenbrier, and just as dark
came on, a heavy sleet set in. was cold,
tired and hungry, and the only house where l
could find shelter was the home Of old Billy
johnson, whom l knew to be the most ultra
union man in all that region. l had no per-
sonal acquaintance with him and didn't think
that he had ever seen me, so | concluded to
risk myself under his roof that night any
way. 1t was my purpose to give him 6cti-
tious name, for [ felt pretty sure that if he
discovered that was Tom Wood, the rebel
scout, would not live to see daylight. Mus
tering up courage, and helped along by the
wet and cold, l sought refuge under John
sons roof, and was Hospitality received.
While sitting by the fire warming myself,
johnson kept looking into my face very ear
1estly, when all at once he arose from his
seat, approached, and standing directly in
front of me, says "Ain't your name Wood?"
Here was poser, and I thought I was
caught. l knew that if he recognized me it
would do no good to lie about it, so owned
up and said that was my name. "Well,"
said he, this is Brother Jimmy Wood, amt
it?" This relieved me. You see he mistook
me for Brother Jim, and seeing how it was, |
humored the mistake, though Jim is blasted
sight uglier man nor me. But l wasn't
standing on looks then the circumstances
didn't admit of it. well, really says he,
Brother Wood, l am glad to see you. l amt
seen you since the camp-meeting on the hill,
nigh on to twenty years ago. And he took
my hand and shook it like he was glad to see
me. But could hardly keep from laughing
in his face at being taken for class leader.
You see, Jim is Methodist and leader in
the church, and so is johnson, and that's how
he called me Brother Wood And then he
sot down and talked over old times and the
camp meeting in the hills, and as the old man
WAS Wiling W w uIOSG VI tuO IolnlbSj ! WAC
willing for him to do it.
81 got along very we'll until we sot up to
supper, when johnson called on me to say
grace. I had done many hard days work ;
had been on many long scout; have been
in some mighty hot fights but tell you
honestly, boys, the hardest and hottest work
I ever done was to get out that blessing in
genteel way. But this was no tine for finch
ing, and got through with it. Everything
moved on smoothly, until bedtime came
around. Brother johnson put the Bible on
the stand, snuffed the candle and asked me
to lead in family worship. I had broken the
ice by asking the blessing at the supper table,
so I read chapter in the book, and kneeling
down offered up the first prayer Of my life
BY jings, it was good one. I didn't forget
to pray for the restoration Of the Union and
the destruction of its enemies. Maybe it was
answered. I had a good nights rest, and
when left in The morning felt better than !
ever did in NV life. In fact, bows, [ believe