The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1880-12-23
rbc Spy's Story.

'ines, ulu anybody e'ei "o'SNt
as Codfedetate spy
"Never But was mighty pea'
being caught up once, and the only
way escaped was by being Ha'stook
for my brother jim" Here the
smile on his face spread into u broad
grin, and he chucklol as his mind
went back to tho serio comical al>
venture. Tom Wood, or "Uucle
Tommy ae ho was known in Gen,
cral Lees camp, had never boon
with the army in Flanders, but he
had learned their habits all tho same,
and was perhaps as wicked u hunter
es ever shoulderod u rifle.
"Bnt Ill toll you about how
liked to have been caught. II was
late in December, aud it occurred to
mo that l woull take my Christmas
frolic'by making q little scout out to
my home in Randolph county. We
were camped at tho Warm Springs,
and had nothing to do in camp and
| felt lonesome like. az Christmas
drew on, got to thinking about my
old woman and the Children at home.
They were away inside tho lines
of the enemy, aud thought that
Christmas would be more like Christ
mas to them if could unexpectedly
drop down among. SO | shoulder
cd my old gun and away went, out
through Pocahontes aud down into
Randolph. | got along first rate on
my way out F.; saw no Federals slip.
ped around their pickets, saw my
family, and after enjoying myself for
a season, started back.
"Of course kept out of the way
of all the settlements and stuck to
tho mountains. ! stopped ut no.
bodys house unless | knew them to
be truo-bluo Southerners. One
night came TO tho Grcoubriar. and
just MS darG came on u heavy sleet
set in. | was cold, tired aud hume
cry, aud the only house where |
could ind shelter was tho homo of
old Billy johnson, whom | knew to
DO tue most ultra Union man in all the
region. | bad no personal acquuin-
tanco with him, and didn't think that
no had ever seeu INC, 30 / concluded
TO risk myself under bis roof that
night anyway. 1t was my purpose
to give hin fictitious name, for |
felt pretty euro that II iis discover.
ell that | was Tom Wood, tho rebel
scout. would not live to SEQ day.
light. Mastering up courage, aud
helped along by tho wot aud cold, |
sought refuge under Johusons roof
and was Hospitality received. While
sitting by the fire warming myself,
Johnson kept looking in to my face
earnestly, when all at once he rose
from his scat, approached, aud
standing directly in front Of me,
says Ain { your name Wood ?"
"Here was poser, aud thought
l was caught. | know that il ho res
cognizod me it would do no good to
lie about it, SO owned up aud said
that was my name. "Well," said
he, "this is Brother Jimmy Wood,
amt it 7"
"This relieved me. You SEQ he
mistook me for brother jim. and
seeing how it was, humorcd the
mistake, though Jim is q blasted
sight ugler man than me. You see,
Jim is Methodist and a leader in
the church, aud so is johnson, and
that's how he called mo Brother
Wood And then he sat down aud
talked over old times and tho camp
meeting in the hills, and l was
willing he should most do of tho
talking.
81 got along very we'll until we
sat up to supper, when Johnson call
cd on me to say grace. had done
many hard days work; had been on
many long scout, have been in
some mighty hard fights but | tell
you honestly, boys, tho hardest and
hottest work / ever done was to get
out that blessing in genteel way.
At bed time Brother johnson put
the Bible on the stand, snuffed the
candle and asked me to lead in fami-
ly worship. read a chapter in the
book, and kneeling down offered up
the first prayer OF my life, not for
getting to pray for the restoration
Of the Union and the distraction of